How do you stop all pee pee accidents ?

[FreyjasMom]

Our girl is 6mos old, she is bell trained and will ring to go out 99% of the time. She has not pooped in the house in several weeks( maybe longer) but we still have an occasional pee pee accident, maybe once a week. It is usually right in front of the door and she has not rung her bells when this happens.

I guess I am wondering what I should be doing to stop the accidents completely, when I catch her I tell her "ah ah ah" and pick her up and take her outside, but she usually will not try to go again at that point. Should I be doing something more at this stage ? Is this normal and something she will just continue to grow out of ? We still give her a treat every time she rings and another treat when she does her business outside. I am just not sure how to make it clear to her that she needs to hold it until someone lets her out ALL the time and that is not okay to go in the house.

Any advice would be much appreciated ! I just need to figure out how to give her that final nudge to get completey house broken and not just bell trained etc.

 

[jbbtlr]

She is still only 6 months old. From the sounds of it she is doing pretty good. She might be holding her bladder just a little too long and when she realizes she needs to go, she is going to the back door but she isn't getting out quick enough and well she has an accident. If her accidents are usually by the back door then she is letting you know that she needs to go out. She just might forget to ring the bell from time to time. They are not robots. The bell is just a tool to help you, not something I would rely on 100% of the time. Especially when they are not completely house broke yet. Its great that she has that habit but I think you need to pay a little more attention and if she is by the back door she is letting you know. I could be way off there but I wouldn't rely on the bell 100%.

Good luck, sounds like she is doing good!

 

[FreyjasMom]

Thank you for your response

Just to clarify, she usually does this right in front of us. I don't think it is a situation of us missing her signal etc. She is doing AWESOME with her potty training, I am so proud of her. I have read on here that most dogs start to get it at around 6-7 mos of age. I guess my question was more geared towards trying to figure out if there is anything else I should be doing to help her "totally" get it or if it is still just an age issue. I did read one of the moderators posts where they discussed the difference between being bell trained and house broken and that is what I am trying to make sure I am doing correctly, is getting her all the way house broken and not just bell trained.

 

[jbbtlr]

Another suggestion, maybe try and write down when she is going and there is usually a pattern. Like every hour or every hour and 10 minutes, then when it comes that time, tell her its time to go potty, have her ring the bell, then out you go.

Another option, is to monitor her water. This way you know when she has had some and about when it is time to go out.

Hope that helps.

 

[jethrosmommy]

I did read one of the moderators posts where they discussed the difference between being bell trained and house broken and that is what I am trying to make sure I am doing correctly, is getting her all the way house broken and not just bell trained.

Hey! Where would I find this article you referenced. I'm new and not sure if it's in a really obvious place, but I'd like to read it! Thanks.

 

[FreyjasMom]

jethrosmommy - I am not sure exactly where it was. Sorry ! I probably did a search under dog training for potty training and was just browsing thru the different posts. It was a longer post by one of the moderators though where they discussed several things about potty training, if I remember correctly

 

[jethrosmommy]

Ok thanks! I'll have to do some digging today. We're going to try some new methods tonight and I think the bell could possibly work well for us. We'll see though...I think we're starting to learn that Jethro is still a little young and he has some serious Boxer ADD!

 

[FreyjasMom]

We didn't start Freyja on bell training until she was about 3.5mos old. It did not take her long to catch on though. The bell has been a life saver because she never barks. She is 7mos now and still never barks. About the only thing she barks at is the vacuum or when she is trying to get the kitties to play with her It has really helped if we are in another room because we wouldn't hear her just scratch at the door.

 

[jethrosmommy]

ughhh barking

Ugh...don't even get me started on BARKING! haha He never barks except when we put the baby gate up to block him out of the kitchen (in the morning while I get breakfast ready, and when I cook dinner). It keeps him out form under my feet and gives the cat a safe place to be with me....but he just sits on the other side and barks and barks. When I tell him NO he barks louder and growls. All of this despite my husband sitting int he living room with toys ready to play! We're hoping he grows out of it!

I'd LOVE if he barked to go potty! haha

 

[FreyjasMom]

I have not tried this personally, as Freyja doesn't bark, but I read in another post somewhere to try telling him Shhhh, and holding your finger to your mouth, if he stops barking give him a treat. He will probably just start again after you treat him but it is worth as try....maybe after a while he will catch on. You may already be doing this.

As far as the potty stuff, hang in there. I think it was just about the time I thought the accidents and all the breaks would never end when I realized she was holding it longer and starting to use her bells. It came just in time