Potty Training a Litter
Potty training, is the reasonability of the Breeder, not the Buyer!!:
It is the firm opinion of OnQ Siberians, that ALL puppies should be potty trained by the breeder, with the pack, before placement. It is much easier to potty train a puppy who is on a feeding schedule and has an opportunity to learn from their mother, and the rest of the pack.
Breeders who sell young puppies, should have a sense of responsibility to society and take every step to insure that the puppies they send out into the world, will be loved forever. The #1 reason that people bring dogs under a year old to rescues and shelters (not to mention dump out car doors on country roads), is that the dog still potties in the home.
When to Start:
In our pack the first introduction to food is just before 4 weeks, when they get a light amount of ground deer, fish, or turkey suspended in puppy formula. When they start to whine, they are carried outside in a laundry basket and placed on the ground. As soon as they potty, they are called by name and picked up. Even if the puppy does not come, it is picked up, praised, and petted. It is not long before you can feed them , open the door, let them down the stairs, and call them in by name when done.
Puppies being fed the first time at a little over 4 weeks, may need to go out once every hour to two hours. As the puppies get bigger, you may space the feedings further and further apart. It is very important to establish a firm routine, and to be very watchful of the litter. Mistakes are mistakes, do not make them your pups first fearful memories...
If you should catch a small pup about to potty in the house, do not over-react. Call the pups name, pick the pup up briskly, and rush out t the potty spot, put the pup down, and then call back in.
We have had great luck with feeding the dogs outside, when they are older. The way this works is we go outside and fill bowls with food and water (in the same bowl), and then let the pack outside. We do this because some dogs potty before they eat, and some after. This way, each dog has an opportunity to relieve themselves according to their own personal needs.
Distraction to Avoid Food Fights:
If you should develop fighting problems within your pack at feeding time, confusion is the best remedy. What I mean by this, is that you can easily distract even grown dogs who are growling, by dropping small handfuls of kibble in the bowls out of order. This will draw the attention of the dogs to different bowls, as long as it is done in a rapid fashion it will spread out the dogs. It also helps to always have about 3 more bowls than dogs down.