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Permalink Reply by Cindi on October 6, 2008 at 12:15pm

Well, first off stop squirting him. It will create fear that will cause him to pee inappropriately, or even hide to pee/poop. Also, if training to both pad and outside, your pup can become confused about where to go. Pick one or the other. Control food and water on a schedule. After each access, take Tuesday to the "spot" and give your "go potty" command. Use your crate to work on potty training. Also remember that if you're not cleaning the pad area promptly with appropriate cleaner, Tuesday can still smell it. Dogs don't pee on top of their own pee. They move to the side. So Tuesday may also be smelling previous pee and changing pee spots.

It's very important with potty training that you pick one method and stick to it. Get the methodology down and be consistent. Don't stray from the program. Dogs learn by association, repetition and consequences. Tuesday will begin to associate the pee with a time/place, repeat it over and over, and get great praise for the right thing. Potty training can be pleasant if you stick with the program.

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Permalink Reply by Skullfab on October 6, 2008 at 1:15pm

"Dogs don't pee on top of their own pee. They move to the side. So Tuesday may also be smelling previous pee and changing pee spots."

That makes the most sense, as the rest we were basically already doing. We only squirt him when he squats down, using the same principle as making a loud EGH! noise when they first begin peeing (petco trained!). And I've actually read in several articles that dogs do fine if indoor trained as well as outdoor. Unfortunately I live in the kind of neighborhood where people get mugged going to their car, or standing outside their porch for a smoke, so I take him out at the same time the neighbors take their pup out (we go to opposite sides of the grass so that they don’t get sidetracked, and it works well). I'm not risking my safety or that of my dog's, so a little confusion is easier to work with than making my area safe outside =] It makes sense though that he'd get confused, so maybe just putting down one pad?

He's fine with his crate, and I smell his puppy bed regularly to make sure he isn’t wetting it. He sings when he wants to go out while he's crated (which is so cute), and he does fine when we take him to the grass. He knows what to do, pees in the same spot every time, goes back to bed and then the said routine mentioned above happens.

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Permalink Reply by MagnoliaFly on October 6, 2008 at 4:48pm

I agree with Cindi, don't spray or scare your dog when he goes to use the wrong spot. He is a puppy, puppies grow and need constant reinforcement when they do the correct thing. As their brains mature they go through stages where they can forget previous behaviors that they knew. This is why you should constantly reinforce the behaviors you want especially through adolesence.

I think it would be ideal to have your dog trained to go outside. As they get older they won't have to go as often. If you don't feel safe, by all means reinforce his eliminations on the pads if you feel you can't go outside that often. Realize though that if you ever move to an area where you will never want your dog to eliminate inside the house it will make housebreaking him completely down the line difficult. As dogs develop a sense of where it is ok to go potty and where it is not, they will prefer the place they go potty in most often. If a dog goes outside more often than inside, they will prefer that and vice versa. This is why most people when asked about potty training, if they mention wanting the dog to only potty outside, they are recommended against even trying pad training. Why? Because it gives the dog the signal that it is ok and it can be confusing.

Scaring your dog or spraying him can encourage him to hide from you when he wants to go to the bathroom. Instead, give him rewards when he chooses to do the right thing. Make a big deal out of it when he uses the pads inside, praise him a lot.

Also remember he is still a puppy and puppies still make mistakes. Use enzymatic cleaners when this happens and if necessary, tether your dog to you on a leash so he can't run off and use the wrong spot again.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah on November 4, 2008 at 9:55pm

We had the same problem! WE bought two pads so if he peed on one the other was there for him to use. Also from what I understand most of those pads already has the scent in them. We did spray with water to help with the scent being released. He did go thru a phase that he didnt want to have anything to do with the pad and he just tore it up. Then all of a sudden he started peeing on the pad ??:) good luck with the training!!!

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Permalink Reply by Sam Tsang on November 5, 2008 at 9:14am

You don't want to associate potty with a negative experience, actually your dog already got the idea, he's just confused about having so many choices in the house, the earlier you narrow down his choices, the easier your potty train will be. Your dog will be potty trained and accident free by 9 mo - 1 yr, that is faster than a human baby. Be consistent, watch him like a hawk, and be patient. Good Luck!

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