Just need some reassurance

[annabella]

Right now, Bella's 9 weeks, almost 10! And we're working very hard to potty train, but every day theres atlesat 2 accidents! We watch her and watch her! She finally was in her crate yesterday, and did it all right! No accidents or anything, but once shes in the house, she really has no idea that she's supposed to go outside. I just need a little reassurance that it's normal! She gets excited when she pees outside because she knows treats and stuff are coming, and she doesn't get excited when she goes inside, so maybe she does know, but she definitely doesn't know to go to the door and doesn't really do anything that "signals it" with the exception of attacking our faces bright and early to let us know she's up! She unfortunately doesnt do this during the day! I just need some reassurance that this is normal, and she WILL get it, eventually, and just to keep up with it! Alls I keep thinking is "oh my god, my puppy will never be potty trained ughhhhh!"

 

[Net45582]

Most pups aren't fully potty trained until 5 or 6 months-hang in there.

 

[gmacleod]

Oh, it's definitely normal

Some pups are easier to manage than others, but that's what it all is at this age - management. Very few pups actually properly understand the housetraining concept until they're around 6-7 months old. There are plenty who're accident-free from a young age, but those owners who imagine it's because the dog understands and not purely because of good management usually get a rude shock around the 5 month mark (when they slack off on the management), when the dog proves unequivocally that it did not understand at all LOL

Anyway, just keep on taking her out on a schedule, and praising her for going outside. Keep an eagle eye on her in between potty stops (which probably need to be every 30-60 minutes) and you'll get there. You might actually find it's helpful to keep a diary of her bowel and bladder movements. That sounds silly, but it isn't. If you find that your particular puppy always pees three times in the morning and poops twice - well, you'll avoid accidents because you won't assume she's all done after only peeing twice. Likewise, if this pup always needs to pee 5 minutes after eating, and to poop and pee 15 minutes after that - well again, knowing those bits of information can help you to ensure that you have her outdoors at the requisite moments.

Just always keep in mind that for quite some time to come, avoiding accidents is entirely dependant on you. She's unlikely to tell you when she needs to go, and even if she does, you can't rely on it. So get to know her needs, and you'll be able to schedule her potty breaks accordingly.

 

[babyemily]

TOTALLY NORMAL!!!! I remember thinking the same thing. When she turned about 4 months, a little light must have gone on in her head because she started sitting by the door. Now she's almost 8 months and she barks at the door when she need to go. Your patience and consistency will pay off, I promise.

 

[sillybug]

TOTALLY NORMAL!!!! I remember thinking the same thing. When she turned about 4 months, a little light must have gone on in her head because she started sitting by the door. Now she's almost 8 months and she barks at the door when she need to go. Your patience and consistency will pay off, I promise.

When did she start barking at the door to let you know she wanted to go out? At this point, Greta will sit by the door when she needs to go out, but if I don't get to her fast enough, she will just go right there in front of the door.

 

[shonna]

get the bell

I had read on here to get a bell and put it on the door... it was the best advice!!! I would set the timer for every 14 minutes (because at 15 she would pee on the floor) and when the timer would go off, I would take her to the door and ring the bell with her paw, take her out and she would pee, and would get a treat. At first she was afraid of the bell, and I thought she would never get it, but around 3-4 mos. she did, and she's 6mos now, and does great!

Good Luck!

Baylee's mom 12/17/06

 

[annabella]

haha

Well we've gone 2 days now, and we're doing better, I honestly must admit that the boyfriends a little better at this than I am, he's more "SHE NEEDS TO GO OUT!" than I am- wakes her up no problem. Last night I was a little nervous because her last potty trip is usually like 1 in the a.m. and then she sleeps until like 8-9... Well last night we took her out around 8 and then went to bed really early... My worries were put aside when at 5:40 this morning I was getting licks!

 

[babyemily]

When did she start barking at the door to let you know she wanted to go out? At this point, Greta will sit by the door when she needs to go out, but if I don't get to her fast enough, she will just go right there in front of the door.

I think she was about 6 months when she started barking. I'm not sure if it was because she had to pee at the time or if she saw something outside she wanted to get at. Either way, she learned very quickly that barking = outside.