Pee Pee Everywhere

[chiboxer]

Alright, my boy Brutus is about 15 weeks old. I understand that I shouldn't expect much at this point, but the boy just pees all the time.

If I take him outside, he might pee inside ten minutes later. Then again in another 10 minutes. He doesn't even seem to have a favorite spot, he goes all over. Now I know that he can hold it longer than he is, because he normally doesn't go in his cage. And he makes it all through the night without having to go out. But he whines at the door to go out and poop.

I do my best to watch him all the time. But occasionally I might have to look away for 10 seconds. And even if I don't, he is pretty quick about just stopping and going...he doesn't really give any indication that he is getting ready. Anyone have any tips, because I am out of ideas.

Any help is appreciated,

Thanks

 

[ehayes21]

You just need to watch him better. Don't let him have access to areas when he hasn't yet earned the freedom and can be trusted.
The key is prevention and anticipating his needs before he has to tell you. So even if you have to look away for 5 secs, either put him in his crate or tether him to you so you can see him.

 

[chiboxer]

You just need to watch him better. Don't let him have access to areas when he hasn't yet earned the freedom and can be trusted.
The key is prevention and anticipating his needs before he has to tell you. So even if you have to look away for 5 secs, either put him in his crate or tether him to you so you can see him.

So what do I do when he pees besides picking him up and running him outside? I am confused by this no negative reinforcement strategy. Do I at least say "No"? Just seems like he hasn't learned one thing about peeing. Pooping was easy because I could always catch him before he went. He is quick on the pee. I seriously can not watch this dog more than I do now, I follow him around a one bedroom apartment.

 

[gmacleod]

Just seems like he hasn't learned one thing about peeing.

Well, that's pretty normal. There are precious few puppies who've learnt anything about where to pee by just 15 weeks of age And the majority are over 6 months old before they start to properly understand (which doesn't mean they can't be accident free long before then - but that is sheer good management, not understanding on the part of the dog).

On the upside, you might consider that it takes the average human several YEARS to get to the same stage. So don't expect miracles overnight And the few weeks you've been training really is just "overnight".

I am confused by this no negative reinforcement strategy. Do I at least say "No"?

Say 'no' if you must. But - that's the most overused word in dog relations and gets confusing if you want to use it for more than one thing. So if you use it when you actually mean "don't pee there", then DON'T also use it when you mean 'don't chew that' or 'leave the cat alone', 'get off the couch' or any one of the hundreds of other commands that people substitute with the word no There are better and faster ways of training than using the same word for multiple meanings.

All that is really needed, when you see him peeing somewhere inappropriate, is a loud "Uh uh" perhaps accompanied by a bit of hand-clapping. The purpose of this is to startle (NOT scare) the pup into stopping mid-stream if possible. Then you scoop him up, and race him outdoors to finish. If he didn't get too much of a fright (DO avoid scaring) then he'll probably happily cooperate and finish peeing outside. And the moment he begins to pee, you should begin the happy-voiced praise. This is important - because it's the only way he can begin to differentiate, to realise that what makes you pleased with him is the *location* he pees (outside). And that is far from a simple thing for him to realise - so you need to avoid ever being mad at him for peeing (he's likely to think it's because he pee'd - not to figure that it's because of *where* he pee'd). And if he makes that mis-assumption, then he's less likely to be willing to pee in front of you, which gives you less opportunities to praise, and in turn limits his opportunity to learn (meaning it would take much longer).

 

[Cami]

Another thing I have noticed with males.....they never FINISH peeing......and many people make the mistake of seeing them pee ONCE only to think they have emptied their bladder.
*Some* females do this as well but it is a very small percentage.
Males pee here....then there....then on this and then on that! They are marking and some more than others some neutered and some not. I think it is just a part of their boy DNA!
Perhaps staying outside with him for a little bit longer, praising when he goes and then waiting for the 2nd shoe to drop (so to speak). If you are SURE that he will pee inside within a few minutes (like he has been) don't let him have the chance to do that. Make his outside time last a little longer.
Just a thought.

