7 Month old pup-I'm failing to potty train. - Page 1

I have a 7 month old female pup that won't potty/crate train. I've done everything I can think of so I'm asking for help here maybe some suggestions. I can take her out to go pee and poop on the hour every hour and she will go most of the time but will still come in and do either in her crate when she feels like it. I've taken her to the vet and checked for any infections and she's always come back clear. I'm at wits end. I don't want to leave her outside but my house smells and I'm really pretty tired of this. Someone told me just to make an outside dog out of her. then bring her in for socialization and just maybe she'll grow out of it. Any suggestions appreciated.

Hi Gabby, I'm sorry that you're having this problem. It sounds like you are a very concerned dog owner. You mention using the crate.........how much time is she put in the crate vs time spent with you playing, training,walking, bonding etc?? I am aware that many dogs pee out of insecurity and nervousness. Could that be her? Also, I wonder if she was born/raised inside or outside? My pups are always born outside (in a warm barn) and aren't brought in the house until 7 weeks of age. I very rarely have to do much potty training. I believe that the dogs instinctively want to "go" outside. But many people will disagree with me on that. I hope you get lots of good advice on this board! Good luck!

I agree with Ranching lady that I do not really potty train my dogs, they do it on their own. The only difficult dog I had was Wrangler when I lived in Mannheim. I would have thrown his butt outside but we had no yard and I thanked God for wood floors and a mop. He from a pup was crated at night and would not go in the crate but as soon as I let him out, he left a trail of tinkle all the way out the door. This took what seemed like forever to go away. About 8 months old. More recent had the first accident from my showline bitch. Woke up to the horrible stench of a dog pile in the house, but she started her heat and I think that is what caused it, as she has not done this since I bought her in Feb. Had the carpets cleaned and she is in the garage at night, until she goes back out of heat. She is my house dog so I can't throw her old bones back in a kennel. Day time she is in the backyard and at night when she would be inside, she hits the garage with her bed out there.

Ranchinglady- Part of the problem is I don't know how this pup was raised. I purchased her when she was 12 weeks old, so my thinking is she probably was allowed to sit in a dirty crate a lot before I purchased her. She is very stable otherwise. Very easy to train knows all of her basic obedience has a lot of confidence. I don't crate her except at night or when the weather is bad and they are crated in my kitchen. Alot of exposure to people there in the kitchen. She had the ability to be with us in our family room but the potty situation got her thethered to us and she's fine with that and no accidents. I think we've kept our heads level with this young pup but when she gets the urge to go she just goes. I correct her when I catch her in the act but she's quick and no use to do much if I don't see the act. I really don't want to keep her outside but I'm running out of options. Thanks for your response. Gabby

Well, I am not an expert but...are you giving a lot of praise when she does her business outside? I mean, LOTS. If you don't usually "treat", this may be the thing to "treat". It can be her kibble, carrots, cheese..whatever she really seems to love. Hopefully, with the EXTRA treats and praise outside she realizes that it is much more fun to do her business outside vs getting in trouble inside. I am not keen on making her an outside dog if she has been inside with you for so long. She will never understand why. K

Gabby, it sure sounds like you've got the picture right. How sorry to hear that a pup would be raised in a dirty crate. I'd bet that's where the problem comes from. And I'd also bet she doesn't understand, inspite of corrections, that "going" in the house isn't acceptable. I might think she'll grow out of it, but not sure that many people would have your patience. I have to say the best option would be to have her outside, on a grassy yard, for a long time. Long enough for her to discover how nice it is to pee on softer ground and not be constantly corrected. Dogs do make a habit of using the same place as their bathroom. I'm not asking for a kennel name, but I am curious about where/how she was purchased. Possibly from a newspaper ad or pet store? Anyway, you are a kind person to care for a dog that apparently has problems. Keep us updated, please.

I have never had to give treats to teach my dogs, but that does sound like it would work. Worth a try and she probably was from a big litter and kept in a less than clean area. My boyfriend has a Malinois that does the same thing. Goes anywhere in her kennel, walks in it, lays in it. She just doesn't know any better. We are trying to teach her it's better to be clean and give her all the option to stay that way. Never had this problem with a dog in my life.

She's a very well bred female from titled parents. No kennel name for the breeder though. They have a couple bitches and do work their dogs. I think they both work and the pups weren't just sold to anyone. That's why the late age when I got her. Praise is my form. I give my dogs treats for just about every thing when they are pups. I even have a container of treats on top of my crates and even my 4 year old gets a treat when she crates up. As for the potty time. I give lots of praise and goodies. I just don't have dog psychology when it comes to her potty issues. I don't have a kennel but I have a "dog" yard. I will bed it up with lots of shavings and let her stay out at night and while I'm away. I have a dogloo with a warming pad in it. I have another female that the puppy adores this female gets hot in the house so I might delegate her to stay out together. I am just afraid of a dog only "bonding" going on with this senario. I don't want to leave her out all alone either. I'd rather do none of this and get the problem corrected but I just don't know what to do. I really do appreciate all the the suggestions. Thanks, Gabby

Hi Gabby, Incase you don't know, this is how a puppy's system USUALLY works, about 30minutes after they eat, they poop, and anywhere from 10-25 minutes after they drink, they pee. I just read in a recent issue of Puppies USA that some signs are VERY obvious, and some, aren't so obvious. Here are some of the not so obvious ones: The sudden stand-still, The circle game, The pacing, The sniffing. Here's what I am reading also (this is directly out of the magazine, so please don't bash ME for the information, I'm a messenger) "To teach a puppy to go where you want it to, you need to pick the place where you want it to do the doo. Experts suggest choosing a grassy area close to your home. While your pup is in training, take it to this spot for all of its bathroom breaks." Here is something I found to be useful that I read, "A canine desire to pee atop a spot that has already been anoited is universal. The smell of the previous dousing is an irresistable 'come hither' to a puppy, and for that matter to an adult dog. To creat a scent cloth, wipe your pup's bottom with a cloth or paper towel the next time it pees, and save the cloth. Then take the cloth and using a bread tie, fasten the cloth to a tree, or shrub, or fence fairly close to the house, and on the way to the elected spot, drag the cloth on the ground, so the scent trail leads your puppy right to the desired spot." Okay, this is my two cents, and PLEASE REMEMBER, this is not MY information, it is information I have gotten out of a magazine, and have found to be useful. GOOD LUCK, KEEP US POSTED, Krista blueskyekennels@msn.com

Pack you still give your usual detailed good advice and thats why you ranked so high in the contest. Took my 3 2 gether to a local field only to meet up with some USPCA gents doing narc training. We made chit chat and they were social guys. They were putting a wrap on a fence with concealed bushes and teaching the dog to find it loaded with marijuana. Could have made it easier for them with my knowledge (changing equip) for search word choices, body language and a few other professional clues but chose the spectator route. Gave them a chance to eyeball my 3 that I like to train together making things more involved than training 1 alone