When I got my basset hound a long time ago, I wondered how long will it take to potty train him. I fell in love with my dog as soon as I saw him, but I wasn’t gonna let him pee in my house.
I read online that basset hounds are very independent dogs and that they have a mind of their own. So, I knew that I might have issues potty training him. So, here is my experience.
How Long Does It Take To Potty Train A Basset Hound?
How long does it take to potty train a basset hound? It can take anywhere from few weeks to months to potty train a basset hound. You should start with the potty training when your basset hound is 5-6 weeks old. You must have patience and understanding if you wish to successfully potty train your basset hound.
Potty training time may vary from puppy to puppy because each basset hound is unique. There are a lot of methods and tips that can help you to successfully potty train your basset hound.
You must be patient and understanding while training your basset hound puppy.
When potty training a basset hound, your personality has to be factored in as well. Basset hound puppies have a loving personalities and they will do anything to please you. But, no matter how hard they try to please you, potty training still takes time.
You just have to be prepared for setbacks, but once you potty train your basset hound, you can enjoy your new pet.
Potty training of a Basset Hound begins after 5-6 weeks of age, and it can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 6 months.
The basset hound puppies’ personality and temperament can play a part in how long will potty training take. Other factors are diet, stress, family members, and environmental distractions.
All puppies want to play. It is understandable if they lose focus once you introduce them to the ”boring” potty training. But, that is something that they must learn, so, keep pushing.
Just make sure that you give them a stress-free environment where they can train without getting distracted easily. Do not overdo the potty training. Take baby steps.
How Long Can Basset Hounds Hold Their Pee?
A 0-3 months old Basset Hounds can hold their pee for one hour, a 3-6 months old Basset Hounds can hold their pee for two hours, a 6-9 months old Basset Hounds can hold their pee for three hours, and a 9-12 months old Basset Hounds can hold their pee for four hours. Basset Hounds older than one year of age can hold their pee for up to eight hours.
Basset hounds can have quite a degree of control over their bladders depending on their age. Dogs’ bladders and the ability to hold their pee develop in relation to the amount they are taken out for a walk. As dogs become accustomed to regular walks throughout the day, their bladder strength increases. Their muscles become more efficient at distributing urine and controlling their urge to urinate more often.
The act of constantly relieving themselves and having to “hold-it” strengthens and trains the muscles surrounding their bladder over time. This means that the bladder gradually increases in strength, allowing for greater control over its contents and enabling a much longer time between having to use the restroom.
In order for a dog to better understand when it’s time for a bathroom break, owners can reward them for holding it when going outdoors. The combination of avoidance of accidents inside and reward when outside creates stronger bladder control for dogs.
How Do I Potty Train a Basset Hound?
Potty training a basset hound can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 6 months. It all depends on the basset hound puppy’s temperament as well as your personality. Patience is the key.
Here is how to potty train a basset hound:
1. Find a designated potty area
You should start your basset hound potty training by selecting a specific area where they can go potty. If you have a yard, choose a particular area of the yard that can be used for this training. If you live in an apartment, pee pads are a great choice. Place the pee pad near the entrance door so that once they get older they will stand in front of that door to let you know they need to go potty.
2. Take them to the designated potty area every hour
Whether you live in a house or apartment, take your basset hound puppy to the designated potty area every hour. The key here is to get them to potty at least once in the area that you chose. Young basset hound puppies go potty every hour. That time will increase as they age. Going in the morning as soon as they wake up is a must. Also, after every meal or when they drink water.
3. Once they do potty in the correct place, praise them
They might not do it the first time, but once they do potty in the area that you chose, make sure to praise them and reward them with a treat for their good behavior. Positive reinforcement is much stronger than punishment. I mean, you got your puppy to be your family member, not someone that you will beat every day.
4. After a successful strike, cut the treats
Once your basset hound puppy does potty in the correct place 5 times in a row, cut the treats and just give them verbal praise. Treats are a great motivator, but if you give them treats every time they do potty, you will have an overweight dog in no time.
5. If they potty in the wrong place, clean it good
Basset hounds are hunting dogs. Their scent is very good. If they do potty in the wrong place, you will have to clean it very fast and very well. I even sprayed perfume just to cover the pee scent. Do not confuse them with multiple ”potty” scents. There should be only one, the one that you chose.
What If My Basset hound Has Submissive Urinating?
Submissive urinating is a nervous condition that basset hound puppies and even adult dogs can suffer from. This usually happens when they greet someone and are unable to ”hold it” because they are very sensitive to the situation. They will pee no matter where they are.
Dealing with a Basset who is displaying submissive urinating behaviors can be challenging, but there are ways to help make sure your pup gets the help he needs. First and foremost, it’s important to remain calm and patient when communicating with your dog during this time, as anxious or anxious-seeming human behavior can reinforce their anxiety.
Additionally, making sure to provide plenty of reward-based positive reinforcement when your pup behaves as you’d like them to is key – this will help them understand that not only do you still love them but that they’re doing good work when it comes to their training, too.
Finally, enrolling in both behavior modification and obedience classes with a professional trainer may be necessary for making lasting improvements; working one-on-one with an expert who understands canine communication can make all the difference in teaching your pooch the healthy behaviors you’d like to see.
What Should Be Done If The Basset Hound Has An Accident?
If a Basset Hound has an accident in the house, owners should remain calm and not scold the pet. The best course of action is to clean up the mess immediately with an enzyme-based cleaner which helps to remove both the odor and stain. You can also work toward preventing future accidents by increasing your pup’s activity level or providing more frequent potty breaks outside.
Basset hounds have been bred as hunting dogs and their scent is super strong. Any remaining smell will associate with this area and they will think it’s their potty area.
Make sure that you wash the towels immediately after cleaning the area. Also, do not spray something that could be poisonous for your basset hound as they might sniff the same place after. You can mix vinegar and baking soda, or just vinegar. Vinegar has a strong smell and the baking soda will take care of the bacteria.
Let me know how long it took you to potty train your basset hound in the comments.
