house training a pup - any advice?
Discussion
Hi - just looking for some tips really.
We have a 12 week old pup who is shut in the kitchen at night. She's getting better at being house trained, but we are getting little "accidents" during the day and overnight.
Some days she's fine, other days we'll find 3 or 4 wees on the floor within the space of an hour.
Tried crate training but it really didn't work for her or us, we put paper down where she typically goes in the kitchen and she manages a hit rate of about 50% - don't really want to cover the whole kitchen in newspaper though. Tried puppy pads when she was younger too, but again, it was a bit random as to whether she used them or not.
She gets taken out regulary (in the back garden) and for walks and I know they only have small bladders at this age so unlikely to go all night yet and be dry - we take her out in the garden just before we go to bed and she usually does a wee at least.
It would help if we could get her to at least go in the same area each time - at least that way we could contain it a bit - any ideas how we can do this? should we re-introduce the pads again now she's a little older?
Always clean up with anti bacterial cleaner to try and remove as much smell as possible. I know it will get better age?
We have a 12 week old pup who is shut in the kitchen at night. She's getting better at being house trained, but we are getting little "accidents" during the day and overnight.
Some days she's fine, other days we'll find 3 or 4 wees on the floor within the space of an hour.
Tried crate training but it really didn't work for her or us, we put paper down where she typically goes in the kitchen and she manages a hit rate of about 50% - don't really want to cover the whole kitchen in newspaper though. Tried puppy pads when she was younger too, but again, it was a bit random as to whether she used them or not.
She gets taken out regulary (in the back garden) and for walks and I know they only have small bladders at this age so unlikely to go all night yet and be dry - we take her out in the garden just before we go to bed and she usually does a wee at least.
It would help if we could get her to at least go in the same area each time - at least that way we could contain it a bit - any ideas how we can do this? should we re-introduce the pads again now she's a little older?
Always clean up with anti bacterial cleaner to try and remove as much smell as possible. I know it will get better age?
Will try removing the paper but as she currently goes anywhere I'm not sure how that will help - I was oping if I could convince her to use the same thing all the time (paper or pad) I could gradually move it closer to the door and finally outside....
We do take her out very regulary and give her treats when she goes outside - but still getting the accidents - perseverance I guess!
We do take her out very regulary and give her treats when she goes outside - but still getting the accidents - perseverance I guess!
You may have to get up in the night an take her out while she goes as puppies often can't last the whole night. Do you leave her for long periods during the day? Once she's been in one place she'll keep going back to it so you need to make sure the area is cleaned properly after. Perseverance is the key and different dogs take different times to become fully trained, we've had as little as 12 weeks and as much as 8 months with little indiscretions.
Perseverance! Take them out at regular intervals and straight after meal times and just before bed.
Use some command to help them. "Do widdle" is the one I use and you may need to stand around for ages in all weathers. But a super praise after the deed works wonders.
IF they do it indoors (which they will) just pick them up and put them outside immediately. Dont scold them too much, a loud NAUGHTY! works well.
Some are more of a pain than others. Out of the 5 Ive had I think the easiest was the Dachshund and the hardest (by far) was the Bassethound.
They do get it in the end...honestly.
BTW: What the hell is this craze for puppy pads? Newspaper works just as well.
Use some command to help them. "Do widdle" is the one I use
and you may need to stand around for ages in all weathers. But a super praise after the deed works wonders.IF they do it indoors (which they will) just pick them up and put them outside immediately. Dont scold them too much, a loud NAUGHTY! works well.
Some are more of a pain than others. Out of the 5 Ive had I think the easiest was the Dachshund and the hardest (by far) was the Bassethound.
They do get it in the end...honestly.
BTW: What the hell is this craze for puppy pads? Newspaper works just as well.
Edited by Morningside on Monday 28th February 16:15
Having just toilet trained Boris, i literally took him out every single time after he drank, after he ate, as soon as he woke up, and as soon as we'd finished having a play inside!
He is 18 weeks old now, and has been dry all night for about a week.
I get the very odd wee during the day, but if im honest thats been down to my own ignorance, when hes been pestering me, and i think hes being a pain, hes actually been asking me to go for a wee!
He is 18 weeks old now, and has been dry all night for about a week.
