Hi everyone. I'm having HUGE toilet training issues ATM. Milly is just over 9 weeks old and we have had her for a week. I have a crate which I use over night. I have been taking her out at 10 minute intervals unless she is asleep. She goes out and does a wee or poo or both then comes in and is often going again within seconds of coming in. She is quite reluctant to go out on the fake grass in the Sun (we are in Australia in Summer) I'm beginning to wonder if the turf is too hot on her feet? There are patches of shade that I put her on so she can go. I'm wondering if she is pretending to go or only partially going in order to come back inside. She makes no mess whatsoever over night and is quiet from 10pm to 7am with no messes. I'm wondering if I should utilise the crate more during the day? How long for? Etc. I have always had dogs and have never had this amount of trouble. What am I doing wrong?
Re: Help! How frustrating.... I would be considering a UTI, even though she's holding it in during the night. On the behavioural side, using the crate during the day might be a plan. If you can't watch her you could leave her in it for up to three or four hours. Are you giving her a nice treat and lots of excited praise whenever she wees outside? If it's hot and uncomfortable for her to go outside it will be important to make it worth her while to make the trip. I'd also be teaching her a word for 'outside', saying this word every time she goes through the back door. If you're doing all that stuff already then I'd be considering the UTI angle. Does her wee smell strong or is it dark coloured at all?
Re: Help! Should add that I didn't mean to leave her in the crate for 3-4 hours continuously..... 3-4 hours but with wee breaks included (10 or 15 mins at first....you might manage half an hour). Obviously that means hanging around but not having to watch her every single minute. Also, I would wait outside with her a lot longer, till you are totally sure that she has disposed of all available wee.
Re: Help! Thanks Rachael. I don't think it's a UTI. Wee isn't really that concentrated or smelly. I am going to try more crate time. So out for a wee etc then for a good play and some training until she tires then back out for a wee etc then back in the crate to sleep. She loves to just sleep anywhere she falls so hopefully this will teach her a little bit about bed. She will not have the run of the house at any point anyway so I may as well start restricting more now. She hates being left outside so we are trying to stay out there and do some more play and train time out there and not all in the house. She isn't very happy with me locking her in the crate but I'm sure she will get used to it thanks again for your help. Oh and I also tried to take her on the dirt but she just ran straight back to the grass.
Re: Help! We have a puppy pen that you're very welcome to borrow when she's old/trustworthy enough to have a bit more room. It's in panels and very sturdy and you can make it the size you want. We seem to have lots of panels!! Good that you don't think it's a UTI I think that your plan sounds like the way to go, trying not to give her an opportunity for an accident. If you're not doing the 'treat for a wee' thing that might be good to add in also. Playtime after will be a good reward too. I would keep it business-like until she wees. She probably just hasn't understood yet that wees are meant to be outside. In this heat I can't blame her for not wanting to go out
Re: Help! Thanks Rachael. We have had an accident free afternoon. I think the crate has made a big difference. Plus the more structured time of play and train. We were doing that before but not as structured. We have been treating each outside wee etc. I have also frozen bags of chicken bits and sausage bits and streak bits for more enticing treats to use. Steak seems to be the fav so far. I just got some sausage bits out for tomorrow's treats. I might take you up on the play pen latter on that sounds great. Thanks again
Re: Help! Ready to hang up my hat. She is now refusing to go out on the grass at all. Put the lead back on to keep her out there and she just screams and runs around in circles trying to get the lead off. :'( We had success this morning but then had too latter accidents. One of those was our fault( I left her with son for 2 mins and he didn't notice.lol) other I had had her out and she did 2 wee and I waited out there for a while. She had done a poo last visit outside so thought she must be done. Went back inside and quickly helped my daughter peal a potato for her science. Turned around and there it is on the floor a big poo. Arrrrrrrrggggggggggg. Frustrated is not a strong enough word! :'( she seems to be getting stressed about the whole thing. As am I. I am treating with premium treats ignoring the accidents etc. what am I doing wrong?
Re: Help! