Backwards dog??

[GarnetnGold]

We have an almost 11 week puppy. Im doing the potty training with him quite vigilantly. I have been taking him out every 10-15 minutes to do his bizniz. He gets praised when he go goes. He was actually doing very well for a little guy. Then two days ago he decided that he wasnt going to do potty outside but wait til he got back in the house!!! I had him outside this morning 4 times (between 5 am and 6 am) and twice we stayed out for about 20 minutes. He did NOTHING! He ran around, chewed grass, sniffed stuff.... but no potty. It seemed the minute we walk thru the door he'd run to find a spot and pee or poop. He pooped in the house this morning twice and pee'd three times. Im not sure what Im doing wrong here. Crating him is not an option for us as he cries, howls, and screams like a banshee and keeps my very young children up when doing so!! Even just containing him in the kitchen causes him to go into a state of sheer panic!!! I know potty training takes time and my little green steam machine is getting a workout. Im prepared for accidents! I just want some advice on setting him back on the RIGHT track. In otherwords, not waiting til he come in to pee!!!

Thanks in advance,
Gina

 

[lafsalot]

Hi Gina, I always watched my pups like a hawk the first few weeks at home. The minute they started to relieve themselves inside, I immediately picked them up and took them outside to finish. Hang in there, they eventually get the hang of it ~ Cathy

 

[boxer]

Things you could try:

• Take him out to potty on a leash. He needs to learn what are 'business' trips and what aren't.
• Keep a diary of when he pees and poops - that will help you to anticipate his needs. Add into that that at this age he'll need to go within minutes of waking up, eating, drinking, or playing (sometimes during play, so if anyone is playing with him, your eagle eye needs to be extra-vigilent) and generally about every 45 minutes or so.
• You need to be extremely vigilent about watching him while he is awake, and know where he is at all times. If you can't use a crate, you might even want to think about tethering him to you so he can't slope off and potty anywhere un-noticed.
• When you catch him in the act of pottying indoors (the vigilence issue) you need to shout out something like "uh uh" and clap your hands loudly - the aim being to startle (not frighten) your pup into stopping mid-flow. You can then scoop him up and race him outdoors to finish. Praise him madly when he does finish outdoors, and anytime he potties outside, and he will gradually come to the realisation that pottying is not a problem, but location matters

I guess the bottom line on all potty training is that for several months, success is completely reliant on you, not the pup. You can be accident-free only by making sure you're right there to take him out at the time he needs to go, and by eliminating the opportunities he has to make a mistake. Well, it's a lot of work, but in time he will learn. Good luck

 

[GarnetnGold]

• When you catch him in the act of pottying indoors (the vigilence issue) you need to shout out something like "uh uh" and clap your hands loudly - the aim being to startle (not frighten) your pup into stopping mid-flow. You can then scoop him up and race him outdoors to finish. Praise him madly when he does finish outdoors, and anytime he potties outside, and he will gradually come to the realisation that pottying is not a problem, but location matters

Firstly, thanks SOoooooo much for the ideas!! I will definitely try the leash. Now for the portion I quoted.... Ive been doing exactly that but it seems to upset him. He will stop midstream or "pinch it off" but once I carry him outside to finish he just finds a hiding spot and sort of cowers.... never actually finishing the job! I dont want to traumatize him or anything and Im not really YELLING or clapping very loudly either!!! *sigh* Well, again, thanks a million for the ideas and advice! I appreciate it!

Hugs,
Gina