Puppy Confused About Potty Training
My little Baxter is 8 weeks today. He's picked up on the concept of doing his business on the puppy pads and has been moderately successful. However, after reading some of the posts and sections in the FAQ, I've realized that I haven't been consistent with his potty training.
I've been doing a combination of puppy pads and grass outside. I've been taking him out first thing in the morning, after meals, before bed, etc. However, he seems more interested playing in the grass and fallen leaves than going to the bathroom. Once we get inside, he goes on the puppy pads.
Any suggestions on helping him make the "outside to potty" connection? Should I gradually wean him from his puppy pads or just not use them all together? I'm afraid he's just going to hold it until I lay a puppy pad down. I read somewhere that I could take the puppy pad outside in the area where I want him to go. I tried that, but he just ended up playing with it.
Advice and suggestions would be most greatly appreciated! Much thanks!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sam Tsang on
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Hi Baxter's mom! Take out the puppy pads and don't use them. Remember that Baxter is very young and he will continue to have accidents and relapses until 1-2yr old. He will get the potty training idea in a few months, his organs will be mature to hold for hours by 9 months, but he will forget and get distracted because he is a puppy. Look on the bright side, he will potty train faster than a human baby :) The most important thing is have a set schedule, when you can't watch him, put him in the crate, he needs to learn to hold. Read and re-read this, especially the mistakes. Be patient, we've all be there, you'll get there too :)
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Permalink Reply by Baxter on
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To follow up on my earlier post, Baxter has a tendency to eat grass, nuts, and whatever else is on the ground when I take him outside. Any suggestions or will his little tummy be okay digesting these materials?
I've been attempting to use the crate training method, but I have a couple of questions:
1. By using the crate to assist with putting him on a potty schedule, will he start associating his home as something "bad" or some form of punishment? I know that I can't watch him all the time even when I'm home, so he needs to be crated.
2. In instances when he doesn't go when taken out, it was suggested that he be crated and taken out again for 25-30 mins. Is the 30 min crate bouts repeated until he finally goes?
3. Any suggestions on the best crate training method, or continuation of, during longer work hours? He'll be about 12-13 weeks when we cross this bridge. I've heard suggestions for an exercise pen/crate combination.
Thanks again for your input!
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Hi Baxter's mom,
every corgi is different, some can tolerate grass, nuts better than others, always keep him on a leash so that you can prevent him from ingesting something, clean up is a pain.
1. Always associate the crate as the happy place, feed him in it, treat him in it, you can skip the expensive bedding until age 2. Keeps his favourite toys and an old T-shirt of your there. Never use the crate as a punishment, no time out in the crate, it is not a jail, it is a refuge. Keep the crate in the centre of all the action, move it throughout the house if need be.
2. Yes, 15 min should be good.
3. I personally prefer crates with adjustable barrier that allows you to change size as he grow in size, only give him enough space to stand up and turn around. He will learn to hold and not soil the crate, if you re-read the link, rule is 1 mo = 2 hrs, 2 mo = 3 hrs...etc. When you have a play pen, your pup can still find a distance furthest away from his crate and do #1+#2, until 9mo, you want him to learn how to hold.
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Great advice for a new corgi mommy! I have him on a leash because he jets everywhere, but he's pretty quick about latching onto grass and nuts. I was so happy because he finally went outside, but it took about 1.5 hours later from when we initially started! I cried tears of joy. Is it okay for him to be spending that much time in his crate (waiting for him to go outside) in addition to when I have to put him in there when I can't look after him?
Also, we'll be moving houses/apartments the next few months due to winter break, clinical rotations, etcetera. Is there anything different that I should add/modify for his crate/potty training?
Much thanks for your response!
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Permalink Reply by Melissa and Franklin! on
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Is he crate trained? That was what saved me with Franklin. Pick up the potty pads and take him outside right when he wakes up in the morning. Wait 5 or 10 minutes, if he doesn't go potty, go back in. Repeat in 15 min. eventually being outside won't be so fun and he will be less distracted and will potty for you, right after he is done give him TONS of praise. Also, you can wait a bit to teach him to go outside, and teach him a potty command now. Frank's is "go potty" for pee and "poop" for poop. He knows the difference and will go on cue, if he doesn't have to poop he will actually just squat like he is going. Its really funny. But use the same command everytime he goes and he will eventually learn the command and will go wherever you tell him to. He's only 8 weeks old, you have a good 2 or 3 months ahead of you before he is moderately potty trained, and possibly another 6 or 8 months before he is almost totally trained. One thing to keep in mind as a simple rule of thumb, they can hold it for as many hours as they are months old (i.e. a 2 month old puppy should be able to hold it 2 hours, 3 month for 3 hours, etc). It just helps you to remember to take hiim out frequently and slowly increase the amount of time during the day that he can hold it.
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Permalink Reply by Jane on
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I wouldn't use the potty pads at all if you can avoid it. It seems to be quite a bit harder to break them of going inside once they're used to going on the pads. Do you take him out a leash?
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Permalink Reply by JACLYN and ENZO on
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I used puppy pads in the beginning with Enzo because I didn't really have time to be taking him out every hour and we didn't want him soiling his kennel or our house when he was younger. I would praise and give treats when he went outside and I did nothing when he went on the pads except clean it up. I'm pretty sure he started thinking wow I'm not going to go inside there is no pay out! As he got older ( 6 months now) he really doesn't seem to want to use them even though we leave them around the house just in case. Your puppy is still quite young I wouldn't worry too much he will get it soon!
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Thank you for all the wonderful suggestions! All the information you have provided will certainly help in giving Baxter a strong, basic potty training foundation. Much thanks!
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Permalink Reply by Jessica on
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Pick a certain spot in the yard for business only. Maybe stick a potty pad there or if you find a lovely present in the house, place it in the spot and praise when he sniffs it in that spot.
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Thanks for the great advice. I might try the "present" strategy because we'll be moving to a couple of new places within the next few months!
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Permalink Reply by Lauren on
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I've been having trouble having Caius only go to the bathroom outside when we want him too. There are walks where it's just a 30-35 minute "play" walk, and then I (realistically) want just a "potty" break. It's frustrating because most of the time, it takes 15-20 minutes because he sniffs everything, darts off, listens to sounds, and tries to chew on sticks as opposed to just focusing on pee'ing or poop'ing. How would you pick a certain spot? There is no way he'd do his business if I put a particular toy of his in the spot I would want him to go in...
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