Help! My Bullmastiff & Boxer Won't get housebroke!!?

Question

Bella (bullmastiff) is 4 1/2 mths and we have had her since 6 wks old. She is crate trained and sleeps all night w/out accidents. We got Buddy (boxer) who is 3 1/2 mths old @ 3 wks ago. He is also crate trained and sleeps all night w/out accidents. During the day, I am continually letting them outside after napping, eating, drinking, playing, etc...but they will still come in and potty on the floor. I have showed them and told them 'bad dog' and took them back outside, sent them 'to their room' and have swatted their backends w/paper towel rolls. Nothing is working. Hubby said I have 2 weeks or they're gone. I can't blame him, but they are my babies, especially Bella, and Buddy belongs to my little girl. Anyone have any suggestions? This is driving me crazy. I feel like I live in a barn. Carpets are continually being shampooed, and the smell is awful. I burn candles all the time. Please help with any useful and humane ideas. Thank you.

I do use 'go potty' and 'praise' every-time. We do have a feeding schedule and when they begin 'sniffing and circling' first thing we do is take them outside. I'm being honest to those of you saying 'no way, or you wouldn't have this problem.' I have worked with dogs since I was 11, training & showing. I have NEVER had this problem before. I've tried EVERYTHING I know and things that have been tried & true. Are these breeds perhaps more stubborn to training? They got LOTS of attention, lots of love, lots of play time, and are outside a lot. I can even leave Bella confined in the kitchen while i'm gone and Buddy in the crate. They won't have an accident. Why does it happen when I'm home and constantly on the go w/them? Is it an attention issue? Bella was almost broke before we got Buddy, and then she went into total relapse. AAGGHH!!! Thanks for all of you responding w/help. I appreciate all of your answers.

Answer 1

You have a great start!!! Two puppies are quite a bit to take on!

Check out the listed site, be consistent, put them on feeding and going out schedule, take them out on a leash to the smae spot every time - and be there when they go (praise them enthusiastically when they go). Don't come back in with them until they have gone outside (and no play until they go out there).

Remind your husband they are still learning...and some get it faster than others!!

Showing them what they did (accident) means nothing to them - all they know is that you are mad...not that you are mad because they had an accident. This will only teach them to be afraid to go in front of you - even outside (I have a rescue dog that this happened to - took forever to housebreak him because of it).

If they are going in front of you - clap your hands to stop them - them take them out immediately and praise verbally when they finish outside. If they have already had the accident - too late. Clean with ENZYME cleaner only (like Nature's Miracle) - this will break down the proteins and make it so they cannot smell where they have gone in the house before - but do not clean up in front of them (that is what mom did for them) - so they will think you are working together.

Check out this site ASAP!!! Good luck - you have your hands full:)!

Answer 2

Actually, you shouldn't be swatting them at all. Anything like that done to a puppy before 6 months old can change the Dog's psyche (per my boss, a vet). Some puppies just take longer to train than others & you have to just hold your ground and be repetitive. My pappillion puppy potty trained at 5 months, then about 3 months went by, then all of a sudden, it was like I never potty trained him. So I was firm with him using language, but I never swatted him, it only took reminding him twice & he remembered. No more accidents.
In plain terms, They are just like children. Some potty train very young at one, others it takes till 3 1/2. Some even relapse. But they all will.
If there's somewhere you can leave them outside (if it's not to hot where your at) for the day, then do that. They will just get used to going on the lawn as they aren't inside. Also, I kept my puppy confined to my kitchen as it has linoleum. This was it was easier to clean.
Hope that helps.

Answer 3

beachbum32
3 minutes ago




Potty training is tough! Even if she poops inside you should take her outside every time. It's also good to get a cleaner for your flooring like "Nature's Miracle," that way the smells that your puppy refers to when it's time to go are removed. Also make sure you praise her and make it a really big deal with treats and kisses when she does her thing outside. You may want to keep her on a feeding schedule, and take her out every 3hours or so to reinforce going outside. Another good thing i tried was saying a certain word, mine happened to be "get busy" a couple times right when my puppy was going to the bathroom outside, that way it takes less time. And finally, always wait until number one and two are accomplished before heading back in. It's also a good idea to take your puppy outside when she starts sniffing around in a circle or a clue like that. Hope it works out for you!