What to do with my puppy?

Question

My 10-week-old puppy loves to play outside. The problem is, when I take her out to relieve herself, she won't, because all she wants to do is play and explore. I love it when she explores, but how do I differentiate between "potty time" and "play time"?

My 10-week-old puppy loves to play outside. The problem is, when I take her out to relieve herself, she won't, because all she wants to do is play and explore. I love it when she explores, but how do I differentiate between "potty time" and "play time"?

I DO put her on a leash and say "Go Potty!" She thinks her leash is a toy and bites it and tries to wrestle with it (it's actually kinda cute, but she should be going potty)

I DO put her on a leash and say "Go Potty!" She thinks her leash is a toy and bites it and tries to wrestle with it (it's actually kinda cute, but she should be going potty)... and I DO praise her when she goes potty.

I ALREADY HAVE A CRATE

(jeez, do you people think I am stupid?!)

Answer 1

I have a ten week old puppy as well. My puppy did the same thing. This is what we were told to do by a dog trainer. At night put her in her crate. First thing every morning, before you do ANYTHING, take her straight outside. It is helpful if you can put the crate right next to the door for a while. Puppies don't like to potty were they sleep. The key is to make sure the crate is only big enough for her to stand up and turn around.

Twenty minutes after she eats, take her out. Stand out there until she goes. You have to have a lot of patience.

We did all of this and it worked. It took a couple weeks but it paid off.

Answer 2

It's gunna take some patience. Young pups are so excited about new things that sometimes they temporarily "forget" that they even use the potty ever! I had this same problem with both my puppies and here is how I solved it:

I would take them out and not really bother them, but as soon as they potty'd I'd give them a treat. This really worked for my shi-tzu but my Jack russel was a bit harder to tame. With her I had to put her on the leash (still rewarded every potty) and after she went I would take the leash off and let her run around the back yard and play. Now, if you don't have a gated backyard all I can help with is the first thing, but that should eventually get the point across to her. =)

Answer 3

I used clicker training to teach our Border Collie pup the "go potty" command. Now when I take her out, she will go when I tell her to, assuming she has the need.

You can find a clicker at your local pet supply type store (got mine at Petsmart for $2). First you teach your puppy that the click means a treat reward (for training purposes only, try using cut up cooked hot dogs, they smell better when cooked and are good for training, but not every day treats). Then you click, give a treat and repeat about 10 times. You'll see puppy "gets it". Then when puppy is outside, you wait for her to go potty and initiate the click, then treat reward. After you have done this click for the potty about 10 times, you can then begin to add the cue of "go potty" when she goes and click as soon as she finishes. Clicker training can be implimented into alot of basic training too. I find it a very useful tool.

I would greatly discourage the "leash tug of war" as it can be difficult to properly leash train when puppy sees this as a toy.

Answer 4

Potty time put her on a leash and go with her. Give her longer play time, if she has to go she'll go. Eventually break her from the leash. You could also try to take her for a walk first, then let her ahve her play time. But trust me if she is playing and has to really go, she'lllll go!

Answer 5

She is a puppy and that is just what puppy's do. Mine played with the leash also. Do you have a fenced in yard? If you do I would just let her outside until she does. Don't give her attention when she starts playing around until after she goes. This will encourage her to go right away. I hope this helps.

Answer 6

The best thing to do is leash your pup for potty time, then remove the leash for free play after she goes. She will quickly learn "business before pleasure". Another thing I did with my pup was this: every time he went number one I would say "Go pee! Go pee!" in an excited tone. And whenever he went number two, I would deeply intone "Hurry up, hurry up!" I know it sounds crazy, but after awhile I would say "go pee!" or "hurry up!" and he would do his ones and twos on command. It came in really handy on nights when it was raining or snowing, or in the morning when I was trying to dash to work.

Answer 7

walk her on a leash and dont let her play and keep saying "go potty" and when she does give her a treat everytime and then play with her, so she can get a routine down

Answer 8

Your dog just needs to get used to "going" outside. Like if they're something you do like, something special, to let her know it's potty time for her, then just do that when she's supposed to go outside. And just give her time. And when she does go outside, like she's supposed to, praise her a lot. Dogs love praise so that will let her know she's doing the right thing.

Answer 9

Please get your puppy a Christmas present of a crate. Most dogs will not have accidents in them because they don't want to lay in it! Take your puppy out regularly and if you get results, praise her, but don't scare her. If you give it time, the crate will work! However, some toy breeds are notoriously hard to house break, as I have a chihuahua in addition to others, who insists on leaving me surprises.

Answer 10

They'll grow out of it.

DO NOT GIVE YOUR DOGS TREATS! A lot of people are suggesting that and I think they're just assuming and don't know from experience. You don't want to give your dog treats for every little thing they do or they'll get spoiled and expect it all the time. They'll beg to go out even when they don't need to go to the bathroom just in hopes of getting a treat. At most, when they do their business pet them or rub their belly.