6 weeks is really young so you have to take your pup out often to go potty. Key times is after eating, drinking a lot, waking up from sleeping, after play, and basically every 30 mins for a while is you best strategy till he gets a little older. Supervision is the key you cannot correct a puppy for peeing or pooping in the house unless you catch them. They do not understand the correction if you did not catch them in the act so that is really important. Start crate training now so you can set good habits and your pup should sleep in the crate, now he cannot hold it all night so if he wakes up in the night take him out. This should last till about 12 weeks then they can start sleeping through the night.
If you so catch him going potty then say "NO" pick him up and take him out. when you do take him out and he goes potty then praise him you can also give it a name and teach them to go on command. I say "go potty" and all my dogs go on command it makes traveling easy.
I would not use puppy pad as we never want to encourage going potty in the house. What you could do is use them in the crate in case he has an accident.
Here is info on crate training, this article I wrote for my puppy class.
Crate Training
A crate is one of the most valuable items you could buy your dog. If you have not started crate training it’s not to late to introduce it to your puppy.
There are many different types of crates or kennels. They range from fancy wire crates to a plain plastic airline crate. The safest type of crate for a puppy would be a plastic airline crate. Wire crates are great for travel or for an adult dog that is already use to going in a crate. Wire crates can be very dangerous for puppies if they panic or try to get out. A puppy usually goes through stages in crate training where they try to get out or have a little of separation anxiety. A puppy could easily get caught up in the wire and harm them selves. Safest choice is to use an airline crate or plastic crate. Next you need to size the crate for the puppy. They should be able to stand up, turn around, and lay down comfortably. You may need to purchase another crate as your puppy grows.
Dogs have a natural instinct to “den”. A crate provides a safe place for your puppy to be when you cannot supervise them (going to work or having company over). Unfortunately it is very common for people to get rid of their dogs because of behavior issue that could have been solved by a crate.
Why crate your puppy
v Avoid destructive behaviors and soiling while you are away from your house or cannot supervise your puppy.
v Crates provide a safe place for your puppy. Puppies can be stolen or poisoned in their own back yards. (Unfortunately it happens more than you think)
v Crates help with housebreaking and help teach puppies to control their bowels. Puppies should also sleep in a crate at night.
v Having company over can be a dangerous time for your puppy. People coming in and out of your home can be deadly if your puppy gets outside. Guests that are allergic or scared can have relief by crating your puppy.
There are many great reasons to crate your puppy but a crate should never be used as a punishment. You want your puppy to love the crate not fear it. An adult dog should not have to be in a crate longer than 9 hours. Puppies should start off with 2-3 hours and work their way up to a full workday. Puppies should be able to hold it all night at the age of 12 weeks old.
How to crate train
You should start crating your puppy as soon as you get them. An easy way to introduce the crate is to feed them in the crate with the door open. Put the food in the far back corner of the crate. This will entice them to willing enter the crate on their own. (See the feeing handout) You should continue this step for the first couple of days. If they refuse to go inside you can try a bit of canned food on top of the dry food to offer a better reward.
Next step is to leave them in the crate for small periods of time. The first time your place your puppy in a crate you should be home. You want to make sure they are going to be ok and not go into a full panic. Place them in the crate and go in the other room. Ignore all crying it’s perfectly normal. After you have put them in supervised next is to leave them alone. (If you feel like they are going into a panic and you are worried please call Custom K9 Performance for suggestions)
Going to run an errand that will take less than two hours if perfect! Place your puppy in the crate and say a “ go crate” command. Close the door and leave. Your puppy may cry for a little while in the crate and it is perfectly normal. DO NOT LET THEM OUT if they are crying. If you take them out while they are crying you just taught them that all they need to do to get out is to make noise. It can take them 10 min to 1 hr to relax and stop making noise. Leaving the house relives your anxiety while they are crying. This stage usually only last a couple of days.
Crating at night is essential to preventing them from soiling the house or being destructive while you sleep. Once you introduce the crate with food, you can begin leaving them in the crate at night. Give them a “go crate” command and put them up for the night. Puppies younger than 12 weeks may wake you up in the middle of the night to go outside. They cannot hold it all night. After 12 weeks stop getting up in the middle of the night and let them learn to sleep without getting up. Same thing applies at night if they cry don’t let them out.
Appropriate bedding for a crate should be simple when you have a young dog. Remember they are young and will have accidents. The best thing to use is an old towel that can easily be washed. Once your puppy learns to not soil the crate then you can by a nice crate pad. Important note: If you notice that they are eating the towel. Take it out immediately. Some dogs like to eat the bedding and it can be a fatal mistake if it gets stuck in the gut. If they are just chewing a corner or two just monitor the towel. It’s normal behavior for them to be inquisitive and chew.
Proper toys can help them not to get board or have anxiety while you are gone. “Kongs” and “Nylabones” are the safest toy for you puppies. If you have aggressive chewers those should be the only toys allowed for them to play with unsupervised. “Kongs” are great because you can stuff many interesting things in them to keep your puppy busy. Peanut butter is real popular because it sticks inside and makes your puppy work to get it all out. “Kongs” can also be stuffed with canned food and put in the freezer over night. This makes a great treat that lasts a long time.
