I'm going to pull my hair out.

[Misty Hofbau]

OK.... I am abiut to pull my hair out. Cooper is now 10 weeks ols and we have had him for 5 weeks. He went for like 8 days without going potty in the house. He was even starting to go to the door and whine a little. I was so proud of him. And then yesterday. I got up to let him out first thing in the morning, and he wouldn't go out. I have no idea why, but he didn't want to go. So I made him go outside for 10 minutes and let him back in. Almost instantly, he went pee on the floor. So I scared him into stopping and ran him outside. We were out there for 20 minutes and he didn't go..... So back inside we came and like 10 minutes later, he went on the floor again. AAAAAHHHHGGG! What is the problem? It has been like 4 weeks sinse he has went poop on the floor, but I can't figure out why he is peeing now, after doing so good for awhile. And to top it all off, he chewed my brand new vacuum cleaner cord in half. Someone, please tell me it will get better soon, and it will all be worth it.
Thanks for reading, Misty

 

[kelcal]

re: pulling hair out

Misty,
It has been my experience that consistancy is the only thing that works.I have a soda can with coins in it and I toss it in my dogs direction when he tries to do a no no.seems to be working.Boxers can be very stubborn and they are very smart.When they figure you out,they try to change things to their way..
Good luck with the training,I have a new pup to but he has only been in his new home since saturday.
let the fun begin:rolleyes:
kelley

 

[cashisking]

What do you do when he actually goes outside?

 

[frankied]

It will get better! He's still just a baby. Potty training can be trying but you just have to keep at it. Angel also did very well at first and then reverted. Sometimes it is take one step forward, two steps back. Hang in there! He'll catch on soon enough. As with the chewing...that gets better too! Everytime Angel chewed on something bad (I.E. the big hole in my Couch!!!!!!!!!!) I'd reprimand her and then put her toy in her mouth. Maybe it sounds silly but it worked! Good luck! They are worth all the trouble!

Christa & Angel

 

[kelcal]

re:pulling hair out

when my pup goes outside I give him a doggy treat the second he finishes.good luck,kelley

 

[PawPrintBoxers]

Misty, your puppy is only 10 weeks old. It will take time for him to be potty trained. As well, 5 weeks was way too early to have brought him home. Shame on a breeder that would be so irresponsible.

Just keep being consistant. Take him out every 30 minutes during all waking hours. And take him out right after eating and drinking. Just do this over and over again, every single day. Praise him up like crazy when he does go potty outside.

Housebreaking will be one of the hardest things you teach him. But don't think of it as having been training him for 5 weeks. Think of it as him only being on this planet for 10 weeks As a human child, we could barely hold our head up and we DEFINITELY were not housebroken at 10 weeks :D

__________________
Christina Ghimenti
PawPrint Boxers

Sunny Northern California
Boxer Champions and Loving Pets

 

[cashisking]

10 weeks is very young!!!

when I was potty training Cassius everything was over dramatic. When he went inside, I acted like it was the end of the world, just looking very angry while cleaning it up (if caught in the act) saying "potty outside" If he went outside I acted as if he had just hung the moon, treat praise, "good potty outside" praise, everything magnified x10. It seemed to work with Cash, my Beagle on the other hand is not so eager to please me.... Be consistant, and praise the good stuff!!!!

Jenn

 

[Scrapper's Mom]

Aww, ten weeks old is just a baby. And Boxers (and dogs in general) get potty trained a lot faster than human babies! Remembr, he is not doing this to make you angry. When he pees inside the house, you need to consistently snatch him up and take him outside, to the same place, and use the same words, i.e., "Go potty" or "Outside potty," or whatever you use. And when you scared him into stopping peeing, he probably thought that he couldn't pee at all, so didn't go when he was outside either, until he couldn't hold it anymore and that happened to be inside. Heed Jenn and Christina's words of wisdom, when your baby does pee in the right place, act like it's the absolute best thing in the world he could have done. And you could add a treat as well.

Repeat after me, "10 weeks old is just a baby." Scrapper still had an occasional accident until he was almost 8 months old. They aren't truly reliable until they are able to hold their bladder for a longer period of time.

And chewing - well, puppies are famous for that. There is a thread on here about "what is the most expensive thing your Boxer has chewed." Believe me, it will enlighten you. So try to learn to use the crate when you can't watch the baby, and remove all the items that you don't want him chewing on. Show him what he can chew on instead. BTW, just a few days ago, my husband found the cord to our massage chair controls entirely chewed through. Scrapper is almost three years old. :rolleyes: My son will be splicing it together for me later... Now, truly that is an isolated incident with Scrapper, but you have to remember with an animal in the house, nothing is entirely predictable. And with a puppy, you have to be even more patient and on your toes.

Hang in there, the result is so worth it. We've all been there and this too will pass with time.

Good luck!!

PS - When I saw the chewed cord hanging there, we just sighed. We knew it was way past the time for any kind of reprimand.

 

[frankied]

Very well said Scrappers Mom! I like your thinking. Angel and Frank are 2 & 5 and still have "episodes" once in a blue moon. I love them just the same!

Christa & Angel

 

[tanya22]

You are in for a long haul if you are already frustrated!
10 weeks is so young. Are you sure you are prepared for dog ownership? The hard part hasn't even begun. You need to be realistic with your expectations!!!!!!!