Housebreaking!!!!!

I just got a 4 month old Lab retriever terrier mix. Can anyone give me
GREAT SOLID advice on how to housebreak a puppy?? The last thing I want
it puppy spots all over my house! I know to take him outside as soon as
I get home from work. I am also trying to crate train him as well. If
he does have an accident I am taking him directly outside for a walk
and then right into his Crate for a "time out". Am I doing this
correctly??

Janet B...

No. You should be watching him like a hawk (he needs to be in
whatever room you are in) and taken out on a schedule - every time he
wakes up, every hour if he's awake and active after meals, first thing
in the morning, last thing at night. The crate should be a safe
place.

If you catch him, sound disappointed, and take him outside and ask him
to go. If he produces, throw a party. If not, back in and keep a
close eye on him - clean up thoroughly.

I also have his water/food bowls out so he can get them at anytime,
Should I be putting them away until he needs fed??

Janet B...

Leave water out, feeding should be on a schedule, measured amounts,
3x/day. He gets 15 minutes to eat and the it goes away and nothing
until the next meal if he hasn't eaten it.

t...

This may be a ginormous thread to nowhere, as there are as many
different opinions on how best to do this as there are dog owners.
Also be on the looking for some goofball who'll undoubtely reply here
and capitalize HOWE throughout his reply and promptly ignore him.

I'm a fan of the Monks of New Skete's books -- How To Be Your Dog's
Best Friend and The Art Of Raising A Puppy. They's on board with:

RESPONSIBLE Crate training is good. Make sure the crate is
the right size (not too big). Make sure it's introduced to
him gradually and that he identifies it as his den and a place
he likes.

Many consider it a huge mistake to use the crate as any sort
of punishment. Dunno what you mean by a "time out" there, but
just clarifying.

Your puppy may not be able to hold it all day yet. So no
locking him in the crate when you head off to work and expect
things to be happy when you get home in the afternoon.

A schedule is very important to house training. Do not leave
food out free all the time--especially with a scarfing lab mix
who'll eat every thing in sight.

Dog in the crate whenever you can't watch him like a hawk, but
you have to arrange your schedule so he's not in the crate all
the time!

Start the day letting him out immediatley on leash. Offer
food and water afterward. Then in a few minutes after that,
back outside.

Take em outside at frequent intervals. Always to the same
area they've gone before. Scent posts/marking are important
to the pooches.

If they make a mistake inside treat as something you did wrong
in not seeing the signs. Don't let the dog see you clean it
up. Use chemical deodorizers to mask the scent entirely or
they'll be inclined to do it again in that spot.

- Thank you for anyone with advice.