Let Me Know You Have To Go Outside!
Optimus is just over 5 months old now. When we take him out, he has no problem going to the bathroom. But sometimes it's not always at regular intervals or regular times that he has to go, so he'll pee or poop inside. All my other dogs have always just stood by the door and barked when they need to go out, am I expecting too much out of a 5 month old puppy to start learning something similar? I've heard about a bell technique, where you teach them to ring a bell when they need to go out. I might consider this, but like I said, I've never had any problems with dogs just barking or sitting at the door. I know they say it'll be 9 months before they're fully potty trained, but it just feel like his training has plateaued... Any suggestions?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on
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I have never managed to train a dog to ask to go out. I just try to stick to a routine. Also, since our back door is downstairs I let them out if they go down there. I tried the bell with one of my other corgis and she was so afraid of the bell she would shrink away from it when we put her paw on it and pee on the floor! We have friends that trained their westie to use the bell and now when he wants attention he will ring the bell. Sometimes he will ring it 5 or 6 times an hour! You could try having him "speak" at the door before you go out. Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Shayleigh's mom on
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I've trained my puppy (she is only 4 months) to ring bells when she needs to go potty. After getting her used to the bells by putting some of that Kong stuffin' (it comes in like a cheese-whiz bottle) on there, we started having her ring the bells each time she has to go potty. Since we have a small apartment she often sits by the door even when she doesn't go out so the bells have been a great way to differentiate when she needs to go out and when she is just relaxing by the door. I think just getting them in a pre-potty routine can help, then they learn to associate that behavior with going outside.
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Permalink Reply by Sky and Lyla on
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I have used the bell method wtih GREAT success! I have a year old Aussie pup who does not bark, so teaching him to speak was not an option, and I did not want him scratching up my doors pawing.
I made a little ribbon of jingle bells and hung it on the door knob. Everytime we would go outside to potty I would point to the bells and wait until he rung them and then we would go outside. The first couple times I rubbed a little peanut butter on them so he would get the idea as he licked the pb off.
It took him about a month of doing this before he realized that he could decide to ring them on his own, but I have a friend whose dog got it in 2 days, so it just depends on the dog.
As far as the ringing them just to go outside, it does happen sometimes, but it also happens with any method you of "asking" you teach. It happened a lot more in the beginning, when he realized, "hey these bells get the door opened," then it does now. I would take him outside everytime he rang the bells (even if I didn't think he needed to go), and if he just tried to play around we went right back in. That way he didn't think the bells only worked sometimes (and would start peeing on the floor inside) but he also realized that they were ONLY for pottying. By 4 months old old, he was ringing the bells everytime he needed to go outside, and really only when he did need to go (except for when he had a UTI!).
The other good thing about it, is we can take the bells to someone's house when we go visit, and hang them on the door, and he knows how to "ask" even in a new place! Good luck!
**This website also has some training info: http://www.poochie-pets.net/**
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Permalink Reply by Sam Tsang on
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Yes, you are expecting too much from a 5 month old puppy :) Think human baby, it takes them 2 years to master potty training, so you dog is actually pretty smart! Another factor that others have left out is entering the "teenage" period, everything your corgi learn will relapse and just like human teenagers, they will push the envelop and challenge you, this stage shall pass. Re-read the FAQ, repeat the instructions, have lots of patience and 1yr will come very soon. Keep up the good work and good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Patty & Frodo and Crystal CWCs on
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Frodo has a special 'woof' when he wants to go out, so no help there.
When I started obedience training him at 4 1/2 months of age, my trainer said, "For the next 8 weeks, that puppy is on a leash in the house and attached to you. If you can't watch him/her, crate them." (of course, taking them out often; she also said if you were actively playing with him in the house and had 100% attention on him, he could be off-leash.) That worked wonders. I got to actually SEE very very clearly when he was acting like he had to go. Also, if he started to go, I was right there and could correct him/rush him outside. He only had a couple of accidents. By the time the 8 weeks was up, he was a much better behaved dog. Also, he was used to being with us everywhere so is very attached. Not separation-anxiety level, but he definitely always sticks with us.
I also took him out a great deal of the time, and used a 'potty' word when he went properly, along with treats and much praise.
If you aren't crate-training this might not work ... but it worked wonders with me.
I think maybe I'll try to get Frodo to ring a bell instead of woofing. :) That might be cute, if all the cats don't start doing it too! (all indoor animals of course)
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