Housetraining Problem

[Caney Creek]

No offense to anyone, but it is hard to choose who to listen to, when everyone has a different opinion and they all sound logical. Wish there was one right way to do it.

As with any type of training method you have to pick the one that you are comfortable with and the one that your dog responds to. There really is no "right" answer here. What you can use is a collection of everything you read/hear and then utilize a combination of everything until you hit on something that brings you results.

Agreed. It's whatever works for your pup. You start out by applying the least amount of "effort" (for lack of a better word) and increase only as you see the need with your particular pup. My two girls are a great example of having the need for different training methods. If I were to whistle at Creek, even yell, to try and stop her right before she squatted, she'd only stare at me while she finished her business. Caney on the other hand can hear the faintest sound right before she's about to "go," and then she completely forgets what she's come outside for.

 

[luagolddan]

And one more new question:
I took her out just a few minutes to do after she had eaten. She had her leash on, and was just sitting staring at me and she wouldnt move. So I decided to take the leash off to see if anything would happen. Within less than a minute she pooped and peed, like she had just been waiting for me to take the collar off all along. Is she too young to be using a leash with? We always have her on a leash when we are going on walks with her, and she usually does ok, but we do have to coax her a little every once in a while. If she learns now that going to the bathroom without a leash on is good, will it effect her leash skills later in life? Thanks again.

Thanks for all the quick and helpful replies! So is the leash thing not a big issue? I have taken her out several times since that post without the leash and she has gone within five minutes everytime! I let her run around a little bit and explore also, so she is going potty and getting some playtime in. She really likes chewing on leaves...

 

[Althea]

@Caney Creek -- Yep! I have no idea why you should interrupt them when they are mid-squat. I did that with Suki the other day, as she squatted to poo, then spent the next twenty minutes walking her around outside. Nothing. Brought her back inside, and HOURS later, she pooped in the house anyway. Grrr....But then she gives me the "I sorry mom" doe eyes and I can't help but snuggle her.

 

[jackdtucker]

Sorry to ruffle everyone's feathers on here but I do what works for me and always have...I know everyone has different methods, but this is how I do it... And I will gladly put my dog next to any other to prove that my way works...The best thing about doing it my way, is that I haven't had to so much as raise my voice to Tucker in over a year...I'm not saying that his "puppyhood" was spent with discipline, he is probably the most spoiled dog out there. He aims to please and knows what I expect. In turn he is rewarded. Sorry for my rant, I recon I'll have to keep my fingers away from the keyboard the next time someone wants an opinion

 

[chipnjo]

I dont know what I can add to the OP. But, I will say that I didn't think the light at the end of the tunnel would EVER come. But, it did. Took weeks, but it DID come. And, I mean weeks.

We brought Allie home at 10 weeks, and I didn't see but one or two signs, hard to interpret signs mind you, until she was 14 weeks. One day, it just clicked and she started looking at the door.

What worked for us was finally tethering her leash to our belts to keep her within 4 feet of us at all times. That worked partially because she wanted her freedom, and mostly to focus US on every move she made.

Once she looked at the door, out we went, and treated like we had been doing already. For some reason, it took about one look and treat....and BANG....it stuck. Look at door, door opens. Go potty, get treat. Me like treats, me try to go outside for ever more.

We have had one accident, 14 days later, and it was right at the door because we were preoccupied with kids' baths and never saw it.....our fault.

Good luck! And, hard as it seems, be patient. I never thought it would happen, but it finally did. It will for you, too.

 

[Caney Creek]

Thanks for all the quick and helpful replies! So is the leash thing not a big issue? I have taken her out several times since that post without the leash and she has gone within five minutes everytime! I let her run around a little bit and explore also, so she is going potty and getting some playtime in. She really likes chewing on leaves...

Lots of pups are like that... sheesh, Caney is 3 and just now getting to the point where she will "go" when on the leash!

She's definitely not too young for the leash, and she really should be wearing it for safety reasons... BUT, for the sake of housebreaking her, I'd allow her off-leash to potty if that is what it takes, as long as you are in a safe area where she couldn't easily run off into traffic or something like that. After a few weeks when she's been consistently going potty outside and has had very few accidents, start keeping the leash on her again when you take her outside. Also take as many opportunities as possible to get her more accustomed to the leash -- attach it to her collar and let her to drag it around when no one is holding it, whether she's outside (again, in a safe place) or inside the apartment.

In the meantime, get to work cleaning that carpet!

 

[crawson]

So helpful!

Thank you everyone for the great replies to this! We are going through the same thing right now and as a younger couple and this being our first baby (cats are much easier to house-train!) we tend to get discouraged. We know that patience is KEY, and persistence, but it is still hard. Yesterday after reading these posts, we tried the suggestions about taking Turk out EVERY time there is a little event (naps, drinks, food, play) and noticed a total 180 just in an afternoon. Not only speaking in terms of accidents, but in his demeanor when it was time to go out. Maybe this is silly, but I think he could tell that we were happier with him and therefore he was excited to be making us happy. It's fantastic!

 

[luagolddan]

ya, all the replies on this thread were extremely helpful. After reading these we started taking her out every 30 minutes or so, instead of waiting for her to start going. Made a huge difference! Now we take her out every hour or so, she has gotten so much better. Still has an accident every so often, but sometimes she goes to the door and just sits there, telling us she has to go. Still has a way to go, but she has gotten tremendously better.

 

[Kilby'sMum]

Just picked up this thread and when you said you had to wait a whole 10 minutes I was green with envy as I remembered HOURS spent outside with Kona while she did nothing only to pee/poop within 5 minutes of going inside (gotta love 'em). I think you're doing all the right things, just keep it up By the time Kona got it I'm sure my neighbours thought I was mad standing in the dark and rain at 3am shouting "GOOD GIRL GO POTTY...OH WHAT A GOOD GIRL" and on and on!! She's now about 20mths old and has still only ever pooped twice while on a leash (and she didn't seem too pleased about it those times either )