never ending ! Thats how it seems with otis and his toilet training, he is now eleven months, and I took him out in the garden earlier, and he came in and had a wee. Although its certainly better, he still does about one or two wees a day in doors. Im not crating him during the day just at night as he has started to bark when I try and put him in his crate. Its really hard, I seem to be the only person with this problem. What I am hoping is that, with the longer evenings, and warmer weather we will be out in the garden more , and he will get trained over the summer. Im sorry I keep moaning about it, it , its just it really worries me. He is a lovely dog, a great companion, he can be naughty, with his counter surfing, and he still eats dog poo, yuck ! But I totaly love him . Maggie x
Re: never ending Ah, so sorry to hear that it's taking a while to crack this. I reckon you must be pretty fed up. Good job Otis is utterly gorgeous! [quote author=Maggie68 link=topic=4733.msg58467#msg58467 date=1393877547] Im not crating him during the day just at night as he has started to bark when I try and put him in his crate. [/quote] Ummm...well - that wasn't quite the point of the crate? It was to stop him weeing and pooing during the day too? I know you said he came back in and had a wee but if that's a pattern, he should go in his crate, then out again, until he is empty. (I am not suggesting he should be crated all the time! Only to defeat the patterns of behaviour you want to change). Did you follow the crate training guidance? Maybe you need to go through it again? Fresh start and all that?
Re: never ending Julie has beaten me to it - will post anyway! Maggie, I am sorry this is still causing you problems. If you rely on him being outside much more over the summer to 'toilet train' him, unfortunately I think there is the chance that this might not work as he will go outside simply because he is outside, and not because he has made the link that outside is where he needs to go to wee / poo. Not sure what to suggest about the crate - you need someone with more skills. My hunch would be that he has learnt that if he barks, he gets to stay out of it. How does he manage overnight when you crate him? Is he dry then? Hope someone else can give you some suggestions shortly. Glad he is such a great companion! Clare
Re: never ending He is dry and clean overnight, and it always really seems to be the evening times when he wees indoors. Maybe Ive got more of a routine during the day, so he goes out more, I will try with the crate again, putting him in there during the day for short periods. I will keep him in the crate at night, because he gives a bark which wakes me in the morning, and its time to put him out. he then has his breakfast at 8, then out again to the garden, we always do the same thing every morning, and without fail, he does two poos and two wees. Maggiex
Re: never ending Oh Maggie. I think I would go with the suggestion of Julie and Clare. If you go out and he doesn't pee/poo at around the time you expect him to, then into the crate in the house. By all means have the crate in your sitting room, so he is still with you, and take him out again every 15 mins or so, keep repeating until he goes outside. After that, praise loads and leave him out the crate. You might need to warn your neighbour there might be extra barking as you are trying a different training method, but don't take him out the crate when he barks, just when he is quiet. This is tricky as you might think he needs to toilet, but remember he can go all night without needing out. Just as well he's such a lovely boy or you would be tearing even more of your hair out. Keep at it Maggie.
Re: never ending sorry i don't agree with the crate, just my opinion , maggie jasper will not do any thing in the garden, can be a problem as i have got to take him out for a walk/run,....even if i don't feel up to it do you take him for a walk in the morning ?
Re: never ending [quote author=lynnelogan link=topic=4733.msg58505#msg58505 date=1393883385] sorry i don't agree with the crate, just my opinion , [/quote] Why? What don't you agree with?
Re: never ending never have agreed with the crate, i had one for jasper after 8 weeks i took him out of it, .....in my opinion i felt like he was in a prison cell, poor little puppy locked in a cell, not for me that julie, he is my family member, my home is his home,.....just my thoughts on the crate, each to our own
Re: never ending Oh you are totally not alone. Milly is now 13 weeks and I am using the crate which I think is great. It gives her a place that is all hers. She is safe and out of trouble But she still hasn't figured out to give us sign or even go to the door when she needs to go out. We are only getting occasional wee inside but thats because she has limited free time in the house. She will wee on command outside. So I can say go quick, quick and she will but when inside if she needs to she just goes. So she can be playing happily with me then just stops and squats lol. We run her outside etc etc. she just seems a bit slow on the uptake. lol So don't feel alone. Im failing right along side you
Re: never ending Hi Annette, Thanks for the support means so much. One thing Ive got but havent really used yet , is a bell for the back door, so Otis rings it when he wants to go out, not quite sure how thats going to work out, its a budgie bell I got from a pet shop. Might be worth thinking about. I feel okay about using a crate, its nice and cosy with blankets, placed next to the radiator, and I think he feels safe in there. Thanks again for the support. Maggie x
Re: never ending no worries Unfortunately with 7 kids and a cat I don't think the bell would work so well lol.
