Housetraining 101 - Please Read this Thread in its Entirety

[Phyrie]

Thanks, Kian. I knew I was a little off in my advice, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Bringing her back in, and THEN bringing her out to play is the best solution. I still like the designated potty area, though. If she's always on leash, that should be fairly easy to accomplish.

[RenegadeSongbird]

Hi everyone,

Did any of your lovely puppies ever "regress"? Kaylee was doing magnificently well with housetraining but for some reason this week she is peeing in her crate and in her room whenever she likes. I've been using Simple Solution to clean, but it doesn't seem to deter her. Kaylee is tethered in the room I am in when I am home and I take her out once every hour (except when I am at work for 4 hours...and she never has an accident then curiously enough...) Her crate has the divider in it so she can't pee on the other side. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong! I expect accidents to happen but they seem to be happening a lot more lately....any insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[Lana'sMommy]

I'm sorry to hear that Kaylee isn't doing as well as she was with her potty training. I wish I had some words of advice, but I'll let the pro's respond since I'm at the same puppy stage as you. I'm sure they'll have some really good input.

I was actually just coming on here to say that Lana seems to be doing pretty good with her potty training. We had a minor accident yesterday, but as always, it was our fault. My husband was out running an errand, I was in the kitchen baking for my brother-in-laws birthday, and mom mom who is visiting with her 8 year old Rat Terrior, Noodles, took Lana to the basement (TV Room) to let her and Noodles to play while I baked. Needless to say, it had gone over an hour and Lana just couldn't hold it anymore. Poor girl. I always feel so bad when that happens because I know it's our fault. Otherwise we hadn't had any accidents in 3 to 4 days. It has been really rainy here, so since we weren't going outside to play, I think that helped a lot with "outside is for potty, not playing." Also, my husband and I realized that since we have two doors that lead to our backyard, one could be the potty only door and the other could be the play door. Duh. Not sure of why we hadn't thought of that sooner. Actually, we hadn't been using the 2nd door for her because there are stairs to get to the grass, but now that she's bigger and mastered the stairs, that will be the play door. I think this will really help her (and us) identify if she needs to go potty, or just wants to be outside. So far today, she's actually gone to the potty door 3 times to go potty. It's a slow process. But I think we are making some progress.

Renegade, again, I'm really sorry Kaylee has seemed to "regress." I'll send positive thoughts your way and hope that some of the pros chime in soon to help you out! I'm not sure if there is a huge difference in cleaners, but we use Nature's Miracle to clean up messes (It was recommended by our rescue). I've read on here that a vinegar mixture works really well too, but don't know the exact ingredients. Good luck and keep us posted!

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

I'm not quite sure how old Kaylee is as I post this, but it is not uncommon for most pups to regress a little. Just when we think we have a routine down pat, they change, or go through a life change, such as teething, or just growing up.

You mentioned that you are taking her out once an hour, and that she can hold it for up to 4 hours when you are at work. She knows when you are not home, so I would suggest that you go back to taking her out every 20 minutes, not once an hour. Remember to praise, praise, praise the successes and ignore the failures. Remember, they are yours, not hers!

Lana's Mum brought up an excellent point about always using the same door to exit when it's time for business. Slowly you will notice that the pup will head to "the door" and you must be paying attention at all times. The first few times, which are critical, must be successful. Literally drop whatever it is you are doing and rush that pup outside. They have about 60 seconds before they can't hold it once the thought occurs.

You'll know when you've really made a mistake when you find the business right in front of the door to the outside. That means whomever was "on duty" didn't pay enough attention.

Lastly, always be mindful that there is not an underlying health issue. If it's a mild set back as in Kaylee's case, and you change things like going out every 20 minutes and still have accidents, or notice other uncommon behaviours, it might be time for a visit to the Vet. Try the changes first for several days.

Don't give up hope! Even after they are considered trained, they will still have the odd accident for whatever reason (especially males in my opinion). No puppy is 100% trained until they are 1 year old. It just starts to become more predictable around six months of age, once the majority of teething is over.

Good luck and hang in there. Consistency is key, and so is praise for a job well done.

[sunnyp43]

There has been a problem that I been seeing develop with my pup. My pup is now 13 weeks old and his potty training has been pretty good. He rarely pees in his crate or in my bedroom where he stays. I can also see that he is holding it when I don't take him out for a long time so he is learning.

The problem that is occurring is that he is peeing on his way outside. In my house, my bedroom is on the 2nd floor so we have to take the stairs downstairs to go outside. For the most part, he comes down all the stairs and pees as soon as we get outside probably within 30 seconds. Recently, he has been peeing as we walk down the stairs. One time he let a little out on the stairs and I caught it and quickly took him outside. Another time he went right infront of the door outside. Just tonight, I was going to the basement to get something and wanted to bring him with him. Going to the basement is the same way as going to outside to pee so instead of going to the door outside, i went to the basement. He didn't come downstairs and quickly ran upstairs back into my room. As I was walking up, the floor and one of the stairs was went and I realized he peed. I quickly go upstairs and he's hiding in the corner of my room. When he pees, he realizes and always goes into a corner and hides.

I feel like anytime I take him downstairs to the first floor he'll pee because he thinks he is going outside. And before I took him downstairs to the basement, he went to pee probably 1.5 hours before that. How can I prevent him from peeing as we are going down and I hope this doesn't become a problem to the point he will pee just because he is going to the first floor of the house. Also, if he does have an accident like I mentioned, what is the best way to discipline him? Should I put him away in his crate or allow him to stay out in the room?

