Help Me Please!!!

[Sasha Fawn]

Sasha is 8mths... spoiled rotten... and still having accidents in the house. It is very apparent that she knows she is supposed to go outside but if I am not paying her attention she will go in the house or if I am away for an hour or 2 and come back she will go by the back door (which we go out for her to use the bathroom). She is also having big fits when she is placed in her crate.

I know I messed up by giving her too many liberties too soon but how do I correct this?

Does anyone know of a good obedience school in the DC area?

 

[boxer]

If your girl is going to the back door when she needs to potty but is unable to get out and ends up going on the floor by the door, then I really don't think you can blame the dog at all. She's trying to do the right thing - not her fault if she can't.

2 hours is not a long time between potty breaks for an 8 month old though. I assume you've already taken her to the vet to look for a physical cause (possibly a UTI)? If not, then that should be your first port of call.

If there is no physical problem, then you've either got a dog with a very small bladder (quite possible - not all dogs, or people for that matter, can last all day without having to potty) or else she's not so well trained as you think. I'd go back to puppy-potty-training 101 where you're taking her out as often as she seems to need to go (every two hours in your case), and maintaining a state of constant vigilence the rest of the time.

 

[Erica&Riley]

Sasha Fawn-

I have heard great things about the Northern Virginia Dog Training Club (aka Mt Vernon Dog Training Club). The cost is very cheap ($60) and I believe they have classes in Arlington and Alexandria. You can look up their website...try a search on Mount Vernon Dog Training Club.

Hope this helps!

 

[Sasha Fawn]

Thank you all so much for your suggestions, I plan to use each one of them.

When I catch her in the act I usually bring her too the area and tell her bad potty... then praise her when she goes outside. Hopefully this training in Virginia will do us both some good.

Thanks again.

Charles

 

[Jan]

If you haven't caught her in the act there is no point scolding her. She doesn't remember going potty. You could try putting a bell on the door, so that she can ring it when she wants of go out. When you can't watch her you could try putting her in her crate or you could tether her to you. That way she can't wander off. You will notice when she gets restless and starts to sniiff at the ground and you can quickly take her out.

Good look!

 

[Rocco's_Mom]

I agree

I have a 13 mth old boxer and he did the exact same thing. We got him completely house trained and about 6 wks later he started going in the house again. Just stick with it, we haven't had any accidents in probbly 7 mths. Good luck!

 

[kacee]

Our puppy was still having accidents at that age. She's now a year and a half and hasn't had one since 11 months. It was frustrating as all our previous dogs were trained by 6 months at the latest. Some just seem to take longer.

 

[Makena'sMom]

Potty training

One thing that helped us with potty training was teaching Makena that the whole house was her den. If she had an accident, we would simply feed her in that same spot the next time since she doesn't like to eat in the same place that she goes potty. She now views the whole house as her den and has been potty trained with no accidents for 6 weeks and she's only 18 weeks old.
If we caught her in the act, we'd simply say potty outside and let her outside immediately.
We also bell trained her (thank you all on BW for this recommendation) to avoid any accidents when we were busy and not always watching her signs. She picked up the bell within the first 24 hours.
I know every dog is different but these things worked for us Good luck.

 

[sherri0121]

I would definately get some bells to hang on the back door (the one she uses to go out). At least until she knows what the bells are for, I'd take her paw to hit the bells everytime you take her out to do her business. That way if she is at the door you'll know. I've got 4 dogs 2 use the bell, one just sits and stares at me and the other I have to guess when she needs to go. The two youngest ones I trained using the bells. I think Jasmine was about 4 or 5 months when she was going out consistantly and no accidents to date. Hope this helps. I feel your pain.

 

[lelowade]

Boxer and Bathroom Breaks

Hello everyone,

I wanted to find out how old was your boxers before you stopped taking them out for potty breaks. I have a 5 month old boxer and everyday myslef of another family member comes to take him out during lunch. Many have told me at this age he should be able of holding it. My only concern is for him to develop a bladder infection. During the day (while we are at work )he stays in his crate and it not allowed out.

Am I starting a bad habit?