I am frustrated and discouraged (need advice)

[fvalls]

Gracie is now a little over 4 months and I am still having a “really hard time” potty training her. I am a new dog owner so I am not sure if this is normal or if I am just doing something wrong. About 2 weeks ago I tried something new. I put the kennel right next to the doggy door so she could go in and out whenever she wanted. Now she takes her self outside to do her business. However, like I feared she hasn’t learned that the point is to go outside and not go inside the house. Any time she is inside the house for more than 20 min or you leave her unintended for more than 2-3 min she pees inside. For example, today I took her and my son on a walk. We went outside through the laundry room which she is not used to. She wouldn’t follow me and instead of just dragging her outside I just waited a minute outside and kept calling her name. She then came outside and we went on the walk. After we came back I saw that she had peed on the carpet! It’s always the same spot too. I don’t know what to do. I am really discouraged and frustrated because I would love for her to always be free in the house with us. Please give me advice. Just as a FYI before I was taking her outside and I used treats, clicker and affection every time she had to go. She would still go in the carpet if you let her inside for more than 20 min. Thank you.

 

[warmellie]

She is still young yet to be fully housebroken. I know you didn't want to hear that, !

With my dogs, when they were puppies, I had the word "potty" I used to get them to go, when I needed them to. You can use a different word if you choose, but it has to be the same word every time.

At first, wait until she is in the act of peeing/pooing (outside where you want her to go, of course don't use this method when she goes where you don't want her to go) and repeat the word over and over until she is finished. Then praise. It will take some time, but she will come to assoicate the word with the deed.

Schedule her feeding times also and don't offer free feeding. With scheduled feedings (say offering two meals a day....one in morning, the other at night) Dogs will have to eliminate right after a meal, most of the time. I always let my boys out after a meal, so they can do their buisness. It helps to get them on a schedule (plus, Lucas would eat until he exploded if he could get food all the time)

 

[fvalls]

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Even though I dont like to hear that it makes me feel better. When I was taking her outside I do use the work potty and she was going pretty much on command (or atleast it seemed like it). I do also have 3 scheduled feedings. After reading your post I think I should start taken her outside to go potty after the meals. Even if she is taking her self out other times this will help reinforce the behavior. Thank you for the help. When should most dogs be fully housetrainned?

 

[jeffbotteril]

I use the 'potty' command method and has worked pretty well. But when 4months or so - you should expect lapses.

Might be time to think about cutting down meals to two a day soon possibly - could help.

If on you're walks you do not see her doing the business try to stay out until she does or keep her outside until she goes - not very helpful at times I know but I found it the only way to ensure they didnt go straight away in the house.

My girl especially would rather hold it in and do it in the garden/house than potty outside her territory (somebody might see her) - so I just kept her on long walks as much as possible until she did her business (sometimes she won), now as she is older she is not so coy about where she goes.....

 

[BetsyB]

My Mackensie was house trained at 4 months, as was my foster puppy Merlin. I know not all dogs train so early, but it is possible!
I used bell training for them both. I caught them mid-accident in the house and said "UH UH" and then took them out to finish. I also never left them unsupervised for even a minute if I didn't want to find a wet spot on my floor. They were either crated, gated in a room, or attached to me by a leash, until they had earned my trust enough to be unsupervised for a few minutes at a time, and then gradually increased their alone time.
As far as your pup going in the same spot, you need to use an odor neutralizer after you've cleaned up the spot. There are many different brands you can buy like Nature's Miracle, or Odor-Out, but I just use plain old white vinegar in a spray bottle.
Putting them on a feeding schedule will help, but you also need to remember that lots of factors will result in them having to potty, not just eating and drinking. Exercise and excitement are huge contributors to accidents. You take your pup out to potty, then play a bit as a reward for them having done their business outside, then go back inside. Well, the bit of playtime outside has gotten them excited enough to have to potty again, so the minute you come inside you let them wander around thinking they just went so they shouldn't have to go again for a little while, and then you end up with a wet sock, or worse! After playtime, give them the command to eliminate again before returning inside.
I guess them most important things are to not give them the opportunity to have an inside accident, and if they do to clean and neutralize completely. Hope this helps. Hang in there, just when you think they're never going to "get it", they'll surprise you!

 

[Jagers Mommy]

Yea, Jager potty trained very quickly, mostly because I learned his I-gotta-go cues quickly! I took him out before and after every meal, and for a little while at first, I took him out every 15-30 minutes and he would go. They have very tiny bladders when so young, and it's hard for them to hold it. So, some of his cues used to be sniffing the floor, walking around aimlessly, and then soon he would actually go to the door! Now he jumps up on the couch and reaches for the leash to let me know . . . and if I try to wait for a commercial or something, he bounces up and down at the door til I listen! hehe! He learned very quickly! I was lucky!

 

[tianthai]

I also had a very hard time housebreaking my dog. My dog was completely house broken when he was about a year old. I don't know about other dogs but I am sure I am not the only one. I used to write a diary, yes, you might laugh, of my dog's pee and poo situation. I took him out first thing in the morning, after each meal, before nap, after nap, after active playing, last thing at night. I took him out every 30 mins, then 45 mins, then an hour etc. If he did not do I usually put him on my lap and waited for 5-10 mins before taking him out again. I tried bell-training but he abused the bell by ringing practically every 5 mins. After 2 months of the bell I gave up. When he did his business outside I always gave a treat. I never left him unsupervised, if he peed at home I said uh-uh (with almost scolding voice). I did practically what I was told both by someone very knowledgeable on this website and by reading about 10 books on this subject. By the way my dog is also crate-trained but he would go in and pee without any problem if he had to.
The first three months of trying to house-train a puppy is the most frustrating thing to do but nevertheless he will eventually be house-trained. Now I believe that house-training is supervision and prevention, nothing more and nothing less. Dogs generally do not want to upset you but they just cannot hold it and they will do what they have to do. My dog had no problem pee-ing in his crate or his bed if he had to. Now he can hold longer and knows how to tell me when he wants to go.
You must be very frustrated but please don't give up on your dog. I wish I could email you my dog's pee and poo diary! Slowly she will learn what you ask of her but firstly she must be able to hold.
Good luck!

 

[Draymia]

I don't think I have ever had a puppy housebroken at four months. Usually, it is around six to nine months. Every puppy is different.

You may also want her checked for a bladder infection. Sometimes, they have to go much more often, if they have an infection.

Hang in there.

 

[Murp.mm]

Oh my goodness. She is only a baby. I wouldn't expect her to be housetrained that early. My poodle was very quick but Ali was almost a year before I could really trust her. I know that sounds a long time but I think a lot of people will agree that expecting her to be trained at 4 months is a bit early. Don't worry - like children some dogs train earlier than others but eventually they all will train. Good Luck!!

 

[fvalls]

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Thank you for the advice. I will just keep doing what I am doing and be patient.