How to train my 3 month old puppy outside?

Question

My american male cocker spaniel (3 months) began going outside. Today is his 6th day, and he still doesn't get the idea to do potty outside. When he comes home, he runs to his wee wee pad and does everything there as soon as we come home. When outside, he fools around, but has been getting better at not doing that. However, he still doesnt get the feeling to go outside. He waits till he gets home. Is it because he knows that pad will be there waiting for him? And also recently he started barking at people (not all of them) and a dog he saw today. Is that anything to be worried about?

Answer 1

Bring a wee wee pad outside with you and let him go on that. Don't let him have one inside. And when he does go outside - praise him like crazy with a happy, excited voice and bones (he should feel like the grand prize winner on a game show). Repest this process, but expect that he will have accident inside on occasion - don't socld him unless you catch him im the act -which if you do tell him no loudly and bring him outside to his "potty spot". When he goes again outside - praise and rewards. He'll soon get the idea that going outside gets him praise and going inside is wrong. Soon enough you can fade the prompt of the wee wee pad.

Answer 2

Just curious as to why you wanted till 3 months to train a puppy to go outside? Undoing the pee pee pad use now will take a lot longer than a few days. I wouldn't count on him being house trained for another month or so at least. We have an almost 4 year old corgi, and we have been training him to go outside since 8 weeks, and he still doesn't completely have it yet. You've trained him that it's okay to potty inside, so he's actually obeying you now. I think you could try to move the potty pad closer and closer to the door, and then maybe on the front step, and then outside. Or take the pad away completely, and start taking him out more. If he doesn't make potty outside, put him into his kennel for 10 minutes, then back outside. Repeat till he makes potty outside. Praise him etc. At this point you can't even really get upset cause he pottys inside. He's still a baby, and he's only doing what you taught him. The barking thing could just be a socialization issue. Our Corgi barks becuase that's his voice. He even talks back to us. As long as he's not showing fear or aggression then I wouldn't worry about it.

Answer 3

There are some great answers for the potty pad. Just for future reference it's always a bad idea to use potty pads. You're having to break an old habit and train a new one.

Make sure to make a huge deal about him going outside. Try taking him to the same spot so he smells what he needs to do. Move the potty pad closer and closer to the door until it eventually disappears outside of the door. If he starts having accidents inside the house use Nature's Miracle or Simple Solution. It breaks the enzymes down that the dog smells. Also boundery is a deterant to prevent the dog from going.

The barking isn't a big deal unless there is underly aggression. Were his ears pasted back? Were his eyes wide? Hackles raised? Stiff body? If not then it could be a "look at me come play" sort of bark.

Take the puppy to the dog park, to Petsmart or Petco. Encourage people to pet your puppy.

I take my dogs on tours of pet stores and introduce them to cats, birds, snakes, rodents, fish. Everything you can think of. It's a constant socialization. Once you stop you run the risk of aggressive tendancies.

Good Luck

Answer 4

I started to train my Bichon to go outside by moving the training pad nearer and nearer to the door. If he knows not to go in the house, (making messes other than on the training pad) then keep taking you spaniel outside as often as you can. When you run out of training pads, don't buy another package of them, keep taking the dog outside, on walks, ruins around the yard, etc. I trained my dog in the winter so it was very cold, but now he gets the idea. You may have a few accidents in the house as your dog's trying to get used to the idea. Try maybe getting a kitchen timer if you don't have one, setting it from 1/2 hour to an hour (depending on how good your dog is at "holding it") and taking your dog out each time the timer goes off. Eventually he will get the idea that outside is the place to go. Don't lose your patience, it takes time. Good Luck! (Also, I wouldn't be very worried about the barking, especially if the other dog was close to the property. He's just beginning to learn his 'terriritory'.)

Answer 5

First I'd suggest getting a crate that she can grow into and has a divider so you can adust the size as she grows. She needs to be in her crate if she isn't eating, drinking, playing, training or outside. This means anytime you can't devote 100% of your attention to her and at night. This will help her learn how to hold her bladder. Next, she needs to go out after every activity she does (sleeping, eating/drinking, playing, training) and every 2 hours. This means you'll be taking her out a lot and thats ok! She should also never be in her crate more than 2 hours except at night. During the night, she may wake up once to use the bathroom and it's fine to take her out. Make sure you bring her right back in and go back to sleep though. If you play with her, she'll think it's time to play every night. Remember that dogs learn best with positive reinforcement. Do NOT scold her, it was your mistake for not watching close enough. Clean up the mess with an enzyme cleaner and do better next time. Make sure when she goes outside you praise and reward her every time. If she sees it makes you happy, she'll do it. If you catch her going inside, startle her and take her outside to finish. Praise her for finishing outside. Also, ignore her cries in the crate, she will cry but will eventually adjust. If you tire her out before bed, she'll sleep better in the crate

Answer 6

I have a 2 year old LhasaPoo who did this exact thing, it was like she prefered the carpet better then the grass. Most books will tell you to really make a big fuss about them using the outside and to scoop them up and put them outside when they start to have an accident. Doing this just caused her to hide when she did it. So I just started to put her out non-stop. I no longer wait for her to ask, she just gets put out every 2 to 3 hours, with the exception of when no one is home. As I start getting her to go out I tell her GO POTTY!! and she knows what I mean now. When she goes outside I still make a big deal about it and now she knows that she will get a treat if she goes in the right spot. I also tend to let her stay out there for 20min if the weather permits so she has time to mess around and find the right place. She still doesn't ever ask to go so I make sure and ask her alot DO YOU HAVE TO GO POTTY?!!? It seems to be working out pretty well.

Answer 7

I have three Toy Yorkie puppies, who at 10 weeks are completely housebroken! I just call them, load them up into their pet carrier and out we go. They romp in the snow but will eventually do "their business" outside. They haven't had an accident in two weeks now! Maybe I've just been lucky, or have one that's taught the others? They all sleep together in their dog carrier at night...with the door open. I just get up, turn on the coffee, scoop them up in their carrier (making sure they don't jump out!) and take them out on the deck. By the time where done outside, my coffee is ready. so far, in the last two weeks I haven't gotten out of bed and stepped in a puddle. Yeah! I was worried as my friend's Yorkies have NEVER been housebroken. Guess you just have to be consistent and have the time. I just make sure I take them out a lot, realizing their bladders aren't very big! I also take them out shortly after they eat...this seems to be the time when they have to poop.
Try moving the pad closer to, then out the door. Hope this helps. Good luck!
Btw, they all saw and heard the HUGE dog next door this morning. All three of them climbed up on top of the carrier and barked back. Guess there's safety in numbers! I think "Ruger" just thought "breakfast"! lol

Answer 8

You are sending the puppy mixed messages. He thinks the pads are where he is supposed to use the bathroom..not outside. I REALLY suggest crate training and stop using the pads. If you don't want to crate train, start with moving soiled pads outside so he can smell his scent then eventually stop using them.

However, crate training is the easiest method for housebreaking.

Answer 9

Try moving that wee wee pad over to the door and slowly outside so puppy will get the hint.

Answer 10

my boyfriends pug had the same problem. the trainer told us to put the pee pad outside. and give him a treat when he goes outside and tell him good boy. the more praise you give him the more he will feel he is doing the right thing and he will continue to want to do that.