My puppy wont use the potty, help???

Question

I just got a puppy, a labrador retriever, he's five months old. He is terrified of even getting up from where he sleeps. I carried him down last night so he can try to use the bathroom but he was so scared he hid under a truck, and I had to get down on my knees to pull him out...He hasn't used the potty at all since we got him yesterday! Please help!

Ok...the puppy was not abused..His owner was a great dane breeder! We called a vet to make sure he was ok! The vet says hes fine...he just needs to adjust!

Answer 1

Try sitting down on the floor in front of him, kind of ignore him and have some doggy treats or something in your hand. Lay one close by him on the floor and just sit there ignoring him. Don't give him another one until he eats that one. Feed two or three, then get up and go about your business. Do that several times a day until he gets used to you. He is just scared because of his new surroundings. I read other posts where people are concerned the dog may have been abused. He might have been but that is not always the case. He just may be a really shy dog. My husband raises beagles and we had a puppy that was just like that, and I know she had not been abused. Just let him get used to you on his terms and I guarantee you, once he does, he will be a loyal friend for life. I would lay out some of those piddle pads like you can buy at Wal-Mart for him to potty on right now until he gets used to you. He can't hold his "pee pee" forever. Good Luck. Labs make great companions.

Answer 2

Rubbing their noses in their mess definitely won't help as they're only puppies and have no idea what they've done wrong yet. This kind of reaction will only make them very confused and afraid which will make the situation worse. The best, fastest and most reliable way to potty train a puppy is to use a crate. As dogs are natural den animals they will not mess in their sleeping quarters and you can use this natural instinct to help them learn bladder and bowel control. Puppies of this age need to go out to 'potty' about once an hour, except at night but by 14 weeks they can stay in their crates for a max. of 3 hours at a time. Of course you need to make sure they get plenty of 'crate-free' time (always supervised to prevent accidents) and tons of exercise, love an attention. Always take them to the same spot outside and they'll begin to recognise this as their 'potty place' and give each one plenty of praise and encouragement when they 'go' in the right place. By using a crate, always supervising, giving plenty of praise for good behavior and being consistent and patient you will be able to potty train your puppies. You can find a lot more detailed info on this and many other puppy subjects at the website below. Good Luck!

Answer 3

The dog has had a fear instilled in him. Normally if the animal had been beaten by a previous owner, this fear would manifest itself as a fear of a type of person: Male or Female or small children. Based on what you have said, I would guess that the dog may have been abused in a different way. Your job is to find out what he is really fearful of. Is it going outside? or the Dark? When you pinpoint it you can work on correcting it. Use treats as a reward when he does potty. Continually coax him and eventually he will improve.

He may also be hurting when he pottys. You may be able to tell by watching and listening to him, and see if he whines or whimpers during the act.

Now with all that said, if you do not have the time or patience to deal with this situation, then you need to return him to wherever you got him. The dog needs help and alot of attention.

Answer 4

First off where id you get him? He sounds like he has already suffered abuse.
I would take him out three or four times a night even if you have to lose sleep over it. It will be worth it in the end! If you are able to take him out a few time in the day as well
If you are close to him he might not be as afraid. You will have to show him that it is ok to trust you.Every time he does go to the bathroom outside give him a treat and lots of loving. And when he is ready think about crate training, it is good for the dog to have a place of there own.

Answer 5

Wow, where did you get him? Has he been abused? Has he arleady been shuffled around from home to home? It sounds like you have a dog with some issues here. You have taken him in, its gonna take him some time to trust you. Eventually the little guy will HAVE to go, he wont be able to hold it. So be prepared for some messes in the house. But dont get mad at him over it. He cant help it. This is gonna take alot of time and patience to house break him it sounds like. Be gentle with him, dont get angry with him. Take him outside for long walks on a leash, or let him in your yard if its fenced in and keep a eye on him. If he goes encourage him-tell him he has done good. If not, just give him time, he will eventually go.
Whatever you do, dont turn around and give him away again in a month. Thats the worst and cruelest thing you can do for a dog. I get the feeling this dog has already been in 3-4 homes already or maybe has been abused. I might be wrong but something doesnt sound right.

Answer 6

Get down on his level. You're most important job is to make him feel as comfortable. Get him in an area he can be comfortable in, and get down on your hands and knees and avoid using your hands, and instead nuzzle him with your head an shoulders. Keep your eyes pointed down to make him feel good. Make lot of physical contact with him as long as he doesn't get freaked out by him.

He's going to have accidents to start with because he won't go until he absolutely has to, and when that time happens, it will just happen. You probably want to put him in a place that has easily cleanable floors, and then clean up immediately when he has accidents.

He's totally scared, and you need to cater to him to help him get unscared. No sound in the house, very soothing voice, physical contact, slow submissive stance movements will help, but may not totally fix anything.

This does sound like he came from an abusive environment, and it may not be that he's just scared, he may just be scared of people. Crawling will change the way he looks at you, and may help with the stress.

Answer 7

Poor thing. He is just going through the adjustment of changing places. As soon as he gets used to everything make sure he is outside becasue he will explode.

That amount of fear is not natural though you may check with the previous owner to if he was ever abused by anyone or something.

Answer 8

sounds like he was abused, poor baby. maybe his old owners used to hit him for going potty in the house. it will take some time for him to adjust to his new suroundings just give it time and let him know that all you want to do is love him. hug and kiss on him alot. give lots of praise when he does go potty so it won't be so difficult the next time.he will associate treats with being a good boy. then he will never leave your side instead of his bed.

Answer 9

I'm curious to know where you got this puppy from and what it experienced to make it this way. Get down to it's level and play with it a lot and make it comfortable and safe feeling. It will go.

Answer 10

wow, that is extreme fear. is it possible that something happened to him before you brought him home? puppies do go through a fear stage, but for him to be afraid to even leave his bed, it sounds like something is wrong. i would have a vet look him over to make sure he isn't in any kind of pain.