Hi, I have a new puppy, and I take her outside about every hour to go to the bathroom. Half the time, she's great. She does her business, and I tell her good girl and all that stuff. The other times, however, she just runs around and refuses to go potty. So I let her in, and she goes all over the house! She knows she's doing wrong, because she tries to hide from me when she does it. I really don't know what to do. I also can't just leave her in the backyard because she will dig up all the grass/mud.
She is 5 months old, and we just got her from a friend who didn't take good care of her. He also didn't potty train her. It seems like it is soooo much harder to do at 5 months of age.
Any suggestions on what I can do to make this easier?
Thank you in advance!!!
2006-10-24 03:14:43 · 12 answers · asked by Melissa♡ 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
When your dog looks like she NEEDS to go to the bathroom, take her outside and wait till she is done.
2006-10-24 03:18:17 · answer #1 · answered by Nikki 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the first thing to remember is that a dog will only associate a treat/praise or discipline to an action they have just done (1 second earlier) any delay will just confuse the dog.
rewards work better than discipline, teach the dog that going in the right place will get them a reward, but going in the wrong place should not be punished otherwise the dog will associate punishment with going potty and this will cause even more problems.
If you have been using training pads or paper in the house, take this outside and place on the ground where you want the dog to go potty. this is so that the dog smells his/her scent.
when you take your dog out, use a command while s/he goes potty. i.e. go wee, repeat this to your dog until s/he goes to the potty and then treat the dog immediately. Soon your dog will learn the command and go whenever s/he is told.
if the dog does not go potty within ten minutes, you should bring the dog back into the house and then take the dog straight back out and try again. you have to repeat this procedure as many times as it takes for your dog to use the potty.
It is very important that you do not give up until your dog realises what s/he has to do, or they will think that all they have to do is wait for you to take them in.
try this book, i found it to be invaluable.
2006-10-24 10:37:19 · answer #2 · answered by indy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You've already received some good advice. You say you can't make her stay out because she'll dig up the yard....well, discipline her for digging. Remember; discipline for bad behavior, reward for good. You need to give treats every time she properly does her business outside.
If she starts digging in the yard, give a firm "NO!". If she stops, give her a treat and lots of praise. If she doesn't stop, scruff her and put her inside. Of course, you'll need to work on the digging thing once she's already done her business. It doesn't sound like she's getting enough time outside to do things OTHER than going to the bathroom. This is imperative....it sounds like she doesn't want to do her business because you'll make her come right back inside as soon as she's done, and she wants to play! So when she plays (digging up the yard which you so hate), you bring her in before she gets a chance to go to the bathroom. So then she goes in the house and gets in trouble for that, too.
Bottom line; give her more outdoor time and work with her on discipline. This website has a lot of helpful tips on various training problems.
http://www.perfectpaws.com/pupstuff.html
Good luck!
2006-10-24 10:30:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
at 5 months the dog can still be trained. this may be a little harsh for you, but you have to show the dog who is in control. if the dogs uses the bathroom in the house, make sure that you make the puppy aware of it in its presence. I recommend if the dog does number 2, to take the dog by its collar and put its face to it. then tell it bad dog and give no praises. after a while the dog will understand that using the bathroom in the house will disappoint you and it will get no praises. you have to be the leader and not the follower in the house. it worked with my dog.
2006-10-24 10:28:17 · answer #4 · answered by Josh H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep the dog on a leash and take it to the same "potty area" of the yard. Keep it there until it goes, repeating some kind of potty phrase such as "hurry up, go potty". Reward the dog when it does it's duty in the yard.
2006-10-24 10:26:37 · answer #5 · answered by natz11200 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take the puppy for a walk she will learn that there is a time for play and a time to do your business. when she does do her business give her a treat to help her understand.
2006-10-24 10:23:11 · answer #6 · answered by c0mplicated_s0ul 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
do everything u are doing but when u let her in and she gos the bathroom in the house put her noise in it and say no no bad and show that u are very upset with her..And when she gos out side give her a treat when she comes in..
2006-10-24 10:23:27 · answer #7 · answered by animal lover 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take her out when u see signs like if she is snifing the ground,after she ate,and just look if she is doing things and u can probaly tell i have a puppy and when ever he poops or pees i scold him (by words)
2006-10-24 10:40:23 · answer #8 · answered by zach 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try the puppy pads they worked for me it takes about 2 weeks to do it
2006-10-24 10:24:45 · answer #9 · answered by cassie_m18661 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
with my dogs you just had to keep taking them out. then it just seemed like one day they stopped peeing in the house.
2006-10-24 10:23:45 · answer #10 · answered by TheMagicMan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