Help with Housebreaking

[barngoddess]

Lucy is 15weeks old and I have had her almost 2 weeks. First of all I can't believe that I never had a boxer before. Anyway. She terrific in the crate, will NOT potty in there. Now when she goes out in the am it's potty and she potties quick. but for the rest of the day....it's maybe I'll go and maybe I'll just play and maybe you can stay out here with me for an hour and I will either pee or poop as soon as I get in the house or maybe I will potty out here and then I will potty again in the house as soon as you bring me in. Oh and she knows what she is doing because I caught her peeing the other night and she took off as soon as she saw me and tried to hide, so while I had to scold her I was trying not to laugh because it was funny. My 3 yr old grandaughter lives here and when I am babysitting it's a bit hard because Hope wants to come outside with us but then she trys to play with Lucy and I have explained to her a million times that she can play after Lucy potties but get a 3 yr old to understand that. I do have another dog a toy fox terrier but he is no help as he is disgusting, the world literally is his toilet. He marks his territory EVERYWHERE no matter what we do.Any help would be appreciated. Also what is the best product for getting rid of the smell. I have used Natures Miracle which hasn't stopped the male from going places that he has gone before and right now I have been trying Urine gone but hey that isn't really helping either. Oh and because he is so small 7 lbs I never crated the TFT.

 

[Net45582]

Well scolding isn't doing anything but scaring the pup.....Most dogs aren't fully housetrained until 5 or 6 months. the best way to train your pup is by lots of positive feedback when she does go when and where you want her to. As soon as Lucy does good give lots and lots of praise and maybe even a treat. If you catch her going inside,don't get emotional. Quickly take her out side...I've had luck by wiping the inside "oopsie" up with a paper towel and placing it outside in the area I want the dog to go. It takes patience ,persistance and consistency.Good luck

 

[gmacleod]

Mmmm. The joys of housebreaking

Sidhewlf is right - she isn't going to actually understand until she's quite a bit older. I'd say 6-7 months, personally. My definition of housebroken isn't just "accident free" it's a dog that understands that it should potty outdoors without exception, and that will hold it's bladder until it can get outdoors ( or else physically can't any longer). And there's precious few pups prior to about the 6-7 month mark that will do that. They're accident free simply because their needs are provided for - not because they'd hold on if the door wasn't opened.

Anyway, you're in the "fun" stage where your pup has absolutely no idea at all. She's pottying outside in the mornings because she has to go right now when you take her out. The rest of the time, she's no idea that you've got her out there for an actual purpose - nor that she shouldn't potty inside. Understanding that it makes you mad is different - she doesn't know it's the location that's at issue, so you should try to avoid scolding. She's more likely to believe that it's because she's actually peeing - which can then lead to her trying to avoid doing that in your presence, which in turn means you'll find it harder to get her to pee outdoors. Vicious circle

Best thing you can do is to take her out on a schedule - every half hour or so. If she doesn't pee straight away, try running her around a little and see if that doesn't help things along (it's a stimulant). When she does look like she's getting ready to go - quickly give her a potty command ("go potty" or whatever words you like - after a few months of that she'll understand what you mean, and then you'll have a dog that potties on command. Very useful ). And the instant she starts peeing, start praising. You cannot over-do the praise, it's the only means you've got of communicating to her that she just did a good thing.

If she doesn't go and you have to give up and go back indoors - then keep her right where you can see her. Still on leash, even. Because you *know* that she's going to do what every young puppy does - pee on the carpet within five minutes of coming back indoors. You know it, so use the knowledge to your advantage and do not let her out of your sight nor more than a few feet away. Then you can whisk her up and race her outside as soon as she's ready to pee.

Keep doing that, and in time your pup will come to understand that peeing is an outdoor activity. But don't forget that understanding the exclusive nature of that (ie. there are no exceptions, it must always be outside) will take several months. Therefore, until then, everything is 110% reliant upon you predicting and providing for her needs. So keep an eagle eye on her, get to know her bodily habits, and then you'll be able to always have her outside 2 minutes before she needs to go and not after.

 

[barngoddess]

I don't want anyone to think that by scolding her I mean hitting or anything like that, my scolding is Bad Lucy and she is like UMM OK and then Yeah!!!! Lets dance when she goes outside. And I told my daughter that if during the day she doesn't go when outside then put her in the crate and try again in about 15 minutes. Someone is always home here and while I love crate traing I also don't want her in there all the time. Mainly she is in the crate over night and when I leave for work until my daughter gets up. She is loose mainly unless of course we have to do something where we can't watch her, ie..shower, laundry things like that. The minute her crate door is opened she is taken outside.
She's learned the sit command pretty quick, so that's good.

 

[MxRxSth]

Patience, Patience, Patience is all I can say.

When we brought our female Samantha home she would do the same thing as far as having her outside for quite some time and not go potty outside but the second we walked in the door she would potty. I was so frustrated everytime she did this but in time in got better. She is still young and just trying to get the hang of it.

As for Syd our 12 week old Male. A totally different story. I am lucky to say that he never has done this and he is 95% housebroken already.

Good Luck and just be patient!