[Cooper&me]

Cooper is doing great or more correctly I AM doing great with no accidents in the house.

My question is when do you expand the freedom? We have him gated in the kitchen, laundry room, office area. Very little time in the carpeted areas. I am/was afraid I would THINK he was doing well and later find old pee stains.

Cooper hasn't TOLD me yet he needs to go out but several times we were heading in when he would double back to have a quick pee before entering the house.

He is 15 weeks. I do not want to go too fast but I my husband is less than thrilled stepping over gates. In every other thing he learns so fast that my husband thinks he "has it" down.

Also Mark (hubby) is bad at comparing the big dogs. We never gated with the Boxer. She was a quick learner with housetraing.

 

[Cassidy's Mom]

I would say at least a month or so with no accidents. I thought Dena had it when she didn't have an accident for a week or two, but turns out she didn't! So housebreaking took several weeks longer than it should have because I relaxed my diligence just a bit. Once he's consistently telling you he has to go out and he hasn't had an accident in a while you're probably okay. But still, he'll be chewing things for a long time after that, up to a year or more, so don't give him too much freedom just yet.

For me, more freedom meant she was still in the near vicinity, and I checked on her often, rather than 'eyes on' all the time. You still may want to keep up some of those gates so he can't wander too far.

 

[tibvixie101]

I agree with cassidy's mom here, but you could let cooper have "freedom" if you or someone is in the room, this way you can supervise his actions, and gate him only when you are busy, or if no one is home.

 

[Cooper&me]

Thanks! Sort of what I thought but nice to have it confirmed.