Just as we should have three square meals a day, puppies also require routine feeding schedules. Consult with your veterinarian for the best portion size and times or easier look on the back side of the your dog food bag. We recommend feeding three times a day, but if you are unable to keep this schedule, be sure to keep the recommended daily amount the same, just divide it into two meals rather than three. Maintaining a feeding schedule will enable you to learn your puppy’s relief schedule, which will help you housebreak your puppy.
We feed our puppies Iams Smart Puppy Food (small breed). If you choose to use a different brand, it is best to mix half of the Iams food, provided in your Puppy Kit, with half of your puppy food until the Iams is gone. This will help your new puppy adjust better to the change in food.
Feeding Guidelines Puppy's Weight Puppy's Age Daily Amount of Food
When housebreaking your puppy, it is best to buy a portable kennel approximately 15” wide by 24” long. By keeping your puppy kenneled at night, and whenever you are away from home, you will control most of its accidents because puppies do not like to eliminate in their sleeping area. It will also prevent your puppy from getting into things and going places where you don’t want it. Mostly, the kennel becomes a refuge and a secure place for it to be. Always remove your puppy immediately upon returning home or upon awakening in the morning, and take it out to its relief area. And, if your puppy is in its kennel during the day, be aware of its age and how often it needs to relieve itself. (See Relief Schedule below.)
Even though Shelties learn quickly, you need to train yourself in the routine before beginning to train your puppy so you can be consistent. Take your puppy to its relief area immediately after bedtime or naptime, 15 minutes or less after eating or drinking or, whenever it starts to sniff and walk in circles. Always take your puppy out the same door. As your puppy gets older, the time between eating and having a bowel movement will lengthen.
Your puppy does not have to be punished for relieving itself in the house in order to learn to go outdoors. If you catch your puppy relieving itself in the house, startle it with a firm “no” and whisk it outdoors. Never hit your puppy or rub its nose in its mess. The only exception to this is if you are having an extremely hard time getting the message across, then a pat on the bottom with a firm “no” may work. It is the startle factor (not pain) that you are looking for. If your puppy finishes the job outdoors, give it lots of praise, and tell it what a good puppy it is. You may want to consistently use a word or phrase, such as “Go potty,” when you take your puppy outdoors. Most puppies will associate this with elimination.
Shelties are very eager to please, and as a general rule they are easy to housebreak; an average of four weeks is normal. If you are having problems housebreaking your puppy, perhaps you haven not been consistent in your training. The key is to keep your puppy’s environment (your home) very clean. Smells are important to training your puppy. Promptly clean each soiled area with a good cleaning product, not ammonia. Being consistent in keeping your home clean will help to housebreak your puppy faster but, most importantly, be sure to get your puppy outdoors before it has a chance to relieve itself in the house.
Whenever your puppy is in a new environment, be sure to watch it very closely, and take every opportunity to show it where to go for relief. If it goes elsewhere, show it its mistake. Don’t hit. Then, with a short and stern voice, show your puppy where to relieve itself. Don’t yell. Forgive your puppy, be happy, and you will encourage it to want to please you.
Relief Schedule Puppies Age & Times of Relief
2 months every 2 hours 4 months every 5 hours 5 months every 6 hours 6 months every 7 hours 7 months every 8 hours