How to House Train a Toy Schnauzer

Housetrain your Toy Schnauzer by using its natural instincts to keep its living area clean.

A Toy Schnauzer is the same breed as a Miniature Schnauzer. The American Miniature Schnauzer Club denotes the standard height of the Miniature Schnauzer at between 12 and 14 inches from its feet to its withers. A Miniature Schnauzer less than 12 inches is sometimes referred to as a Toy Schnauzer. Effective housetraining is an important part of owning any dog, and crate training is a way to housetrain your Toy Schnauzer by using its natural instincts.

Things You'll Need

• Crate

Instructions

1. Acquaint your Toy Schnauzer with the crate. It takes time to get a puppy acquainted with spending time in a crate. If you place a puppy in a crate and walk away, the puppy will have withdrawals and will probably make a commotion. Start with putting the Toy Schnauzer in the crate for small amounts of time and giving it rewards if it goes in the crate by itself.

2. Keep your Toy Schnauzer in its crate. Place the crate near enough so you can hear when the puppy whines. Toy Schnauzers will associate the crate with their den or home. Their natural instincts tell them to resist going to the bathroom in their den and getting it dirty.

3. Take your Toy Schnauzer outside when it whines or after it eats. Give your dog five minutes to go to the bathroom. If it does not go to the bathroom within five minutes, return it to the crate. Take the dog back outside after another five minutes to give it another chance to go to the bathroom. Continue this until your Toy Schnauzer relieves itself.

4. Praise your Toy Schnauzer. Housetraining is not about disciplining bad behavior, but rewarding good behavior, a concept called positive reinforcement. When your dog goes to the bathroom outside, spend a few minutes praising this good action so it will learn that it was the right thing to do.

5. Return your Toy Schnauzer to its crate. Keep the dog in the crate and repeat the previous step until you are convinced that your dog knows to go to the bathroom outside.

6. Gradually allow your Toy Schnauzer out of its crate. Keep an eye on it and look for signs that it needs to use the bathroom. Signs might include scratching or whining at the door.

Tips & Warnings

• Your Toy Schnauzer is bound to have accidents. Continue to practice positive reinforcement and avoid reacting negatively toward your dog. If your dog continues to have accidents, continue crate training until your dog is ready for another attempt at proving that it is housebroken. Consistency on your part will further reinforce to your pet what you want it to do.

• Do not mistake positive reinforcement for passiveness. The dog needs to see you as the leader of the pack.

References

• The American Miniature Schnauzer Club: FAQ--Is There Such a Thing as a 'Toy' Schnauzer?
• Mini Schnauzer Secrets: Potty Training
• "Schnauzers: Everything About Purchase, Care, Nutrition, and Diseases"; Fredric L. Frye, 2002
• "Miniature Schnauzers: Everything About Purchase, Care, Nutrition, and Behavior"; Karla S. Rugh, 2009

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish