Potty training cocker spaniels will take time and patience.
According to the American Kennel Club, the cocker spaniel is one of the most popular canine breeds in the United States. They are sporting dogs, bred to hunt. Like many hunting dogs, cocker spaniels are fairly easy to train.
Jamie J. Sucher, author of "Cocker Spaniels, A Complete Pet Owner's Manual," explains that cockers have a natural willingness to learn. They are quick learners too, which bodes well for potty training. House-training your cocker spaniel can be accomplished with time, patience and praise. Put the dog on a schedule, and remember young cocker spaniels need to relieve themselves every few hours.
Instructions
Paper Training
1. Choose an area that is easy to clean up, like the kitchen or bathroom. Make sure this area is not too close to the puppy's eating or sleeping quarters, as your cocker will instinctively try to keep those areas clean. Therefore, he will not eliminate near them.
2. Lay out several layers of newspaper.
3. Keep the puppy confined to the chosen area until he relieves himself on the newspapers. If you want to keep your dog in the bathroom, keep the door closed. If you want to keep him in the kitchen, put up a doggy gate that restricts his access to other areas of the house. To keep your puppy more comfortable in the confined space, keep a few toys in there with him. Offer him treats to go into the confined space so he relates the potty space with something positive. Your puppy should relieve himself on the paper every two to three hours, or shortly after eating.
4. When he has gone, remove the top soiled paper as soon as possible, but keep the clean sheets underneath in place. According to Sucher, doing this would leave the scent from the bottom paper exposed so the puppy can relocate the area. Replace the paper every time your cocker uses the bathroom, which will be every couple of hours, If he misses the paper, clean the area thoroughly to remove the scent and prevent future accidents.
Crate Training
5. Establish a schedule and confine your cocker to her crate. This method takes advantage of a dog's natural instinct to keep its area clean. When you first start potty training, you may want to keep your cocker in her crate all day while you are at work, all night, or whenever you leave the room. A young puppy will need to go outside every two to three hours.
6. Take her outdoors to eliminate as soon as you let her out of the crate.
7. Praise her generously when she goes outside. Verbal praise like "Good girl," scratching behind the ears or simply petting will make your cocker spaniel happy. She will eventually understand this is desired behavior. You may also reward your puppy with a food treat, though it is not necessary.
8. Once the cocker becomes used to her crate schedule, let her out of the confinement for longer periods of time. Eventually, you will be able to leave the crate open without fearing accidents.
Outdoor Training
9. Pick a spot outdoors, and take your cocker spaniel there before he even comes inside the house for the first time. According to Sucher, outdoor training begins when you first bring your cocker spaniel home.
10. Praise him once he has gone. Verbal and physical praise (petting) will boost the cocker's confidence and will increase chances of potty training success.
11. Take him inside. In this training method, you must take your puppy back outside every three to four hours. It is also advised you take your cocker outdoors late in the evening to increase the chances that accidents will not occur overnight.
12. Repeat taking your dog outdoors every couple of hours. If you continue to do this, and praise him for the wanted behavior, he will seek out the outdoor area on his own. Remember, every dog is different. It may take you a few weeks to potty train your puppy or a few months. Sucher notes to always be patient.
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