Please help! Housetraining gone downhill!?

Question

Please help me! We bought a Brittany Spaniel about a week ago and he is six weeks old. At first everything was going great, we'd feed him only three times a day at the same times and bring him outside to eliminate at the same time in the day. Then we started using the housetraining pads because we want him to be use to that since we'll be gone for lone periods of the day. He'll pee on the pad once in a while and other times we'd just have to bring him out. But since last night, he refuses to pee on the housetraining pad and only eliminates outside. Then, when I got home today to let him out around the same time I usually do, I found out that he had eliminated in his own bed in his crate not once but twice! We cleaned his bed and things and played with him, took him outside, but for some reason, he has once again eliminated in his own bed! I don't know what to do anymore! Please someone help me!

Answer 1

He's really young...too young to be away from his mother. Pups younger than 8 weeks old really have no concept of their bladder. He probably doesn't understand what you want, he just goes when he has to go. I wouldn't worry too much about it, as he gets older it'll get easier. Since he is so young, he needs to go out every half hour to an hour, until his bladder is bigger. In the future, do not get a puppy so young, he may have social issues if he was taken from his mother at 5 weeks. In some states, it's illegal to separate them from the mother this young. Good luck and just be patient.

Answer 2

First off remember he is only 6 wks two wks too soon to be away from mom. Puppies should stay with the mom 8 to 10 wks. He is also too young to not have accidents if he has to be left for long. Most dogs don't like to eliminate where they sleep but if they have to they will. Puppies need to be taken to their elimination area after every feeding, playtime, and everytime they wake up. Some dogs don't like to use pee pads if they have a choice & some will only soil it once and some associate it with there home and won't use it but can still eliminate when have to somewhere else inside. It's hard on even a grown dog to be left for long periods of time so especially a pup. This is when bad behavior is learned. You might want to look into finding someone who could check on your pup when you have to leave it for long. You shouldn't leave a dog longer than 4 hrs at a time in a crate. It takes till about 4 to 6 months for their bladders and eliminating to become regulated. Don't scold or punish for elimination in bed they hate it worse than you do. Give it time, patience, and consistancy, and always praise when he goes where he's suppose to go lots of "good boys". Good Luck

Answer 3

This is a classic case of confusing the dog. You either want him to go outside OR inside. You really can't have it both ways. It sounds like the dog has decided he wants "outside" to be his potty. You said "at first everything was going great." That's because you were training properly..feeding/walking at specific times. The dog is now not sure where you want him to go, so now "anywhere" has become his toilet. I HIGHLY suggest you get rid of the training pads and go back to what worked. Feed, then walk, and praise with your voice and maybe a small treat when he goes. Puppy's tend to not have as much "holding" power as older dogs, but when he does understand that outside is for potty, he will hold it while you are gone. You just have to have patience, and be regimented..remember he IS only 6 weeks old (and you've had him a week?" It takes a lot longer for a pup to get the whole potty business down pat. Good luck to you and your new friend!

Answer 4

First of all, NO ONE should sell a puppy under 8 weeks old. There are laws in some states prohibiting it.

Second, no puppy under 10 weeks should be expected to even understand housetraining. Six weeks is way the heck too young.

As a breeder and dog lover it makes me sick to my stomach when I hear about a puppy being sold that young. A pup that young is very vulnerable to diseases and infections, should not have been fully weaned yet and has not even learned social skills. Grrrrr! Shame on them.

Your puppy will have accidents, most aren't fully trained until 4-12 months. You need to back off and just try to help your pup learn to socialize and get the skills it was robbed of by selling it that early.

Answer 5

Well, you're not being consistent with the pup. People problem, not a dog problem.

I don't understand why people try to potty train a dog to pee on the floor (pee pad) when what you're trying to train is for them NOT to pee on the floor/in their crate/on your shoe.

Your post noted a crate, but are you closing your pup in the crate when you are outside of the house? If not, start doing so now. Your pup should be confined to a crate until he learns bladder control. He should not be out loose in the house and running around unless and until you are sure he won't have mistakes.

This is a young dog and he needs to understand that you are the boss, that you control his every move. Once he eats, he should go outside about 15 minutes later to eliminate. Your interaction with the pup should be outside until he learns not to pee in the house.

My dogs are crated 8 hours a day. They go out first thing in the morning, then we walk for 1/2 hour, then they are given treats and crated from 8am to 12pm. I come home at lunch, they go out, we walk for 1/2 hour, they are treated and then crated from 1pm to 5pm. I come home at night, let them out, feed them dinner, let them eliminate then they can play in the house until about 9pm, then it's one last time out for potty, then back into their crates for the night.

Using your human mind, you might think that's a lot of time in the crate, but the crate offers safety and security to the pets. My youngest dog goes into her crate voluntarily to chill and/or to hide her special toys/treats.

Don't confuse the dog, teach it to go outside. Crate training your dog will help build it's bladder control. And if you crate train now, it will be a habit for life and will make travelling a lot easier for you down the road (hotels require your dog be crated if staying overnight).

I suggest reading this vast website on how to become your dog's pack leader: http://www.leerburg.com

It's up to you to be consistent.

Answer 6

alot of people get dogs without realizing the time and money they consume. its not your dogs fault he has a small bladder and digestive tract and you have to work everyday.your dog is confused. he got used to going outside, then he doesnt get a chance to go outside and he has to go so he does it inside, then gets used to doing it there, now hes just confused and just goes when he needs to go, and the bed already smells like poop so it must be the right spot! i think if you were there to let him out everyday he would go outside.so you are probably just going to have to get used to cleaning poo until his bladder gets bigger and he can hold it longer
this breed tends to have alot of energy, they are bred to work everyday. if you dont give him daily exercise and he sits at home either inside or in the backyard and stares at the fence bored out of his mind he will really be a handful. he will need to release this energy and stimulate his mind with something or he will go psycho !!i would enroll in a training and socialization program and start walking him everyday or playing frisbee, and he will be happy dog

Answer 7

Maybe putting the pads on his bed? Could that help him some? If he keeps using his bed maybe you should take the bed away for a while, or perhaps you could move it to a new location?

Good Luck!

Answer 8

youre not staying consistent in your training,

First you want him to go outside, so you take him regularly.
Now you want him to go inside?

Dogs are very submissive and eager to please their masters, but you have to becareful what youre teachign them and how consistent you are, or else they will attempt to assume the dominant role and do as they please.

I lived in an apartment, with my dog, and although it was hard, I took him out for runs and to relieve himself before and after work, then at night
and it was good enough for him'

Is there someone you can have come and take the dog out when youre late for work?
thats probably the best solution to this...keep it outside, and if you cant help your doggy, get help to help you do that.

otherwise youre confusing the dog
i know id be confused if i were youre dog

Answer 9

KEPP HIM OUT SIDE OR LIKE IN A CAGE