I get the very odd wee during the day, but if im honest thats been down to my own ignorance, when hes been pestering me, and i think hes being a pain, hes actually been asking me to go for a wee!
Moo27 said:
Having just toilet trained Boris, i literally took him out every single time after he drank, after he ate, as soon as he woke up, and as soon as we'd finished having a play inside!
Good advice! I agree with the newspaper comment too, made that mistake with my first pup and he took a lot longer. It's also really useful to train them to go on command - with added annoyance to your neighbours as you sing "wee wee"..... this is especially useful at night when you want them to go and come back in right away at bedtime (not disappearing off in the dark to sniff and play).I'd second all the advice on here regarding puitting the puppy outside as soon as its done something. Done use cleaners with bleach in them eithier that can make the puppy want to do it again in the same place.
Plus, please go back to using the crate if only to contain the mess in one place!Serioulsy though you will thank yourself in a few months time that you stuck with it when you need somewhere to put that puppy thats chewing your house to pieces while you pop out to the shops. Ignore any whinning, the puppy makes it will learn to like it and eventually treat it like a teenager does a bedroom. Use a single command to get them to go in. Little and often while you are pottering around down stairs for a start so that it can get used to it a bit, give treats to encouorage it in. Dont praise or say anything to them first thing in a morning until you have let them outside as this rewards them for peeing in there. Line it with vet bed which doesnt hold dampness. Do not use it for any punishment what so ever. Loads of stuff on line regarding crate training but thats some of the basics.
Plus, please go back to using the crate if only to contain the mess in one place!Serioulsy though you will thank yourself in a few months time that you stuck with it when you need somewhere to put that puppy thats chewing your house to pieces while you pop out to the shops. Ignore any whinning, the puppy makes it will learn to like it and eventually treat it like a teenager does a bedroom. Use a single command to get them to go in. Little and often while you are pottering around down stairs for a start so that it can get used to it a bit, give treats to encouorage it in. Dont praise or say anything to them first thing in a morning until you have let them outside as this rewards them for peeing in there. Line it with vet bed which doesnt hold dampness. Do not use it for any punishment what so ever. Loads of stuff on line regarding crate training but thats some of the basics.
I think crating is very much a personal preference.
Some people find it really useful but others are quite opposed to the use of them.
Toilet training can be successfully achieved without use of crate. Both of my two will jump up and run to the back door when you say wee wee. One is 1 year old and the other is 6m. Never had a crate in the house.
Puppies are like children. The more you put in, the more you get out!
Some people find it really useful but others are quite opposed to the use of them.
Toilet training can be successfully achieved without use of crate. Both of my two will jump up and run to the back door when you say wee wee. One is 1 year old and the other is 6m. Never had a crate in the house.
Puppies are like children. The more you put in, the more you get out!
parakitaMol. said:
I think crating is very much a personal preference.
Some people find it really useful but others are quite opposed to the use of them.
Toilet training can be successfully achieved without use of crate. Both of my two will jump up and run to the back door when you say wee wee. One is 1 year old and the other is 6m. Never had a crate in the house.
Puppies are like children. The more you put in, the more you get out!
I'm not saying that you need a crate for toilet training, infact my dad had labradors for years when I was a kid and never had a crate, doubt they were invented then. However, they have so many positives I think they are a really good thing and give the dog their own space. Some people find it really useful but others are quite opposed to the use of them.
Toilet training can be successfully achieved without use of crate. Both of my two will jump up and run to the back door when you say wee wee. One is 1 year old and the other is 6m. Never had a crate in the house.
Puppies are like children. The more you put in, the more you get out!
All above advice good positive rewards, lots of chances to go outside, remove the paper, watch her like a hawk for ANY signs of toileting ie stopping play, sniffing ground, walking in a circle etc.
And remember she is only 12 weeks old still early days but would be expecting a big improvement by 16 weeks old.
Oh and voice of experience here...Don't relax too quickly. I made this mistake with Jimmy our whippet, I thought he'd cracked it so became a bit complacement and he quickly relapsed, I needed to do another month, at least, of intensive training after the time that I thought he was trained!!
And remember she is only 12 weeks old still early days but would be expecting a big improvement by 16 weeks old
. Oh and voice of experience here...Don't relax too quickly. I made this mistake with Jimmy our whippet, I thought he'd cracked it so became a bit complacement and he quickly relapsed, I needed to do another month, at least, of intensive training after the time that I thought he was trained!!
