Problems with potty training

[bluekirsdog]

We just got our Duke a few weeks ago (we rescued him from a very bad situation). He previously lived in the back yard and wasn't ever allowed inside. However, my husband and I know that he belongs indoors and have been working on potty training. He has had some (alot) of accidents on our carpet. After doing alot of reading on the subject, we decided to get a child gate and keep him in our kitchen (which is all tile) while we are training him. Things seemed to be going great, as he stopped having accidents completely. Every time I take him in the back yard he knows exactly what to do - goes #1 and #2 almost immediately, then knows it's time to go back inside.

After a while of him being accident free, we decided to let him roam the house for short periods of time throughout the day, extending the time each day until we see that he is trained. However, almost every time we let him out, he thinks it's just fine to go on the carpet. When we catch him, we get his attention by clapping our hands and saying his name is a stern voice and tell him "NO", then get him by the collar immediately and lead him outside where we then encourage him to go, but he doesn't finish outside. He just has a sad look on his face because he knows he did something naughty. However, it keeps happening. Just when we think it's under control, he does it again.

What are we doing wrong? If anyone could please help us out it would be most appreciated.

 

[VTbxrFan]

I saw your post about his past - very sad, and probably has made him very sensitive to corrections. Instead of the stern "no", which might kind of freak him out if his used to that being followed by a harsh punishment from his previous life, try just a softer "Ah-ah" or even just say "outside" and then take him out...and also say "outside" every time you take him out (even if it wasn't in the middle of the pottying). If you can't keep a really close eye on him to be able to stop him before he finishes inside, keep him gated in the kitchen where he seems to have gotten the hang of it. Also be sure that you've cleaned away all traces of previous accidents (an enzyme cleaner like "Nature's Miracle" works well for that). Finally, until he has 100% mastered going outside, continue to make a very big deal about it every single time he goes potty outside - lots of praise and treats. I hope that helps!

 

[bluekirsdog]

thank you for your response - that does help me out.

 

[Grimmja]

i would also try maybe letting him have access to only 1 smaller portion of your house that has carpet instead of the whole house, maybe that's too big of a step to go from kitchen to whole house. and maybe he sees carpet as one of the ok spots to go in addition to grass and dirt. so let him have small carpet access and assume he'll probably go there, so take him out preventatively and when you notice he's getting ready. just an idea.