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Permalink Reply by Sam Tsang on May 21, 2009 at 3:39pm

Hey Cathie, check out the FAQ, you'll find the potty training thread there.

Some of the common signs are: walking in circles, sniffing previous soiled area...etc. The key is clean the soiled area WELL, never let him out of your sight, when you cannot watch him, put him in a crate. Be consistent and set a schedule for potty time, don't let him get distracted, walk him with a leash, so that he learns to pee, poop then it's play time. I have literally trained my girl vienna to pee, poop on command, it is VERY doable. Be patient and expect relapse in the next 9 months. Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Sarah, Sadie & Dexter on May 21, 2009 at 6:36pm

Sadie and I just started PetSmart puppy training classes and here are a few of their "tricks"

*if you do catch him peeing in the house, without scaring him stop him in the process, a quiet "no no" and scooting him in the backyard and then having him finish outside
*when he does go to the bathroom outside, make sure you give him the treat outside; don't let him walk inside for his treat because he will think he is being rewarded for coming inside
*when he does have an accident inside, use a cleaner that takes the amonia out of the carpet (the lady named a few, but i don't remember them but if you ask a pet store they will know) otherwise even though the spot is cleaned up, the dog can still smell the amonia and think it is a place to pee
*use a schedule with water, they usually have to pee within 20 minutes from when they drink water
*if you crate him during the day, puppies can hold their pee for 1 hour per month they are; ex: 3 month old dog 3 hours, and so on

i hope those tips helped, along with the FAQ Sam provided.

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Permalink Reply by Cathie Harrison on May 23, 2009 at 1:06pm

Thanks you guys for the advice. I don't ever let him out of my sight, but when I take a shower or go out, he goes into his crate, so I've got that covered. It's hard not to let him get distracted - he's such a curious little fellow. I'll try the leash outside thing again - I've tried and he goes absolutely crazy when I put his leash on when he's in the back yard - he really, really hates it.

I think I need to make his area in the house with us smaller, also. I've gated off the living room, but when we're home, he's free to go into the family room and kitchen (it's kind of a great room). I'm thinking that I'll get another gate and block off the kitchen so he's only in the family room.

Anyway, thanks again. It's not easy, but by golly we'll get there!
Cathie

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Permalink Reply by Boo Buchheit on May 23, 2009 at 4:36pm

One "trick" I read somewhere that I usually don't see on forums is to not let them see you clean up the mess. Seemed to work wonders with Leo or at least he was easy to potty train. Don't know what the thinking is behind this hiding the clean up, can't remember what the article said there. Maybe something like the pup thinking it is a game while you are cleaning or that it is not messing up their area as you are just gonna clean it up. Both my guys were super easy to house train. Leo's last accident was when he was 10 weeks old, now he is 10 months. Randy has never had an accident in the house and he is about 10 weeks now.

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Permalink Reply by Susan Stanton on May 23, 2009 at 8:29pm

Be patient! Both my guys "got" the idea quickly -- but they still had pee accidents for a while. They were just so young, sometimes they were so distracted by playing or whatever, that even THEY didn't know they had to go, they'd just suddenly stop what they were doing, and pee! Better self control comes with age (until you reach my age, then you get to let go of self control again, and just claim senility!) -- just keep enforcing the rules you've established and the suggestions above, sounds like you're on the right track.

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Permalink Reply by Cathie Harrison on May 24, 2009 at 11:48am

Boo, I read the exact same thing about not letting them see you clean up the pee spot - it said because then you are affirming that it's ok to pee in the house. Don't know how that gets into the little guys' minds, but I try do it anyway.

Susan you're so right about them forgeting about the fact that they have to go - there's so many exciting things going on all the time, what with the ball sitting there unattended, the new things they realize they can reach as they get bigger and of course, the wonderful ice cube.

I think it's going to work out well. He seems to be getting it slowly but surely. No wonder God made them so cute - you can really put up with anything when they look you in the eye and pounce and jump like Superman.

Cathie

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Permalink Reply by Stephanie on May 24, 2009 at 3:08pm

The reason I heard that you shouldn't let them see you clean it up is that you get all excited and jump up and get scrubbing - they think you're happy because you're making excited movements.

Bear is now 4 months old and we very, very rarely have an accident.

Some tips I followed were:

1. I took him out about every half hour, just to make sure his bladder was empty.

2. I used the phrase "go potty" everytime he went.

3. I always, always took him out the same door to the same spot.

4. I always take him straight outside when he comes out of his crate, no cuddles, no greetings until after we go outside.

5. I always praise him when he goes outside

Good luck!

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