Morningside said:
"Jimmy the whippet" - sounds like some double hard b
d from the east end.
d from the east end. 
Re reading my post I get the comparison
.He's anything but that, though a mild stubborn streak meant he took a bit longer with some of his training!
He is a lean mean running machine, at times, but that's as hard as he gets!
We're taking our 9 week old lab pup out every two hours - next week it will be every three hours. she's learning that the trip outside will come soon, so holds it until then. lots of praise after each widdle (not during, as you can create a monster who thinks "good girl" is a command to pee!).
a few small accidents when she gets excited, but nothing solid, and nothing to disconcerting.
We have a crate, but she's not shut in it yet as she is too young. At the moment she just thinks it is one of her beds.
a few small accidents when she gets excited, but nothing solid, and nothing to disconcerting.
We have a crate, but she's not shut in it yet as she is too young. At the moment she just thinks it is one of her beds.
The night I picked my (now 10 weeks old) Border Collie pup up at 8 weeks, I put her straight in the garden until she did something. Only had one accident and that was on the first night.
She's really clever now and either whimpers/barks by the back door or comes and wakes me up in the morning
She's really clever now and either whimpers/barks by the back door or comes and wakes me up in the morning
Moo27 said:
Having just toilet trained Boris, i literally took him out every single time after he drank, after he ate, as soon as he woke up, and as soon as we'd finished having a play inside!
He is 18 weeks old now, and has been dry all night for about a week.
I get the very odd wee during the day, but if im honest thats been down to my own ignorance, when hes been pestering me, and i think hes being a pain, hes actually been asking me to go for a wee!
I read this and did a double take. My Boris is abotu 20 weeks old ! We did use the crate in the end with some very useful advice on here as we had howling issues. He was then free in the kitchen overnight for a week or two before we went back to the crate.He is 18 weeks old now, and has been dry all night for about a week.
I get the very odd wee during the day, but if im honest thats been down to my own ignorance, when hes been pestering me, and i think hes being a pain, hes actually been asking me to go for a wee!
I agree that when we have accidents - It is my fault because I have not been on the ball.
Part of the fun of a puppy is standing outside in the middle of a rainy night in the backyard watching them run around playing.
I trained Rommel my cocker to go on the command of "toilet". He is four and is the peeing equivilent to Ron Jeremy on command.
My sister was minding him as a pup and she wanted to put me on speaker whilst on the couch with him. I told her in my know it all voice that dogs cant hear through the phone...so to test it I said, "go toilet".
:-)
I trained Rommel my cocker to go on the command of "toilet". He is four and is the peeing equivilent to Ron Jeremy on command.
My sister was minding him as a pup and she wanted to put me on speaker whilst on the couch with him. I told her in my know it all voice that dogs cant hear through the phone...so to test it I said, "go toilet".
:-)
one more thing...
If the little thing has an accident, dont make a fuss about it. They wont know what they have done wrong unless caught in the act at that age.
When they do go tinkles, be sure to use the command with "good" in front of it and make a fuss as has been mentioned earlier. "good toilet" for example and a scratch and a hug.
That should go for everything too. Say you command them to go on their bed, tell them "good bed" when they do. They understand your tone at that age. If you want to warn them off doing something naughty, put a bit of a growl in your voice. Its what their mum would have done to warn them off as a wee pup.
Best way to practice that is to say "rosages". But not in front of them. Walk around busy main streets practicing it. Film it. Then put on youtube....please!!! ;-)
If the little thing has an accident, dont make a fuss about it. They wont know what they have done wrong unless caught in the act at that age.
When they do go tinkles, be sure to use the command with "good" in front of it and make a fuss as has been mentioned earlier. "good toilet" for example and a scratch and a hug.
That should go for everything too. Say you command them to go on their bed, tell them "good bed" when they do. They understand your tone at that age. If you want to warn them off doing something naughty, put a bit of a growl in your voice. Its what their mum would have done to warn them off as a wee pup.
Best way to practice that is to say "rosages". But not in front of them. Walk around busy main streets practicing it. Film it. Then put on youtube....please!!! ;-)
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