Where we live there's been an ice storm for several days, I thought I had my new puppy housebroken... but?

Question

I can't get her to do anything outside. I must admit she's quite smart though she hides from me and when she "appears" I don't find the "nasty" gift she's left until later. It's almost creepy where she goes because it's mostly in places I don't frequent, like upstairs in a bedroom that isn't used or in the back of a closet. I know she probably wasn't potty - trained as I thought because I took her out OFTEN. Is it possible to take them out to often while training?

Answer 1

Don't worry! This is not a huge deal and easily fixable.

BTW: If I had to stand outside in my bare feet in the ice storm we've been having I would be seriously re-thinking the whole potty thing too.LOL

You need to keep taking her out--stay out with her and she's on a leash---and praise and treat her when she goes. Wait a minute or two after she pees to make sure she doesn't need to poop because that often comes a minutes or two later. If you can, try to keep the ground clear where she needs to go so she isn't standing in three inches of ice.

CONFINE her in a crate when you cannot be watching her so she doesn't soil in the house anymore. If you see her start sniffing, scoop her up and outside with the two of you. Keep treats in a pocket so you can reward her outside.

Remember: you are doing fine. Just stay consistent, take her out alot and don't worry about taking her out too much.

Part of the trick is to teach the dog that potty outside equals a HUGE TREAT jackpot, that way she'll learn to "save it up" so she can cash in.

Good luck

Answer 2

We just had a relapse with our 6 mo. old puppy now that we have some snow on the ground. He seems to avoid going poo outdoors if he can at all get away with it.

I suggest crate training. This way you can avoid unexpected "surprises" in hidden places. First and foremost, your puppy shouldn't be out of your sight if she's out of her crate. Catching your dog in the act is the only way to make sure she will learn not to go in the house. And if she does squat to go then you are right there to pick her up and move her out the door.

The basics of crate training are to always take your puppy outside after removing her from the crate, make sure you take her outside and stay out until she goes (or 15 minutes), if she doesn't go then she goes back in the crate. You can repeat going outside and trying again in 15 minutes or so. Then, if she does go, play with her, train her, basically interact with her positively. Then, when you need to do something in another room, or anytime you can't keep your eyes on her, she goes back in the crate.

If your main problem is that it's too cold on her feet then I would try to break up some of the ice and create a spot where she can go more comfortably. The snow in our yard was high enough that when our puppy squated he was in the snow - it's easier for him now that the snow has been trampled down.

It's been a really heart breaking process to have to take steps backwards with our puppy, but it's to be expected. It's hard to put him into the crate and keep him in the same room when just a week ago we could let him roam around the house without an issue. But, it usually only takes a couple days of crate training and a few times of catching him in the act before he remembers that he's not supposed to go in the house.

By the way - don't use puppy training pads unless you want your dog to go on them in the house permanently. Otherwise, you're confusing her by letting her still go in the house.

Answer 3

First even a senior dog can be trained to start going outside...so don't give up hope.

Second, he is a puppy, so that weather you have is going to freak him out. Leave him feeling vulnerable and scared. So you may have to stay very close to him when he's out there for now.

Third...no, you can't take him out too often. DO look up crate training, it's the very best proven method of training. Read several sites about it and stick to the rules. Like, no playing on those training walks..business only then back in. DO take him to the EXACT same spot in the yard so he smells that this is his area where he should go. DO rejoice when he goes out there.

If you need to, take a bit of poo from inside when he goes, drag it to the training spot outside, to show him by scent...this is where you do that!

Lastly, do NOT use training pads. These only do one thing, teach him that it is okay to GO in the house. Keep him in the kennel every SECOND you are not with him. Take away his water and food bowl at the end of meals, so he doesnt mess up his need to go.

Answer 4

I don't think its possible to take a dog out too much when training, but you could have done the training in a way that is causing your dog's behavior.

Did you yell at/hit or frighten puppy if she went in the house during training? (Or recently?) That could cause her to go in sneaky places.

When she goes in the house try punishing her the way mama dog would- Take her by the scruff and GENTLY shake her a bit, and make some sort of disapproving noise, like a growl. Don't yell, hit, or put her nose in it as this often just makes puppies afraid, hence sneakiness.

Then, when she does go outside, give her lavish praise. Tell her what a good girl she is, scratch her favorite spot, give her a treat, etc.

If it doesn't seem to be working in a week or two you may want to take puppy to the vet and have her checked for bladder infections or other health problems that could be a factor.

Answer 5

NEVER TOO OFTEN! My pups are the same way too! You think you have them housebroken and then you find the little "gift"! And mine go in weird pots too like they normally don't go upstairs but they'll go up in my Mom's bedroom! I think they want to go somewhere where they don't normally hang out. Like I said, you have to take them out often, it's a MUST for housebreaking and don't forget PRAISE! I'm sure the pup doesn't like the weather, mine are freaked out by the snow we got!

Answer 6

The best solution is to keep her in a confined area in the house-so she can't go un detected. Dogs have to go potty after they eat, play and after they wake up from sleep-just take her out immediately after any of those activities-don't let bad weather stop them from going outside...the best way is to go out with them (I know you hate the bad weather too) but if you are out there coaching and rewarding your dog when they do their duty outside..they love that! They will soon want to go out even when the weather is bad.
P.S dogs learn by observing you...if you hate the bad weather and don't go outside they will want to do the same thing!

Answer 7

They do have puppy pads you can buy. They are the shucks that you use for someone with incontinence. Or you could put papers down in front or by the door you use to take the puppy out and the move the papers or shuck outside so that the puppy gets the right idea.