I have a 13 week-old female cocker puppy. I've never had a cocker before, and am finding it difficult for her to grasp the concept of potty-training. I do more positive reinforcement than negative, but we're still having a lot of trouble. Is it because she's so young, or is this a common thing in cockers? My labs have always been very easy to train, and really don't have much experience with smaller dogs.
2006-08-19 05:12:13 · 6 answers · asked by But Inside I'm Screaming 7 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Make sure the pup is altered soon
Potty training
http://www.brandypup.com/Dogs/pottytraining.html
2006-08-19 06:11:32 · answer #1 · answered by cm30324 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First off, she is still young. She is just getting to the point where she knows that she has to go to the bathroom in time enough to come tell you that she has to go. If she hasn't been dewormed recently, it would be a good idea to do that. Puppies don't have fully developed immune systems so if she has picked up a parasite it's going to make potty training all that much more difficult. Even if she came from a good breeder, it is not uncommon for puppies to have some parasite burdin. If you're having difficulty with urinating in the house, you may want to have a urine sample tested. Since she is a smaller breed, and a puppy at that, she may have picked up something while squatting in grass or she may have splashed something up on her if she goes on on concrete or hard ground. Best of luck with her... I grew up with a cocker (in addition to malamutes and huskies). They can be wonderful dogs.
2006-08-19 06:14:03 · answer #2 · answered by skachicah35 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well she is only a couple months old. Some dogs take longer to potty train. Dogs can become potty trained within 2 months and 8 months of age. Since cocker spaniels are a smaller breed, they are a little harder to potty train. Just keep doing your positive reinforcing and youll get there.
2006-08-19 05:19:59 · answer #3 · answered by *Barbie Girl* 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A crate is a must. Make sure it is small enough that she only has room to sleep...no "extra room to pee at one end and sleep at the other." A dog's natural instinct is not to dirty its bed. They will try to hold it if the only place available is its bed. That said, you should take her to the area that you want her to pee regularly (at least first thing in the morning, last thing at night, and after breakfast, lunch and supper...remember the smaller the pup, the smaller the "holding tank"). When she pees outside, praise, praise, praise...make a big fuss. If she starts to have an accident inside, holler "NO!" and immediately take her outside and stand with her so she gets the idea that's where she is supposed to go. Until she proves trustworthy in the house, restrict where she is allowed to go...baby gates can be helpful so she isn't in the crate constantly...you don't want her to associate her "bed" with being punished. (DO NOT give tiny puppies the run of the house unsupervised.) Once she is older and proves trustworthy, you can move the baby gates to increase her roaming space as she "earns" it.
2006-08-23 03:08:09 · answer #4 · answered by Cleveburgher 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey. I have a two year old cocker spaneil, we've had him from a puppy. It took till about 6 mnoths of age to get housebroken. Be very consistant, use a crate, and use only positive reinforcement. I really didnt think he was that hard to housebreak.
2006-08-19 06:23:02 · answer #5 · answered by ashleykayc1980 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should crate train your dog if you aren't already. We have a wire fox terrier and as a puppy she peed in her crate anyway and it stressed me out!! The crate was big enough for her to pee on one side and sleep on the other. When she got a bit bigger she stopped. It took a few weeks but she finally figured it out. Some dogs are just harder to train I think. Good luck!
2006-08-19 05:19:56 · answer #6 · answered by Kim S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