I'm having trouble housebreaking my Bichon Frise. She's 5 months old
and still "goes in the house occasionally. Any Suggestions?

Hi lcombs,

Thank you for your question.  The main reason you're probably still
having problems is Bichon's take a longer time to be housetrained. 
Generally speaking, don't expect 'near perfect' results until at least
9 months of age.


Bichon Frise FAQ
http://www.bichonfrise.org/faq.html

Is it easy to train a Bichon?

"You must be consistent and patient while house training a Bichon.
They are very intelligent but Bichons are not always cooperative with
house training. House training can be difficult but not impossible.
House training works best if you confine the dog while you are not
watching them or else you will end up with numerous "accidents". Crate
training makes it much easier to house train the dog.

The main rule to follow is keep the dog confined to the room you are
in and give them access, on a regular basis, to the place where you want
them to go. Bichons can be paper trained or trained to go outside.
Establish a routine and follow it. Bichons can even be trained to go on cue
with patience and consistency. Each time they do it where you want it done,
praise them, which they love. Bichons are not as easy to house train as some
other breeds but it can be done." 

Bichon Frise - HOw to Crate Train A Puppy
http://www.bichonfrise.org/crate.html

=========

Bichon Frise: Get The Facts About This High-Maintenance Breed  Before
You Buy!!!  by Bill Dreker, Member The Bichon Frise Club of America,
Inc.
http://www.nuagebichon.com/get_the_facts.pdf

"1) They are very difficult to housebreak / potty train. Bichons are a
slow maturing breed and, as such, take longer and are more difficult
to potty train than many other breeds. We have found that Bichon
puppies do not potty train well before the age of 9 months. And
sometimes they never are 100% housebroken. It takes patience, time and
a great deal of determination to potty train a Bichon puppy.

"Crate" training is an absolute for this breed. This does not mean,
though, than you justput your puppy in a crate and there is very
little work on your part! You are going tohave to take your Bichon
puppy out when he/she first wakes up, right after they eat and every
few hours in between; then, before you go to bed, you'll need to take
them out again. While the dog is still a puppy, you need to set your
alarm and get up once or twice during the night to take him out. Even
after all this, there are going to be "accidents".

If a dog having a "accident " in your home is going to bother you,
then the Bichon is not the breed for you. They have lots of accidents.
If someone is not home during the day, this is not the breed for you.
They really need to get out every two hours."

=========

I answered a very similar question regarding housetraining.  There are
many helpful tips and hints on how to go about training a puppy, do's
and don'ts for you the owner, information on Crate Training, and
Submissive Urination.

It's a long post - but the information applies to all dogs - no matter
what breed!  The page can be found at:
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=364676

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=========

Best regards,
tlspiegel

I would think training one of those things would be somewhat simmilar
to training a dog.

Sure! Pick up a spritz bottle at the dollar store. Fill it with cold
water and keep it handy. When you catch him squatting in the house
pick him up and give him a one or two good "spritzes" right in the
face, accompanied with a stern NO! Then put him outside.

In time he will learn that his actions have consequences. While he's
learning, praise him big when he comes back inside for now, even if he
doesn't "go" out there. Then when he does start putting two-and-two
together and making poo outside, be sure to always praise him up real
big when he "does" do his businesss out there.

3 tips from me:  

Trick to training ANY dog: repetition, correction and praise.

Swatting with the newspaper and rubbing nose in poo - bad plan.

Spritz bottle - good, cheap, safe, painless, house dog training tool.

Remember you heard it here first.

tutuzdad-ga

Do not pick up and "spritz" in the face! If you pick up the dog it
will associate you with the punishment.
You must watch them, catch them in act, act put them out. Then praise.
http:www.combsinfo.com