The English Cocker is an intelligent breed of dog. By following a few simple guidelines, you can house train your new puppy with surprising speed. Although your new English Cocker Spaniel is a quick learner, you must watch your puppy carefully at all times and, above all, be consistent.

We consider that basic obedience and training your puppy to be a well behaved member of your household go hand in hand. We'll discuss house training below. Visit our Internet English Cocker Spaniel Resources page and our English Cocker Spaniel reading recommendations page for more on house training and extensive information on obedience.

Tip: puppies can generally control their bladders one hour for every month of age. For example, if your puppy is three month old, on a consistent schedule, she can control her bladder for approximately three hours. If your puppy is four months old, she can hold her bladder approximately four hours, and so on.

Sharon's little Flash

House training tips:

• Create a schedule and stick to it
  
• Feeding stimulates your puppy's system
  
• Careful crate training can be very helpful in house training
• Give your English Cocker something safe to chew on.

Stick to a strict schedule: Feed, walk, play, and rest your new puppy at the same time everyday for his first several months. This, more than anything else, will allow you to learn when your puppy eliminates. It also assists your puppy in learning what is expected of her.

By creating a schedule and sticking to it, you'll help your new puppy to integrate smoothly into your home. Observe these basics and you should be on your way to a well adjusted puppy:

• Feed your puppy at the same time twice a day everyday (more)
• Exercise your puppy outside 2 or 3 times each day at the same time (more)
• Rest your puppy, both naps and overnight, at the same time each day

You will notice that your puppy will learn its schedule very quickly. Within a few days, your puppy will learn when she's going to be fed, when it's time to play, and when it's time to rest. Remember that your puppy is most likely ready to go potty after it's been fed, as feeding stimulates his internal system. This is also true after waking up from a nap or first thing in the morning.

When you learn a little about your puppy's biological rhythms, you'll be helping to move along their learning process. Knowing when to take your puppy outside is key to teaching it where it should eliminate. Many puppy owners create a designated area in the yard for their puppy to go to the bathroom. Use the command go potty each time you want your puppy to eliminate. Do this consistently and over time, your puppy will associate this command with doing his "job."

Slowly adjust the schedule to meet your lifestyle, but stick to the same regiment every day until you learn your puppy's habits. When your puppy is ready to improvise on the schedule you'll know. We also recommend that you learn more about crate training to assist you in the process of house training your puppy (below).

Read more about house training on our Internet English Cocker Spaniel Resources page.

Crate training will be an important tool in house training your puppy. Note that it's a myth that puppies will not eliminate in their crate; if he really has to go, he'll go in his crate. However, your puppy is naturally reluctant to go potty when confined, so you can use this to your advantage when house training With this in mind, you can use your crate most effectively when you allow your puppy to go "potty" before crating him and immediately after you let him out.

Crate training basics:

• Use the right size crate for your puppy's stage of development
• Introduce your puppy to his crate gradually and playfully
• Never use a crate for full day confinement

Confinement has a bad reputation, yet the fact that dogs actually like a confined environment is right under our noses every day. It's not a coincidence that the dogs can often be found under a coffee table, under a desk, or in a warm corner of the room. Dogs derive great comfort from these secure, cave-like places. A crate very well could become one of your puppy's favorite places to get away from the hustle and bustle.

Training your puppy to rest in his crate is something that takes a bit of patience. We suggest that you take your puppy out to "potty" before you put her in in her crate for the first time. We also suggest that you coax her into the crate with the door open and praise her when she comes out. Do this several times prior to closing the door on the crate. Placing her toys in the crate is a great way to allow your puppy to "discover" the crate on her own.

Expose your puppy to the crate several times prior to closing him in. When you do close your puppy in the crate for the first time, stay near the crate and let him out after a few minutes. Gradually increase the time you confine your puppy until you can leave him in his create for an hour or so: much longer periods of time is not recommended for puppies as they can not control elimination for much longer than an hour at a time.

The size of your puppy's crate is important. Sharon has posted the various crate sizes she uses for her Spindrift English Cocker Spaniel's here. The crates are sized incrementally from puppy to adult. Size is very important. Sharon has extensive experience with crates, her suggestions take the guess work out of sizing your English Cocker Spaniel for his new crate.

Tip: consider donating your crate when your English Cocker Spaniel outgrows her puppy sized crate. The youth sized crate will be excellent in your automobile for short (4 hours maximum) trips. The larger adult crate is necessary for air travel and in home use.

Timing is also important. Crate your puppy only after he has had a chance to go to the bathroom and has had a some exercise. If you have taken these steps your puppy should use this time for a short nap.

How long should you crate your puppy? The older your puppy gets the longer you are able to confine her when necessary. A short amount of time, thirty minutes, in the beginning is always recommended and only after she has been outside for a potty break and a little playtime. As your puppy grows you'll be able to use your crate for longer periods of time. Please do not use your crate for all day confinement. Look into puppy-care or dog walkers if you are away from home all day.

Give your English Cocker Spaniel puppy something saft to chew on, The older your puppy gets the longer you are able to confine her when necessary. A short amount of time, thirty minutes, in the beginning is always recommended and only after she has been outside for a potty break and a little playtime. As your puppy grows you'll be able to use your crate for longer periods of time. Please do not use your crate for all day confinement. Look into puppy-care or dog walkers if you are away from home all day.

For books on house training, visit our English Cocker Spaniel reading recommendations page.
For Internet resources on house training, visit our Internet English Cocker Spaniel Resources page.