Potty training in winter?

[Cami]

We haven't decided yet....

But, IF we do get a pup, (male/white), we would be going thru all of the potty training in the dead of winter.

So on one hand I think, this will be easier because the pup will want to hurry up and tend to business VS running around outside because of the temps. On the other hand, maybe he won't want to let me know he has to go out due to the fact that it will be so cold out???

I, still to this day go out with Cami (20 months) and praise her whenever she "goes". I would be out with the pup as well. Cami has been 100% bell trained since 4 months old.


Just wanted some opinions, Cami was a spring baby so we didn't have to deal with cold weather only rain, which she loves.

 

[Sidda1018]

It was in December that we brought Sidda home as a puppy. She didn't mind being taken out in the cold. There was even a really bad ice storm just a few days after she came home. It was so bad, she was just sliding around everywhere. She didn't start signaling to go out for atleast 3 or 4 months, but I don't think it was because of the snow. We didn't know anything about bell training, so she had to figure it out herself to let us know by sitting in front of the door. But anyway, she didn't mind the cold or snow at all as a baby. She is worse now that she is older with going out in snow or rain than she was then....

 

[lafsalot]

We got our Rottie in the dead of winter and had no problems with the potty training ~ Cathy

 

[lisabethshaw]

Winter Potty Training in Maryland.

We brought Shiva home in February and it was cold out there, but when you gotta go... I never felt that he resisted going outside because of the cold. Now rain is another story! He hates going out in the rain!

We're about to go through more puppy winter house training! We're bringing our new baby girl home just before Christmas! (I've never house-trained a girl before! Is it different?)

... And about the bell training - we tried that with Shiva and had to stop because everytime he heard a bell, or even the jingle of housekeys, he would instantly pee on the spot - no matter where he was!

Good luck with your decision!

Lisa

 

[kassa]

I agree -- cold? no problem (and they don't want to tarry afterwards so you get to rush right back in!)

Rain? Slush? Nooooooooooooo!

 

[Grimmja]

we got out puppy in the coldest stretch of winter last year, and he potty trained so quick! he didn't always necessarily ask to go out, we just took him out all the time whether he asked or not, and by the time it was warming, we started going with his requests.

 

[JennieWI]

Gunther was my Christmas puppy last year. Mommy (me) let him go outside the garage door where the north wind was blocked. I tried the back door a couple times but the wind was a bit too much for him IMO. Gunther wore a little sweater sometimes. I knew he felt the cold but it did not deter him from going potty outside. So, my suggestion to make it easier on the pup is to have something to block the wind and get a little puppy jacket.

 

[darbydog]

We got our baby in the winter and she did very good. My husband called me crazy because I would shovel snow of the ground so she did not have to walk though it. But I felt so bad for her because the snow would come up to her belly since her legs were so short.

 

[dalton100]

I must disagree

My boy Elvis is about 10 weeks old, and I have had a VERY hard time potty training him because of the weather. If the temp falls below 35, he shivers, shakes, and just wants to go inside. If we go inside...he goes in the house! He dislikes the rain worse than the cold! My experience says, wait until Spring! I have to say though, as frustrating as it is trying to potty train a stubborn dog, I wouldn't give him up for anything! Stick with it, it will get better...at least that's what I have heard!

 

[LewisKimball]

It does get better

We live in Wisconsin and picked up Lewis the beginning of November. Well the last week is the first nice weather that we have experienced. He was almost completely potty trained at around 12 weeks, but then we had -20 degree temperatures and he really didn't think it was a good idea to go outside.

We actually found that even when it was a little cold for him outside that if we would give him a jackpot (big treat that he normally never gets like a piece of hot dog) that he would go outside so that he could get the reward and now we have been working our way back down.

We also used bell training for Lewis as he would sit by the door and not make a sound to go outside. The bell worked great for us.