 

[mikroma]

Pee Everywhere

OK- I gotta admit. Nero is 15 weeks and pees everyyyywhere....

I am like you - I just can't get over it. No warning - no nothing. I read you have to catch them in the 'act' if you are gonna tell them 'No' or give a 'Ahhhh' and clap your hands. Also we live on a 4th floor walk up and sometimes Nero pees a few flights down.

Something must have happened yesterday. First he barks and pees (twice) in his kennel on a regular basis. And he has accidents in general. I was on the street and met guy who wanted to pet Nero. I told him to kindly wait until he went potty, we are training... he said - oh - I found the best potty training for boxers, if they have an accident put them in a cold shower and leave them for a 5 minute time out. I was thinking - this guys is nuts. No way - that is so mean. Boxers don't even like the rain.

The next day - Nero pees in his kennel after being alone for 2 hours. He should be able to hold it for 2 hours at this point. So we take him outside - clean up the pee and then give him a bath, cause he smells like pee. If was a nice puppy bath - my husband sits in the shower with him! (No freaky cold water with time outs.)

That same night - I take him out after his bath for his last pee of the night, he pees, and I get talking to some people at the restaurant, and hour later we go back inside. I have the door open and Nero pees on the front steps of our apartment before coming 'inside'. I was gonna say 'No!' but was like - technically - that is outside and he pee'd so perfectly outside and then came in for the night. My husband said it is crazy: no barking OR pee in the kennel today. Strange? Are we just having a good day - or is he getting it? Does having a bath make him get it? Like 'if I pee - I have to get a bath and be wet?' He decided he didn't like it and is not peeing in the kennel? We keep it positive while still letting him know what is right and wrong. But I will keep giving him a bath every time he sits/stands in his pee! He seems to get it!

 

[gmacleod]

Does having a bath make him get it? Like 'if I pee - I have to get a bath and be wet?'

I think that's a bit like believing in the tooth fairy Dogs are just not that clever (heck, a human isn't so clever that they'd ever make that leap of logic). The canine brain is a limbic one - yes, they do think in terms of cause and effect - but by that logic, your puppy would be afraid to pee anywhere, anytime (including outside) just in case it ended in a bath. There is simply no way in that set up for him to make the cognitive step that he *must* in order to be housetrained - and that is that location is the important thing.

You're right that most puppies of his age should be able to last 2 hours without needing to pee. That's *most* puppies of his age, and it is also the limit of endurance for those puppies. Your pup doesn't have to have a bladder much smaller than average for those 2 hours to be beyond his individual endurance And sitting in it is still an unpleasant experience.

Personally, I think a more logical explanation is that his little bladder has finally got big enough that he can hang on for the 2 hour duration - and the unpleasantness of having to sit in it is sufficient disincentive (as is the intent with crating) to have him hanging on as long as possible. Only thing that's different this week from last is that he's older, bigger, more developed and finally able to make it that long. It would likely be a factor in the lack of barking also

 

[chiboxer]

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like some solid advice. Looks like both Brutus and I have some work to do!

 

[Whisky Sour]

Reading this thread took a weight off of my shoulders!

Whisky is 12 weeks old and we've really been working on the housetraining for the 3 weeks that we've had her. We are crate training and everything I've read says that it definitely helps expedite the process. Of course I know that she can't hold it for very long right now, but sometimes she will go within 20 minutes of having just been outside and going out there. Sometimes she will give some warning - start running around like a chicken with her head cut off, going to the front door and running back (this is a new development that I'm very happy about!), and other times she just goes. This morning she actually walked into her crate just to pee on her bed! That is the most disappointing for me, because apparently if they don't have a problem peeing where they sleep, they won't think twice about peeing anywhere else either. I rather she would've gone on the floor.

Sometimes she can hold it for 4 or 5 hours, and other times it seems like she is peeing at least every hour. We have good days where I think she is starting to "get it", and then the next day it's like we've taken 2 steps backwards.

I know we've made progress though, and this thread let me know that where she's at is totally normal! Phew!

 

[ehayes21]

I know we've made progress though, and this thread let me know that where she's at is totally normal! Phew!

Very normal! Just keep up the good work!