The last 5 days 12 week old Brady has been great. Sleeps in the crate (even all night between 11 and 5:30), does his business outside, sometimes even goes to the door to let us know he has to go out after playing/training. I actually considered putting the 'good' bedding (vet bed) in his crate! And then today....well. Goes out, pees, and then promptly pees in the house 10 minutes later. And then, while sleeping in the crate (after peeing twice outside before being PUT in the crate) he pees again. We had some off lead play time, and some rain, so he must have had sampled more water than we thought. We had some visitors today (particularly a 4 1/2 year old who he adores) but stuck to his schedule (or so we thought). We cleaned him and the crate up, sprayed Nature's Miracle, etc. but it was frustrating.... Any ideas? PLUS he loves to chew on his leash while walking....vinegar/bitter apple hasn't helped that (while it's cute to watch him carry it he shouldn't chew it....)
Twelve weeks is still very young. Some puppies become toilet trained very quickly but most take longer, so don't worry, he'll be reliable eventually. As for the lead chewing, just prevent him when you can and when you can't take it gently from his mouth. Offer very frequent rewards for walking nicely on a lead and keep the sessions short.
I am having the same issues. Stryker, was doing great on his 'Potty is for outside ONLY.' He was doing so well I was confident enough to remove the carpet and start putting hard wood flooring in. Been working on this task for a few days now and he's been really good, except for trying to eat the tools which really is no big deal to me. Just about to finish the floor yesterday and what does he decide to do, Go pee on and poo inside when the door is wide open. I figured it was a smell or something that triggered it but it's been a battle since yesterday to keep him from going in the house. I even took some of the carpet that we pulled up that had a strong Odor of urine and put it outside to encourage him to start going back out.. Nope. So I'll just have to keep working with him. Good thing the flooring has a water resistant spray to it so his pee doesn't soak in to the wood. He does the same thing with his leash but I keep it kind of tight and keep repeating 'Walk' as we walk. He does ok but the moment there is slack in the leash he grabs it. When I walk him I walk at a normal pace but don't really stop so that he's focused more on keeping up and staying next to my side. It works for the most part for me.
Joy's right, 12 weeks is still very young. No comfort to either of you but Molly, now 5 months, took quite a long time to house train. Same things as you're experiencing, seemingly 'got it' then goes back to pee indoors. I think she was over 15 weeks before it all seemed to click - no problems since. They'll get there, good luck.
In my experience pups are at least five months old before they are completely reliable toilet wise. Keep at it, be consistent - all will be well. Try not to show any frustration or it will become an issue to him, be calm and matter of fact. This is a phase they all go though until their bladders mature. Summer pups are harder to toilet train as the door is always open and the differentiation between inside and outside is not so clear to them. If he weed while asleep a trip to the vet is needed. This is not normal and could indicate a little UTI. ..
Bramble took ages..it was once step forward followed by a pee inside...drove me bonkers. Took a good 6 months before I could completely trust her. Still haven't dared to put a rug back down in the living room!
Wuki does exactly the same to the leach. His home leach is completely thorn apart, and the long lead is dead... House training is also problematic, specially because i got back to work. I'm coming home for lunch and we feed him at regular timings, but lately, potty time is not regular... Anyway, the vet says they don't have much control until 4 to 6 months...
I thought Xena was sorted, and then at 19 weeks she had a couple of small wees in her crate during the day (left for only 1 hour each time!). I realised that she simply hadn't "emptied" herself completely before I crated her. She's got an awful habit of doing a first wee, getting her treat, and then going back and finishing it off I realised that her accidents coincided with days when I'd been in a rush and hadn't made her do her "round 2" wees. I know how frustrating it is having to wash all the bedding, but I agree with the others - 12 weeks is still very young to be reliable.
Stanley's 22 weeks now and I'd say it's only been the past 4/5 weeks he's been reliable. Never seems to let me know that he needs it like.. Just holds it until I let him out.
Quinn also took ages - not reliable until 6 months. It eventually clicked. She had never even as a tiny pup peed in her crate, and a couple times after being out with her first dog walker had an accident in her crate (around 7 months old), so obviously they were not making sure she went before bringing her home. Even now, if she's swimming and swallows a ton of water, she will need to go frequently for the following couple of hours and will have the odd accident if we miss her by the door.
Yes definitely steps forward and back. As a summer puppy my four and a half month old puppy very quickly learned to take herself outside - until it rained, and the grass was damp. So had to return to accompanying her out in the rain, otherwise puddles inside. But in the last few days I have seen her glance at the door in passing, and on opening it she went out for wee, so have reason to believe she's getting there! Yes the thing is they do get there eventually - my sons dog, a farm bred collie who had never been in a house, lived with us for 6 months (just a house and garden) when he was 3 - my anxiety re house training was great, but never once did he wee or poo in house, and it was winter too! So take heart!
We thought Bailey had everything cracked, and then he started cocking his leg...since then we have only had one indoor wee up against the fireplace....crossing our fingers and watching him closely again but fingers crossed! Mind you the funniest thing was Bailey cocking his leg against a tree but then had a pooh and had nowhere to put his leg down so had to balance it on the tree - the look on his face was priceless!
Shadow had a phase of cocking his leg to poo. He still does it on occasion. It's hilarious and we never miss the opportunity to mock him
Aaaaand the appearance of the cat 15 minutes before I was going to take her out for her bedtime wee just proved to be too exciting - massive wet patch on the carpet She's 5 months on Friday *sigh*
Here is the trick I used which may help you. Dogs associate - therefore find something for them to associate potty time with. I tied a bell to the door handle with a lace. The bell large enough so that it is not dangerous for them to chew or swallow. Before every potty time - I would ring the bell on the way out. Make sure you give enough time in potty area - so that he has enough time to go 2-3 times if needed. After a few times of ringing the bell - he will associate that ringing the bell means I need to go outside. It happened on many occasions where I had just walked back in and he pawed the bell. I did not hesitate and went straight back out. Surely enough, potty again. Do not give him any opportunity whatsoever to potty inside. Once the bell becomes a toy for him, which it will haha - you then remove the bell. At this time they will associate that the door, whether it be sitting in front, laying there or scracthing, means potty time. Goodluck
A few days after this post we are back on track with the potty training....he is now 23 pounds and can last a bit longer. We have also been more rigorous about taking him out on a schedule. He still loves to grab his lead, especially when we are just in the yard. When he's walking someplace new, the lead is not interesting. Now that he's had all his shots we can take him more places. He's been to our town center (where he got lots of attention) and was reasonably well behaved. "Official" obedience starts next week.....
