View Full Version : HouseTraining Issue - This doesn't make any sense!
vmillls
10-10-2009, 10:41 AM
Simon is 18 weeks old and is still peeing frequently (every hour to an hour and one-half) yet he can make it at night for 4-6 hours at a time (in a crate). He's been on a schedule (outside on awakening at nite, after meals, after a nap, after playing, before bedtime) since 9 weeks of age. He's not crated during the day, but confined to one room.
He's been checked for a UTI and does not have an infection. This morning he had two accidents in the house (he goes to the door SOMETIMES, but not always). It's possible more than one person gave him water, but shouldn't he be able to hold his pee for longer periods of time? I thought about 16 weeks was the norm.
What am I doing wrong?
That_girl
10-10-2009, 04:29 PM
What about teaching him to ring a bell to go outside? That's what I did with my girls.
Basically I got some bells and taped them on the door frame at nose level. Right before I go outside, I (at first) picked her up and made her nose touch the bell. Then the door opened, we went ouside, she pottied. She got a treat.
Have them nose the bell right before you take them outside, but don't treat for nosing the bell, or they'll run to the bell for a treat. Only treat when they potty outside.
squashynose
10-10-2009, 04:36 PM
I have the same problem with Pandy. He can hold it for 4 hours in his crate during the day, 8 hours over night... But no more than a couple of hours when I'm home. If I'm home, he'll go to the door when he needs to go outside, but if I go out and leave him not crated, he'll pee like every 20 minutes.
And he's nearly 3 years old!!
vmillls
10-10-2009, 07:15 PM
What about teaching him to ring a bell to go outside? That's what I did with my girls.
Basically I got some bells and taped them on the door frame at nose level. Right before I go outside, I (at first) picked her up and made her nose touch the bell. Then the door opened, we went ouside, she pottied. She got a treat.
Have them nose the bell right before you take them outside, but don't treat for nosing the bell, or they'll run to the bell for a treat. Only treat when they potty outside.
I started this for the other dog Alvin, who now barks when he has to go out. But someone in the household (name withheld) kept taking the bell off the door because it was made "too much noise." I'm going to try it again for Simon and hope I can train the human to IGNORE the sound of the bell.
MandyPug
10-10-2009, 07:24 PM
Whenever a pup has a backstep in house training, it's the person's fault not the dog's. I'd recommend taking a step back in the training and trying again. No free time in the house, he must be attached to you at all times or in his crate/room if you cannot watch him at all. You just cannot allow him to make a mistake or he'll keep backstepping. Watch for his signs. Excessive sniffing, circling, being generally restless are the usual signs and when you see him doing those things, take him to the door and touch his nose to the bell and then straight outside to his spot. It'll take time, and every puppy takes a different amount of time to learn it. Just be patient and allow him no chance to make mistakes.
pwrca
10-25-2009, 07:44 AM
I would agree with MandyPug, back to basics, if the pup cannot be supervised he/she should be crated. I learned this the hard way, oh he'll be OK while I take a shower, sure enough there would be a mess. So if I couldn't supervise he went into his crate, I'm not saying there weren't accidents that I missed while he was loose but, those were my fault, I missed the signals.
I always bring my girls into the bathroom with me, whether I'm using the toilet, having a shower or bath, whatever. I never close doors or really even turn my back on my girls, too much for them to get into, and too quick :p