Housebreaking Your Bichon

This page is not intended to be the last word on training and housebreaking a Bichon! However, I did want to share my personal experiences on the subject, since it is asked about so frequently.

You may have heard that Bichons are difficult to housebreak. I have heard the same thing many times, but this has not been true for the Bichons in our family. My mother has brought home 3 Bichons of puppy age, and all 3 have been successfully housebroken. We used the crate training method, which is outlined very specifically on this page at bichonfrise.org.

I have seen some Bichon owners who have had difficulty, even with crate training. However, in most instances I have found the crate training method being followed only partially or sporadically, which just simply does not work. I have seen many instances where training has been difficult because of the owners not doing their part. Potty training, especially in young pups, is very time consuming, but this investment of your time early on will more than pay for itself in a few months, when your Bichon is housebroken.

Important Facts to Consider with Crate Training

First of all, you must understand that young pups cannot hold it for very long. It has nothing to do with trainability, but with physical maturity. You must follow the method to the "t", and take your Bichon out to potty as soon as they get out of their crate from naps, bedtime or you being away. You must also take them out frequently when outside of the crate, especially after eating or play.

Secondly, you must keep your eyes on the pup when outside of the crate, to try and avoid any unnecessary accidents in the house. The more the pup is taken outside to potty, and not allowed to do so inside, the quicker the method will be learned. If the pup does eliminate in the house and you do not catch him/her in the act, simply clean up the area with odor neutralizer. Unless you catch them in the act, they will not remember doing it, so scolding them, rubbing their nose in it, etc. will not do any good, and will probably just confuse them.

Not all dogs automatically go to the door when they need to go out. You need to learn your dog's signals that he/she needs to go out for potty. One of our dogs goes and stands at the top of the stairs, looks at us and whimpers. Another barks and gets excited to get our attention. Actually, none of our dogs go to the door! I have known of some people who have strapped a bell to the door knob and trained their dogs to ring it when they need to go out. You might work out something between your dog and you which works for both of you. :)

When your pup eliminates outside, be sure to provide lots of praise. Dogs love to make their masters happy, so this is definately an incentive for them to do it right!

Housebreaking FAQ

Q: What should I use to clean up urine spots if my dog has an accident?
A: If it is on a carpet or other fabric, an odor neutralizer such as Simple Solution, or Nature's Miracle is usually recommended. Be sure to test it in a small area for color fastness before applying to obvious areas. If it is on a hard floor, such as tile or linoleum, most dog owners prefer a white vinegar and water mixture. All are odor neutralizers, while Simple Solution and Nature's Miracle are also supposed to work on stains.

Q: My Bichon and I have been working on housebreaking for awhile, but I still don't think that he/she understands that outside is the place for potty. Is there anything additional I can do to help them understand better?
A: Many Bichon owners have found that providing them with an extra special treat after eliminating outside provides some additional incentive to do their business in the right place! This should be something they don't give everyday, such as liver treats, hot dogs, cheese, etc (all in minute quantities, of course). Give the treat as soon as the dog has done what he/she is supposed to do.

Q. I am crate training my Bichon, and following all the steps exactly, except my puppy frequently eliminates inside the crate. What am I doing wrong?
A. The crate is probably too large for your pup's size for crate training. Many people start out with larger crates, but block off part of the crate with a board or similar item to prevent the pup from having too much room to move around in. With the concept of crate training as being the dog's "den", the dog will normally not mess their sleeping quarters. If the dog is given too much room early on in the crate, they will have additional room to move around away from the sleeping area and eliminate if need be.

Jennifer M