Housebreaking Question . . .

[cooper22]

Still not going well . . .

So Cedar is now almost 6 months old and he is still not getting the concept of housebreaking (we have been at this since 10 weeks old). I have a very strict routine (outside every 30-45 minutes to go potty and not back in until he is done) but yet I catch him peeing in the other room if I take my eyes off of him for even a minute. . . I can not shut the door because it is a living room and there is no door in that room. I mean it could be 15 minutes after he has been outside. . . He does not have a bladder infection or anything else that would be causing this. Our weather is great right now so it isn't even an issue of being cold outside. I have used the same exact routine with all of the boxers before this, but this one is testing my patience for sure. I have always had all of my dogs using the dog door to go potty outside on their own by 6 months old for sure. I am very frustrated with this new dog and I am wondering if he will ever get the hang of it. Has anyone else had a dog this stubborn to housebreaking? Thanks for any help.

 

[ehayes21]

As I mentioned before, you've already made it twice as hard for yourself by letting your dog go in the house when you first brought him home...You taught him first it's okay to go in the house and now you're trying to teach him it's NOT okay...so it's fair to say he's a bit confused. You're going to have to be patient and keep up the routine. If you can't keep an eye on him, put him in his crate or leash him to you.

 

[gmacleod]

I think that by this stage you have to figure that the method you've been using is not working. Therefore, it is time to try something else. The part about taking him out frequently is good (this is the only way you can give him positive feedback - i.e. lots of praise - when he pees outside). That is one essential element of training him. The other though, is stopping the indoor accidents.

I know you said that you cannot shut the door to the room he's peeing in. But you *do* need to stop him sloping off to pee unseen. There is no other option, so you have to think of a way to achieve this.

What are your options? Is there another part of the house you can keep a better eye on him in? If that is not practical, then I would suggest that you tether him to you when inside. This is a very common and effective way of housetraining adult dogs, and effective because it guarantees that the dog cannot pee somewhere without you knowing about it. Freedom of the house is for housetrained dogs ONLY, after all - it should not ever be given to untrained puppies

If practical, I guess another way of keeping him always in the same room as you and within your sight would be to use baby gates to contain him.

 

[cooper22]

Hi EHayes - I think you are mistaking me for another poster. I have never let my dogs go potty in the house (no potty pads or litter boxes or anything). He has been going outside since he was 10 weeks old (when I brought him home). I will keep trying to make this work it is just so frustrating. Thanks for everyones words of advice and encouragement. I guess this dog was brought here to test my patience. I do know that I could teather him to my side, but then he doesn't get any time to play or running around, but I guess that is the next thing to try at this point. Thanks

 

[ehayes21]

Hi EHayes - I think you are mistaking me for another poster. I have never let my dogs go potty in the house (no potty pads or litter boxes or anything). He has been going outside since he was 10 weeks old (when I brought him home). I will keep trying to make this work it is just so frustrating. Thanks for everyones words of advice and encouragement. I guess this dog was brought here to test my patience. I do know that I could teather him to my side, but then he doesn't get any time to play or running around, but I guess that is the next thing to try at this point. Thanks

Opps! You're right, I apologize.

 

[gmacleod]

I do know that I could teather him to my side, but then he doesn't get any time to play or running around, but I guess that is the next thing to try at this point. Thanks

Yup - because other measures aren't working. And besides, it is not as if you're talking about doing it forever! Most dogs of this age can be trained reasonably quickly, so you may only be talking about a matter of a few weeks (or 2-3 months maybe). Then he's got the next 10 years or so to have freedom in the house. Which is better than him spending the next 10 years peeing in the living room

He can also be loose when you're able to watch him closely. And you can take him for runs off leash also. Really, it's not that great a hardship for him on a temporary basis.

 

[cooper22]

So I have rigged up a system of chairs and gates to keep Cedar out of the room. When we are finally ready to let him back in the room do you have any suggestions? I have cleaned the carpet multiple times with enzyme urine cleaner and it seems good to go, but I wasn't sure if once we go back to that room if he will think that it is his ltter box. I caught him last night trying to get into the room and when I said no then he went right outside and pottied. I am thinking his first choice is the room and then next outside. Once he gains access back to the room (when he is completely trained) what should I do to make sure he doesn't regress? Thanks so much for all your suggestions. They are livesavers!!

 

[ehayes21]

So I have rigged up a system of chairs and gates to keep Cedar out of the room. When we are finally ready to let him back in the room do you have any suggestions? I have cleaned the carpet multiple times with enzyme urine cleaner and it seems good to go, but I wasn't sure if once we go back to that room if he will think that it is his ltter box. I caught him last night trying to get into the room and when I said no then he went right outside and pottied. I am thinking his first choice is the room and then next outside. Once he gains access back to the room (when he is completely trained) what should I do to make sure he doesn't regress? Thanks so much for all your suggestions. They are livesavers!!

Once he finally gets it, I don't think you'll have a problem. Especially if you've cleaned any remaining smells out of the carpet. But of course, just as a safe guard you should always keep an eye on him regardless.

Now I have a question for you...when you said this:

I caught him last night trying to get into the room and when I said no then he went right outside and pottied.

You accompany him when he goes outside, correct?

 

[Sansal]

I totally understand what you are going through, I had the same problem with my puggle Happy. She wasn't completely housetrained until she was about a year old. It was sooo frustrating. Like your dog she also had her favorite spot on one of our carpets. Is there a way you could change the carpet or put a different carpet over it? I think if a dog pees on a carpet many times it is very difficult to totally get the smell out, even with enzyme urine cleaner. Happy got a lot better after we moved to a different apartment. It will probably take a while until your dog completely gets it but don't give up!

 

[bigboychief]

Dogs are like children..they are all different...and all learn at their own pace!

Chief was pretty much fully trained at 10 weeks, but did relapse a few times before his 1st birthday. It was very odd, he would urinate on my kids things...their toys or clothes. I don't know if he was marking his territory or what! LOL