Newly adopted 5 month old struggles with housetraining

[Rupert P]

Hi,
This is only my second post other than my (long) introductory post. My name is Michelle, and my boyfriend and I are the very happy owners of two boxers: 1.5-year-old Rupert, whom we got when he was 10 weeks old; and Izzy, a 5-month-old white female whom we adopted about a week ago.

Rupert was and is a very easy puppy. He's a good boy; very laid back and good natured. Izzy is a complete lover! She's very high-energy and squiggly, as most puppies are (which is why we love them!). Rupert and Izzy get along very well and really enjoy each other.

Our only issue with little Izzy Busy Boo is that her previous owners never began the process of housetraining her. She was kept in the backyard on a tether most days for about 9 hours a day because the couple worked out of the home. They ended up getting rid of her because they couldn't keep her from escaping the backyard, and she had too many accidents at night when they would bring her in.

She is really happy with us so she has never tried to escape. We walk her every day, and she and Rupert have lots of fun playing in the yard or at the park. However, she is still a bit accident prone, which is totally understandable.

She and Rupert are in the backyard playing quite a bit, but when she's inside, we taker hour out to potty every hour or so. At least once a day, we'll take her out for potty and wait for about 10 to 15 minutes before she heads back to the door. About 5 minutes later, she poops in the house.

We don't scold or yell; we pick up the mess and place it on her potty spot outside, and we take her outside for awhile to make sure she's finished.

Whenever she does go outside, we praise and treat like crazy.

I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to train her the way we did Rupert when he was just 10 weeks old. Basically, we took him outside on a leash every 1.5 to 2 hours and just waited until he went. Then praise praise praise. Rupert picked it up in about two weeks, but he's a clever monkey.

With Izzy, we've just been letting her out back—no leash—then waiting about 5 minutes to see if she goes. If not, we take her back inside and try again in 20 minutes.

Are we doing this wrong? I guess I'm thrown off since she's older than Rupert was when we trained him. Does the age matter? Is the process the same?

I'm sorry this is so long, but we love our Izzy and want her to be a relaxed, happy puppy who can keep her backyard business in the backyard.

Thank you!

 

[Caney Creek]

Staying out with her longer would probably help. Also she doesn't yet understand the purpose of going out -- she's using that time to play with Rupert or explore her surroundings. In that case a leash might do the trick, to let her know it's time for "business"

Also watch her closely when she comes in -- especially if you know her "routine" now, to poop right when she's back inside. When she starts to go, say "ah-ah" or make a noise to distract her and then quickly carry her outside to finish. Then praise. Even if she starts to "go" and she's not stopping, pick her up and take her outside to finish -- then praise. Also make sure the carpets and floors that she's soiled are thoroughly cleaned with pet-odor eliminators to get rid of any lingering scents.

 

[Troglodite]

I had to take bo out and stand with her untill she would do both #1 and #2 - every time she was done with one i would give her praise and a treat (1 dry piece of kibble). She eventually became so happy to go to the bathroom.. as soon as she was done she would wiggle and bean all the way to me knowing she was getting a piece of kibble for going.

Nos he does it on her own with no treat.

 

[gmacleod]

I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to train her the way we did Rupert when he was just 10 weeks old. Basically, we took him outside on a leash every 1.5 to 2 hours and just waited until he went. Then praise praise praise. Rupert picked it up in about two weeks, but he's a clever monkey.

Definitey, train her the same way. Or put another way, if you don't, then she isn't ever going to learn

Step back and have a think about it for a moment. This dog is not housetrained, and has no idea that she's not supposed to potty inside. So how's she going to figure things out? Not by just being let out at intervals and happening to potty whilst she's there. What is missing is anybody actually telling her what is right. And if she isn't told when she does it right, why would she ever repeat it (unless it just happened to be the most convenient thing at the time)?

Rupert, on the other hand, wasn't just clever. He had someone going out with him to potty, and giving him clear feedback whenever he did the right thing. You *must* give the same teaching and feedback to your new dog if you want her also to learn. It's almost more important in her case - because she's gone all her life so far wherever and whenever was convenient. If she's to learn that, actually, you'd rather she did something else, then you're going to have to teach her - not just let her out to do her own thing.

