House breaking question. - Page 1

I have had many dogs through the years, but my latest GSD is really something when it comes to house breaking. She is 5 months old, and does not give any signs before she needs to eliminate. I give her frequent breaks, praise her when she eliminates, but she still gives no signs before she goes in the house other than maybe a very brief circling in a particular area. Does anyone have any suggestions for a way to get her to let us know when she has to go? Thanks for any help.

Some pups are different than others but I would have the vet run some tests to rule out health/kidney issues. Does she seem to go more frequently than normal, not able to hold it for more than a couple hrs., frequent accidents at night? A pup at that age should be able to hold it for about 6 hrs. Someone I know had a similar experience and her dog ended up having something wrong with her kidneys. Good luck, Melanie

Are you crate training her or does she have lots of room and therefore ample opportunity to find a place to go where she won't soil herself?? She needs to be on a schedule and she needs to be restricted to a certain area when you can't be watching her.... She is only 5 months old, I would not place the burden of "telling you when she has to go" on her.. you are the leader, it is up to you to get her out before she has an accident So much of housebreaking is prevention and control And yes, I would certainly do a UA on her and make sure she is ok medically.. I have seen numerous pups develop a slight UTI during housebreaking..... they are having to hold their bladder longer, if there is any bacteria there, it will be held longer as well.... Good luck

Greetings, Housebreaking each puppy is something else. When I house break my dogs they don't have accidents unless it is MY FAULT. Firstly every dog on my place knows a crate. They learn it from travel and just like they learn the kennel. I start with a crate that is appropriate for size(or make it approriate) so this way they are less likely to do the DUTY in their crate. Secondly I make sure there are NO food changes in the time I am crate training. Changing food on dogs causes diareha and other fun things which makes their stomach upset and makes them act differently and be less likly to get into routine. I keep my pups on the same food the breeder had them on for up to 2 months after i have them and then I slowly switch them over. I have had dogs who can switch left and right and not be affect but puppies aren't adults and are like babies. Secondly The minute you let her or him out of crate bring them outside. If they pee and poop good. Make sure they don't do half the job but do it fully no dribbles but a full blown bathroom duty. If they were fed and hadn't pooped yet then I make sure they do that. If they do both they are allowed back inside to play 10-20 minutes and if they even drop the nose to the ground(circling 1 time should be a good enough sign to grab them and get themout) I put them outside and tell them go potty. If they start to go I carry them out and tell them NO. If I can't watch a pup between 8 weeks and 8 months I put them back in the crate even if it means 2 minutes while I use the bathroom. A puppy can only be as good as the trainer and handler that is teaching it... if you have mixed signals the dog will also. Feed them same time every day, bring them to the bathroom 20 minutes after and when you are home or they are in the house at least every 30 minutes give them the OPTION to go outside spend 5-10 minutes with them tell them go potty or whatever command you use like EMPTY, RELIEVE, POTTY ect. It is like training them shoes are off limits, you must sit when told. Same with potty. I will stand there and ignore them till they go. They bounce and bite me and I refuse to give attention. At night time before I go to bed I let them out. ANd if I wake up in middle of the night I offer them to go again. Then I let them out in the Morning first thing. Sometimes they will pee and poop 2-3 times they are pups get distracted easily. But the biggest no no is changing food to much or immediately. Pups take time to adjust. They will go without eating sometimes, and then changing foods trying to get them to eat can cause tummy problems or make them very very picky. But the tummy problems cause potty issues in the house. And it is true if a puppy is learning to hold it like people a UTI can be caused. It is no different then a young child. Good Luck, I've had problem dogs but dogs also who are just perfect. Really I find it's my fault if they mess in the house. Things take time.

I am having trouble house breaking an adult female that I imported, who had spent most of the time in a kennel. Any suggestions? Does it differ in any way from training a pup? Also, re pups--this may sound silly, but is kitty litter ok for dogs? or do they eat it?

You housebreak/crate train and adult the same way you do a puppy.... scheduled potty trips, no free time without being watched - they may be able to go a bit longer but the concept is the same.... Why would you want to use kitty litter for pups? that's teaching them to potty in the house

I treat adult dogs the same. Sometimes they already know the crate and not to go in there so it can be easier they can go longer without mistakes. Sometimes males want to lift the leg in the house but I let them know the first time that lifting the legs inside is a big no no. I treat adults like pups. I keep an eye on them as well cause when they have an accident it is def. a BIGGER mess! :-) Good luck.

Thanks to everyone for your replies and suggestions. I hope that I will be on the way to a house broken pup.

Klatolklin- that was also a good article. Thanks for the link. :-) some things for me are just second nature and I don't even think anymore I just do so that is a good article to send people to as well. :-) Just try to help :-) A topic I have a lot of experience in LOL... as a lot of us do! HAHAHAHHAHA

I will tell you that a bell at the door with a reward works great.............they are so smart that they can catch on within 10 times in a row. Try putting a bell to ring at the door you take him or her out to potty - every time you take him/her out put paw on bell and ring and hustle outside and say potty out or what ever your cue word is - and always make it fast - with a reward of praise or morsel at the end of the job- GSD's love a job! PS but please first check him/her out at the vet on the kidney thing - the above worked well for a GSD that was hard to potty train for me - I introduced it and it sailed.