Potty training help

[jhawk17]

I have had dogs my entire life and never had a problem with potty training; until now. I have a new pup, a border collie mix, and am having much touble with the potty thing. She is a very intelligent dog. at 3 months she knows several commands so I don't understand why she can't get the hang of going outside. I have tought her to ring a bell when she wants out and she uses it, but very inconsistantly. Any help would be appreciated.

[BabyElephant]

There are some very good threads on here about house training, it all depends on your situation. I mean are you there in the day to let her out or does she have to stay home alone for a few hours? When does she not tell you that she wants to go, what have you tried, how often do you take her out??? Questions, questions, but if you can give us some more info we can be specific to you and your new pup!

[jhawk17]

She isn't left home alone very often and when she is she isn't rally alone , I have 3 other dogs. I let her out every hour except during the night , she makes it overnight without accidents. Sometimes she will be out for a long time come back in and do her business on the floor. I tell her NO! when I catch her in the act and take her out, tell her good girl and fawn over her when she goes outside. Standard potty training stuff here, whith the exception of the bell.

[Lessica Jake]

What I did with mine was take her out on a leash, and if she didn't go, she didn't get to be free. I would take her back inside, put her in her crate, and ignore her until I took her out again 15 minutes later. She figured it out pretty quick as she doesn't like to be alone.

[BabyElephant]

From what you have said, I would do the same as Lessica suggested, continue to take her out every hour but tell her to "go pee pee" or whatever command you wish and then carry on with the loads of prasie that you are doing. The bell is a great idea, others have used that successfully. If you can't supervise her in the house all the time then leave her in a room where if she does go potty it won't be too much of a problem for you. My pup wouldn't go overnight until about 16 weeks and wasn't fully housetrained until about 6 months but then again I do work so couldn't take her out every hour. It sounds like your doing a great job, it will just take time and patience on your behalf. Some dogs just take longer than others I guess.

[NicoleLJ]

I have yet to fail with this. I have trained literally hundreds of dogs, mostly dogs that I have fostered, to this with this method. First you need to build the pen. For the first one I ever built I just went tot he dump and picked through all the wood they have there. The one you see in the picture is all new wood. First you have to figure out how big you want it. Ours is about 6 foot square maybe a little bigger. First you need to pick the corner of the yard you want it in. I like a corner by the back door. Par enough away that when she goes to the bathroom the smell doesn't come into the house but close enough that when the weather is bad I can just open the door for her to go out to the pen and go then come back. Once the stakes are in place then you can add the sides. Feel free to use the picture on my web site as a guide. Once it is built here is the schedule and instructions on how to train the dog or puppy to this. I put all dogs and puppies on this schedule for the first week.

7am Potty time

7:15 breakfast

7:30 Potty time

7:45 Play time/free time

8:15 crate time

9:15 Potty time

9:30 Play time/free time

10 crate time

11 Potty time

11:15 play time/free time

11:45 crate time

12:45pm Potty time

1 Lunch

1:15 Potty time

1:45 Play time/free time

2:15 Crate time

3:15 Potty time

3:30 Play time/Free time

4 crate time

5 Potty time

5:15 Dinner time

5:30 Potty time

5:45 Play time/free time

6:15 Crate time

7:15 Potty time

7:30 Play time/free time

8 Crate time/ Bed time. Also pick up water

9 Potty Time

9:15 Play time

9:45 Crate time

10:45 Potty time

11 Play time

11:30 Bed time

Ok. This is my beginner schedule that I put all my dogs/puppies on the first week. The purpose is because adults dogs are not always house trained when they get here and puppies need to be house trained. This schedule helps me to learn their potty schedule in a controlled way. The purpose to there being so many crate times is one to help find out their schedule and also for puppies to learn to control and extend their bladders with short periods of time. Also after the first week the schedule can be change as each puppy shows that they can handle longer periods. The play time I would extend by 15 minute intervals. Each will also progress at different times and in different ways so I would keep track of the schedule that each is on.

Now when it says on the schedule Potty time I would take the pup to the door that has the bell and get them to ring it. Then take them to the potty pen, on a leash so he can't try and escape the pen, and then give him the command to go. I use "Hurry Up". The purpose to this is say you suddenly had to leave the house and you needed him to relieve himself right away so he would be fine while you were gone. This way he can go on command and you can dash off. If he doesn’t go in 5 minutes then take him back to his crate and wait 10 minutes and try again. Follow this routine till he goes. Trust me the first 2 days is the hardest because some dogs and puppies try to hold it till they can go when they want and where they want. But they all give in. This is the purpose to the crates. He will have no other opportunity to go anywhere else. When he does go have a favorite treat or toy ready and give a ton of praise and lots of excitement. Sheena was house trained in two days in this way and potty pen trained in a week.

The hardest part is sticking to the schedule. But if you stick to it then the success will be there quicker. Let me know how it goes.

Nicole & Sheena

[teebos69]

i have a 4mth.old dobie,who will only eliminate in her crate after shes been out running around for 15 min.she does it all the time .i cant seem to correct this behavior,i have had dogs all my life and have never had this kind of problem.what can i do.if you know of a solution please contavt me at gcerillo@hvc.rr.com thank you.

[eXile]

Teebos, theres 1 simple solution to this. Dont go in untill she goes. Nicole, EXCELENT advice. Keep the good work

[Moo]

Teebos - Clean the crate out with a good smell neutralizer (i.e. NATURE'S MIRACE), and barracade the crate so it is only big enough to fit the dog inside. 15 minutes is a long time to be running around. After those 15 minutes, go out for a potty break, THEN into the crate.

[jhawk17]

You have all given good advice and I am happy to report that my pup has gone 5 whole days without an accident in the house. I loved the advice from Michele since I to foster humane society dogs and have had a couple that were not potty trained. I will try the schedule next time I have a foster.