wont go outside

[korasmom]

Hi everyone
I am new to Boxerworld and to owning a boxer puppy. I've had my boxer for a week and a half now and thanks to boxerworld I have her walking on a leash and loving her crate! (she just turned 12 weeks) Still working on the house training and one problem is, she doesn't want to go outside. Something about going through the door. Once she's out there, she's fine. Anyone else have this problem?

 

[Nek'sMom]

I have the same problem with Niko sometimes esp. if it's really cold or drizzling out! He seems to be afraid if I am ahead of him holding the leash. So I have started getting next to him and holding the screen door wide open, he doesn't mind then. I also coax him out with a treat and as soon as he gets out the door on the steps I give it to him and praise, praise, praise! It seems to be working a lot better now! Hope that helps some!! Good Luck

 

[gmacleod]

That's good advice. Making the whole going outside and pottying thing a positive experience (which generally translates to food and praise) for your pup is the fastest and best way to housetrain. Understandably, she doesn't really see the point in going out to do her business.

If she's got a thing about the doorway, well, same thing, make it a positive experience. As a matter of interest - is she at all worried about going back through the door to get in or is it just on the way out that she doesn't want to go?

 

[Tink]

When I first brought Luke home he was the same way. Keep in mind that this is all still new to them. The first two weeks I carried him out (it was snow and ice outside) then I coaxed him with food. A few pieces of dry kibble. Sometimes he would just follow my hand, a few times I left a trail for him to follow. LOL He switched for a week or so and I got him out with his favorite toy, but then being the food motivated guy he is, it was back to food!
He has had no accidents for a long time now and he will sit quietly at the door to go.
Another thing I did when it was a warm day was to have him on leash and I sat in the open doorway. I let him sit, wander, snack... whatever he wanted for about 20 minutes. He sniffed every inch of the door area, inside and out twice. When he seemed bored we went out to play and praise praise praise! I think that helped him a lot since we have the door, then stairs down too. Your baby will get it and one day you'll think, hey! When did I NOT realize he's been going out with no fuss?

 

[korasmom]

Thanks for the advice, I will use some treats to get her to go out. She has a big fenced in back yard to play in with the door right off the kitchen and once she's out she is fine, but if you head towards the door to go inside, she'll follow right behind. I'll sit in the doorway too and see if she'll play around it. That should work. Thanks again!

 

[stnyren]

Are there steps she has to go down to get outside?

Puppies have really bad depth perception, and are reluctant to go down at first. It takes a little time for them to realize that they can put their paws in front of them in a downward direction.

Jake was a pro at going up the stairs, but would sit at the top of the stairs and whine until he learned to go down them.

Just a thought.

 

[MomtoOrion]

Orion had a bit of a fear of the doorway as well. What I did was I went outside and sat just outside the doorway and encouraged him to come out. When he did, I gave him a ton of praise!!! Fortunately, I was able to leave the door open for a little bit and let him come in and out as he pleased (on his tie out). Once I did this a couple of times, he doesn't have as much of an issue about the doorway anymore. We are still working on it though.

 

[korasmom]

Well here is an update...
She has learned to walk on a leash Ya!! So I now take her outside on the leash, which she has no problem with. She has gotten very good at walking on a leash, in fact we've gone on short walks and things. As far as being housebroken, that we'll have to keep working on! But thanks again for all the advice.