Re: never ending Hi Maggie, I'm another fan of the crate. I think the others have covered the why/how regarding crate use so I'll focus on another area - is the pee always in the same area? - how do you clean it up? - does Otis have any tells (sorry, former poker player) that may indicate that he is about to pee, eg sniffing around like he is looking for something and rapid circling? Lynne, I think it's all a matter of perception with the crates. You see it as a prison cell. I see it as a safe, secure, comfy den with a bed, water and toys. Having never experienced either I suspect that our dogs see it as something entirely different to both of us
Re: never ending Hi Uncle Bob, No unfortunately Otis dosent indicate when he wants to wee he just goes, I usualy clean the area with mildly scented baby wipes and sometimes the mop. He does go in the same two places, either the bathroom, or living room floor ones floorbards the other stone tiles. Thanks, Maggie
Re: never ending I really feel for those of you who are struggling with this, it is just so hard. It has been a looonngg time since I have raised a puppy, but if I were you this is what I would do in your situation. 1) definitely use the crate. I would pretend I was starting from square 1. Pup goes outside first thing, if he does his thing then he is allowed freedom in the house, for a couple hours. Then pup goes outside again. If pup does not wee, then is popped in the crate for awhile, and then taken outside again for a wee. Follow the same routine every day, if possible. Gradually increase times between when you expect the dog to wee. At this age Otis should be able to "hold it" for quite awhile, but I would still keep the time between going to to wee fairly shortish. Because you always want to set your dog up to win. 2) go overboard with praise and treats for doing what you want, ie pee/poo outside!! Toileting outside will mean Mum capering around like a crazy thing, overcome with joy, massive nummy special treats, maybe a fun game in the garden. If you are doing this a few times a day, Otis is going to want to make this happen! 3) Uncle Bob might be on to something here, as well. Clean up the "favourite" weeing spots in the house with an enzyme-based cleaner that will eliminate the odour. Or, alternatively, restrict access to that part of the house until you are having more success by doing #1 and #2. 4) work at making the crate a happy place...frozen kongs, special toys, have it the same room you are in, etc. The crate is your secret weapon in this battle, you CAN win it, but I really do believe you will need the crate to crack it. Hope this helps, I'm sure others who have just recently gone through this might have some better ideas.
Re: never ending I'm just chucking my ten pence worth in here....Maggie what do you do when he does a toilet inside? I was really lucky in not having too much trouble ( dexters breeder had done a great job on house/crate training) but I think I can remember reading if they do do it,just clean it up,make no fuss,so there's no attention given to them over it and certainly don't shout at them as it may make them go off and hide to do it?im sure you don't do that ;D but I was wondering how you do handle it ( inwardly doing your nut I'm sure whilst smiling and cleaning up Oatsy's gift! ;D) The accidents I had were very few...and they were all my fault early on when Dexter hadnt made the connection about sitting by the door...I'd look at the clock and realise I'd let him go too long. You aren't far off Maggie ,there's been improvement since you got the crate. Keep,at it using all the great advice you've had here x
Re: never ending Thankyou so much everyone, getting support is really great, when your worried about something. Im happy to report we have had a wee and poo free day, that is nothing indoors. I took him to the beach with a friend this morning and then he was walked for an hour with the borrow my doggy people this evening. Its now 10.15 pm, and no wees or poos hurray ! I didnt crate him at all, just took him out regularly after sleeps and meals etc. If I need to I will crate him tomorrow. Angela I just clean up his wee, and dont say anything or make a fuss, like you have said, that was the advice I was given too. I have bought this special cleaner that is meant to get rid of the smell, not sure it does much good really, but I do use it. Thanks again, everyone so good to feel supported, and I will take the advice on board. Maggiex