[sly85]

I'm raising my first puppy so I'm still learning, but I do know this -- you don't discipline a puppy for being confused as to where he can potty or for having an accident. The last thing you want is for your puppy to be scared of you. Simply clean up the mess and go on with your day.

If he's peeing that soon after walking out the door or as he's going down the stairs, I would say you're waiting too long to take him out. An hour and a half may not seem like a long time, but he's only 13 weeks old. Take him out more frequently and see if that helps.

[Phyrie]

At 13 weeks, he really doesn't have any bladder control at all. He may "feel" full, and seems to making the attempt to "hold" it, but his little bladder just doesn't have the right muscles yet. He's simply not developed enough! You can't stop a pup from peeing with words, but you can sometimes stop the flow by picking the pup up. Then you can carry him outside, let him finish, and reward as a good job. If he is consistently leaking before making it all the way outside, simply pick him up and save him the "accidents". He'll soon grow out of it, and every successful outside potty adds to his housetraining total!

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Sunnyp43 - At 13 weeks, that pup needs to be taken out more often and is telling you that by waiting as long as he possibly is able.

Since he is going on the stairs, you have waited too long!

These days are crucial in building a good foundation, so you must be more vigilant! Take that pup out more often and don't ask such a young baby to wait so long. Time to a puppy, like a small child, is much longer than it is to an adult, so I suggest you revamp your schedule and make more of an effort to ask less of your pup and more of yourself.

As for discipline, save that for yourself. Every accident your puppy has is YOUR FAULT!

Of course your pup assumes that going downstairs means it's time to "go". Before going to the basement, take the dog outside, each and every time. An hour and a half is a long, long time. What else is the pup supposed to think?!

After the pup has gone outside, then go to the basement to do whatever, and then back up the apartment, or wherever. Expect this to continue for at least six months of his life, and do not expect your pup to be fully housetrained until a year of age. You are lucky to have him this well trained at 13 weeks.

I'll apologize now if I sound too harsh, but your expectations are entirely unrealistic and your puppy will suffer for it. As you indicated, he already "hides" when he's had an accident. That tells me that you are punishing your pup for a natural bodily function. That's just not right.

Read this thread from the beginning. No where will you find the words "discipline" or "punishment" involved in house training!

[Lana'sMommy]

Sunny, I'm going to join the bandwagon and repeat what has already been said:

1.) READ THIS THREAD IN IT'S ENTIRETY. I have a 12.5 week old puppy and this thread is probably one of the most important ones to read first, and read ALL OF IT.

2.) Never, ever, EVER punish your puppy for having an accident. Would you punish a human baby for not being able to hold it in? It's essentially the same thing. If you punish your puppy for having an accident, then they will think that going to the bathroom is a bad thing (inside or outside) and will never want to go in your presence. I have personal experience with this because the dog my mom had from my childhood was potty trained in the "punishment way" and it took YEARS to re-correct that behavior when my mom realized that wasn't correct. (Unfortunately she didn't have access to a wonderful tool like this forum.)

3.) Never use his crate for punishment. It should only be a safe happy place for them so that you don't also create a problem with them being in there. (Not only don't ever use his crate, but as it was already mentioned, punishing a puppy is just a "no no" in general.)

I really hope things get better and you take all this feedback and really put it to good use. The idea of a 13 weeks old pup hiding in a corner is just so upsetting that I hope you are able to fix that and move on to a happier future with your pup.

[lynners]

Our lovely mods: I'm wondering if it might be time to remove the "please add to this" in the title of this thread. I believe most everything has been covered (and repeated!). I feel like the "please add to this" is giving new people the impression that they should just ask their questions prior to reading. Maybe add "Read before asking" or something.

Just my two cents

[Phyrie]

Maybe add "Read before asking" or something.

I like it!

[kian]

I like it Lynners, the tips have run their course. It's time now to use the thread for what it was designed to do. I am amazed that I am still meeting people who believe in the newspaper swat and the rubbing of the nose in it. We have a ways to go to educate people.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Kian, thanks for changing the title to this thread.

As many people have mentioned, it has provided them with invaluable tools in housetraining. While someone may have read the thread in its entirety, and still have issues, then it's alright to ask a question that has not yet been answered. I highly doubt there will be many of those.

Many people today, particularly those of the younger generation, want "instant gratification". They seem to be unaware that hard work and dedication come into play to achieve success. Unfortunately there is an era of "entitlement" that permeates the 20 somethings of today as they grew up being rewarded for doing things one is supposed to do by rote! Everyone wants a faster computer, the latest technology and a puppy completely housetrained by 13 weeks!

Henceforth, only add to this thread if everything that has been mentioned, has been tried without success. Otherwise, expect a harsh response from those of us who took the time to put this thread together, and who did the hard work.

The exception to the above comment about adding to this thread does not apply when one wishes to share their success stories. We always want to hear about those!

[kian]

I think RJM changed the title, it was already changed when I logged on today. Thanks RJM!!

You are so right with the instant gratification, it's a horrible epidemic. It's the "entertain me" generation. Okay I could digress easy here!

Yes newbies please read the thread regarding Housetraining and pose any questions not answered.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Oooppsss...kudos to whomever changed the title!