Does that make sense? There is very little difference between her now and Rupert at 10 weeks. The fact that she's older may possibly mean she can learn faster, but balancing that is her complete absence of any instruction so far in life. You can only instruct one way - and that's via praise. You can't praise if you're not there (when she comes back in is too late - it has to be as she starts to eliminate if she's to work out what it is she's doing that's so marvelous). Ergo, you have to go out with her, just as you did with Rupert, and give her loads of positive feedback when she does what you want. At the same time, reduce the opportunities for her to get it wrong - even by tethering her to you indoors (so you can never miss the beginning of an 'accident') if it's difficult to otherwise keep an eye on her.

 

[Rupert P]

Definitey, train her the same way. Or put another way, if you don't, then she isn't ever going to learn

Step back and have a think about it for a moment. This dog is not housetrained, and has no idea that she's not supposed to potty inside. So how's she going to figure things out? Not by just being let out at intervals and happening to potty whilst she's there. What is missing is anybody actually telling her what is right. And if she isn't told when she does it right, why would she ever repeat it (unless it just happened to be the most convenient thing at the time)?

Rupert, on the other hand, wasn't just clever. He had someone going out with him to potty, and giving him clear feedback whenever he did the right thing. You *must* give the same teaching and feedback to your new dog if you want her also to learn. It's almost more important in her case - because she's gone all her life so far wherever and whenever was convenient. If she's to learn that, actually, you'd rather she did something else, then you're going to have to teach her - not just let her out to do her own thing.

Does that make sense? There is very little difference between her now and Rupert at 10 weeks. The fact that she's older may possibly mean she can learn faster, but balancing that is her complete absence of any instruction so far in life. You can only instruct one way - and that's via praise. You can't praise if you're not there (when she comes back in is too late - it has to be as she starts to eliminate if she's to work out what it is she's doing that's so marvelous). Ergo, you have to go out with her, just as you did with Rupert, and give her loads of positive feedback when she does what you want. At the same time, reduce the opportunities for her to get it wrong - even by tethering her to you indoors (so you can never miss the beginning of an 'accident') if it's difficult to otherwise keep an eye on her.

That all makes perfect sense! Thank you. I've been using the leash with her all day. She's still pulling on the leash a bit, and when i put her on leash she's ready to go out the gate and explore, but I'm just leading her over to her potty spot and treating when she goes. The vet says she's been underfed, so I'm using the praise-treat sequence as a chance to fatten her up a bit with extra kibbles.

Thanks again. We love having Izzy with us, and she seems sooooo happy to not be alone all day.

 

[Rupert P]

Also watch her closely when she comes in -- especially if you know her "routine" now, to poop right when she's back inside. When she starts to go, say "ah-ah" or make a noise to distract her and then quickly carry her outside to finish. Then praise. Even if she starts to "go" and she's not stopping, pick her up and take her outside to finish -- then praise. Also make sure the carpets and floors that she's soiled are thoroughly cleaned with pet-odor eliminators to get rid of any lingering scents.

Thanks, Caney. I've started following her around a lot more. I had been letting her and Rupert spend the days wrestling and jawing...now I'm paying closer attention.

It's cute to watch her and Rupert together. He's helping to train her. When she jumps up on me, which he knows is a no-no, he gets in front of her and gently puts his leg on her back, then she sits. When I take her to the potty spot and say, "Go potty..." he waits for a few minutes, and if she doesn't go, he'll go. Then he looks at her as if to say, "This is what she wants. OK?"

It's good to have two babies!

 

[Rupert P]

She eventually became so happy to go to the bathroom.. as soon as she was done she would wiggle and bean all the way to me knowing she was getting a piece of kibble for going.

Nos he does it on her own with no treat.

I love that wiggle! We live to see them dance that way. When we get home and we let Izzy out of the crate, she and Rupert practically levitate from wiggling so hard. Poor little boo boos don't know who to love first: My boyfriend, me or each other.