Breaking bad potty habits?

Question

Last November we got a puppy. She was around two months old. She's a lab / viszla mix and is spayed and healthy.

Originally we thought our electric fence was in, but it was not, so we couldn't put one in until the ground unfroze. We had issues getting her out there in the snow with the leash. She had been doing okay with her training up until it snowed and at that point it all went bad.

Now almost a year later, where she will pee/poop outside of the house if I take her out at the right time, but she will not tell me she has to go nor will she hold it. She has an area in the house that she has picked as her "poop room" and she will go there.

How can I break her of these habits. I want her to TELL me she has to go or at least hold it until I let her go (she's fully trained with the invis fence). She does have a crate that she will get into, but she whines constantly when in it. We worry blocking her off from that room will make her go elsewhere (as she has gone in other rooms)

Answer 1

I don't think you can make a dog tell you when she needs to go out but you can do things to reinforce her good potty behaviors.

First of all, you have to watch her constantly when she's in the house. Don't give her a chance to wander of and potty. If you catch her in the act of going in the house, scold her, take her outside.

Don't correct her after the fact. Dogs won't associate that correction with what they did wrong.

Go outside with her when she's out and praise, praise, praise when she does it right. Give her treats, throw a ball, whatever motivates her.

If you have a metal crate, try a plastic travel crate or try covering the metal one with a blanket or sheet. Sometimes dogs prefer a "private den".

Answer 2

Is it just when it snows out side or no matter what the weather now. Close off the area or clean the area with urine be gone, so that she can't smell where she went before. And when she goes some where else take her to it and say bad girl. Take her out side as soon as she finish eating play with her if she don't like the outside long enough for her to go, and when she goes praise her for it with a treat. Take her out at night before you lie down for bed. And by the way dogs don't like to use the bathroom where they sleep. My dog did not like her cage, but i continued to put her in it, then pass by her and tell her to be quite, i also would leave the house then come back and let her out and play with her. and repeated that. Now she goes to her cage when asked.

Answer 3

for the whining in the crate, we had a trainer come to the house. he said when our pup whines, firmly whack the side of the crate and tell him 'quiet' in a firm voice. when he shuts up, praise him. took about 3 times and he got it.

for the pooping in the wrong places, go back to crate training. make sure you also thoroughly clean the poop area in the house with nature's miracle so she can't smell it any more.

though i taught my pup to bark when he has to go, the trainer told us to hang a bell by the door. every time you take the dog out, ring the bell. eventually the dog is supposed to get the idea and ring the bell herself.

Answer 4

From previous experience I would put some newspaper in the room that she pees/poops in the most, and on top of the newspaper put a poddy pad or two... When you see her pee/poop on it, say "Good girl" with an excited/ happy voice. You have to keep working with her. Its going to take some time, its not going to happen over night.

Answer 5

take a potty pad keep moving it to the door and then out the door and hopefully that will help. if you have crate for her to sleep in in the nite or bed just remember they dont' mess in their beds and when its time up get them outside right now shes old enough to know better now.