House Training Coco

Coco watches Elka.

Trying to house train a puppy is not something I do well.
To be able to house train a dog, the trainer(me) has to be trained.
By that I mean I have to be diligent and remember not to leave the dog alone.
Enter my friend who is so organized she should write a book. She suggested crate training. A long time ago on a different dog we had unsuccessfully tried it. I showed her the crate and she said what I thought. "It's too big." Then she suggested where to get a small crate at a cheap price. In this crate Coco can maneuver somewhat, but not enough to go to the bathroom in there and get away from it.
I'm a slow learner, but I guess the key is to keep having success, don't let her fail until she believes that pottying and pooping any where in the house is appalling to her.
That was two, three weeks ago. The difference has been very freeing. When I or the kids need a break from watching the dog or carrying her around, we pop her in her crate. We set the timer for ten or fifteen minutes if she hasn't gone to the bathroom in awhile. The only time she doesn't like it is when she can't see us. Then she sets to howling. I don't get her out while this is happening. I wait for a quiet moment and then get her, or move her closer to us.
We have been taking both dogs for their nightly walk. We were so proud of Coco when she decided that going poop and pee outside was okay for dogs to do. She felt proud too. Her tail wags just a little faster when she's done.

Keeping Elka out of the water is nearly impossible.