Potty Training Jack Russell

Question
Carol,  We have an 8 week old female (which we have had only one week today) and already she is trying our patience!  We are crate training her, but at night and if we leave her alone for a hour or so will soil in her crate, even if she went before we left.  Last evening she stepped into her crate and soiled it then walked right back out!  She only has enough room in her crate at this time to lay down and sleep.  She has been good about going potty outside, but today she started urinating on the floor in the house.  We signed her up for puppy kindergarten which starts in less than a week, but as I said she is already on our last nerve.  We are both retired so we are able to spend all day with her.  I am wondering if we just got her too young.  Do you have any advice for us?

Thanks

Answer
Cathy,

The minimum age you should bring a new puppy home is eight weeks, I usually don't let my pups leave until they are 10 weeks old, so yes, she is a bit young.
Secondly, it takes AT THE VERY LEAST 2 MONTHS to completely "potty" train a puppy. If you are losing your patience only after a week, you're in for a long ride. The proper way to house train a brand new puppy is to take the puppy out EVERY HOUR ON THE HOUR for about 2 solid weeks until she understands what you are teaching her. You should go absolutely over- board with the praise when she DOES go outside and do not over reprimand when she makes a mistake in the house or crate, she does not understand what your upset about. The trick is to never give her opportunity to "go" in the house. It's a lot of work and its tiring and frustrating but it has been proven to work and she will remember this for a life time if you can get through those first few weeks of constant training. I even take my new puppies out around the clock in the middle of the night!! But I realize thats a bit much for most people. At night you should lay a newspaper down in her crate so she won't soil her bed and make more work for you. She will continue to have accidents which is normal for a baby until their bladder grows to a size in which they can "hold it" until someone lets them out.  If you over reprimand her when she has an accident, you are setting yourself up for a timid dog that will have submissive urination when she sees you. Patience and repetition is the formula to success. Best of luck with your new puppy. Patience and repetition and lots of praise when she does the right thing! You want to give her POSITIVE feedback, not negative.
Take care