what am I doing wrong with my potty training??
I need some ideas. I dont have an OES but do have a PON. Another shaggy dog herding breed so quite similar to the OES so i hope you dont mind me asking the question. OK, hes 12 weeks, we have had him since he was 9 weeks. I have a feeling the potty training is going backwards ....... Both my husband and I work so hes alone (with the cats) all day in our kitchen dinette area which is blocked off with puppy gates. He caught on very quickly to go on the puppy pads in the corner, and seems quite content in his "area". When Im home I try to keep him close to me and under continual supervision and to take him out when I see the signs he needs to go, but he has chosen a corner of our front room that he likes and trys continually to go there, Hes soooo quick at this that sometimes I cant catch him in the act. If I catch him in the act I dont scold but take him straight outside, I really think he now thinks that he does his business in the house then gets to go out. I think he has it all backwards as hes going less and less outside and more in the house. I will take him out every half hour and it doesnt matter how long I spend out there he seems to hold it until he gets back inside! So obviously Im doing something wrong. When you guys had puppies did you stay outside for hours until they finally went every time (its VERY cold here at night in NJ) ? If you caught them in the act inside, would you then take them out?? Did you stay outside until they went again?? The other confusing thing is when is he not going on the pads in the evening like he does during the day. I hate to keep him in the kitchen when we are home as he is in there all day but why is he not looking to go on the pads at all times?. At night he is in the crate in our room and holds it all night until my husband lets him out in the morning, and he goes pretty immediately. We have no problems with him in the crate and he seems to know "sleepy time" is quiet time in his crate and rarely whines. Sorry this is so long and rambling but I really think Im confusing him and he doesnt know where to go. Keeping him in a crate all day is not an option so we need to use the pads for the time being until hes old enough to hold it. But should I just stop taking him out and concentrate on getting him to go on the pads EVERY single time, even when we are home? Or is it OK what Im doing and we just need more time? Any sugestions / comments would be great! |
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| Well! Potty training!
This was a HUGE issue in our house with Barney. We got him when he was 6 months old and supposedly potty trained. Not so much. And yes, we did end up spending A LOT of time outside just waiting for him to go. We have a designated area in our backyard for him to go, so each time we'd take him out, we'd put him on the leash and walk him to the area and use the magic words (Do your business) and wait. And sometimes he would go fairly quickly, but most often it took a really long time for him to go. He would try and wander (but we had him on the leash so he couldn't really go anywhere interesting) and then when he went we would get all excited and happy and say good boy and immediately I would let him off the leash and let him either run around or go back inside. This whole training regimen was NOT fun, since we got him in early spring when it was still pretty cold out (not dead of winter cold, but still) but it has paid off-he goes to that spot now and we can stay on the deck. I would discourage any additional inside peeing (other than the puppy pads in the kitchen for when you are gone). You don't want to condition them to think it's okay to go in the house. Have you cleaned the area he likes to pee in with an odor erasing solution? Often times dogs will continue to go in the same spot or area because they can smell their scent there already and want to continue to mark it. So something that neutralizes the smell could be really helpful (and even though you might clean it well and you can't smell it, doesn't mean that the dog can't smell it). At this age you just have to really keep an eye on the puppy--not that you aren't already but it is just something that needs to be kept up. We kept Barney in the kitchen (gated off) a lot more than we wanted to because he would pee every time we let him out into the rest of the house (and since we got him at 6 months his pees were already BIG). Some people on this forum have succesfully used leashes inside the house with them, so that there puppy can roam around a little, but still be close at hand to have the owners know what they are doing. Good luck and just know that it WILL get better, it just might take a while. |
| She's right. As annoying as it is, you really can't let them out of your sight until they've got it down or are giving you a consistent signal to go. 12 weeks is still pretty young too. I'm not saying it isn't possible but I wish at 12 weeks with Clyde I had as much as you have right now! That boy took forever and we wound up training him to ring a bell since he didn't like to tell us when he had to go. It'll get better. As much as it stinks to hear it, be pateient and consistent! |
| I had a German Shepherd that we used the "leash in the house" method, it worked really well for him. Tried it on another pup, didn't work at all. I used the Puppy Pad method with my OES (I got him at 8 weeks old, he is now 8 months) and I can count on one hand how many accidents he has had. What I did with Ben (my OES) is I put the pad at the door that he needed to go to in order to "go outside to potty". The big trick and it can be awfully hard is to not, play or aknowledge or play with the pup until he does his business...then make a big deal and play. Ben got the idea right away. Now to get the smell out of the carpet....I have used everything you can imagine, the only thing that I have found that takes the odor away and disnfects and discourages second attempts is...are you ready for this?....rubbing alcahol!! Sounds crazy but, it works! Douse the area. After it is dry then go over the stain (if there is one) with what ever cleanser you wish!
Good Luck...Hope this info helps you!!! |
Welcome to the forum 
I would say first off, he is too young to expect much yet, it is you who is being trained at this stage, to learn his signals and routine.
Second, I would get rid of the puppy pads at this point and teach him outside only. A crate is immensely helpful because if he is crated he won't want to mess his bed, you can take him out, give him a few minutes while encouraging him to hurry up and pee, if he doesn't within a few minutes, take him in and crate him and try again in half an hour. When he does pee outside, lots of praise and time out of the crate for an hour or two. A few days or possibly a couple weeks of this and he will get the idea. Be patient, consistent, and good luck! |
| I have to agree he is too young to expect too much out of. If he can make it through the night at 12 weeks that is great.
I would also take the pads away. How long are you gone during the day? Is there someone who could come and let him out a couple of times a day? Neighbor you could pay? I would start all over,,, go to step one. Stay outside until he does something. (it always seems a lot longer then it actually is) At 12 weeks every half hour is probably more then needed. If he pees I wouldn't get too upset over that. Bladder and brain takes a while to hook up. could you block off the area that he goes to all the time? or When he walks over there, just shout out his name, jump up, tell him lets go outside, with excitment in your voice, he will forget he was going to pee, grab your coat and go play for a while outside,,(does not matter what the temp is) he need to learn to go out. How does he do on your days off?? does he still go to the pads? or can he go outside and play? No easy answer, lots of work on your part, but it will all come together. Barbara |
| All great suggestions. I would recommend having him go outside ONLY, and do away with the pads if you can. If there is noone home to take him out every 3 hours or so you will need to enlist a neighbor or dog-walker to take him out. He is too young to hold it all day.
Only if that is not an option should you leave him in a bigger space, with the pads. Also, make sure you start by getting him to go pee on "cue". When you take him out as soon as he starts to widdle say "go pee" or "do your thing" or whatever you want to call it, and give him a tiny, tasty treat. Right away, just as he finishes. In a couple of week he will associate the words, with the treat and then the action!!!! Then you can take him out, use the word, he goes piddle and voila! you then have an emply bladder for some inside playtime. But crate him as soon as you feel he may need to go again, or take him out again. You wnat to be able to reward him everytime he goes. And don't scold him when he goes inside as it is not his fault. Also, he will then not want to pee in front of you, so outside you won't be able to reward him because he won't go. And inside he will just wait until you are not around or he will go in anohter room or behind the couch. Not good. Get a rolled up newspaper and if you see him pee inside the house you can wack yourself on the head for not getting him out when it was time. Keep a schedule. He will go after playtime, after naps, after eating, about every hour or so, sometimes more often, when he is awake. Good luck! |
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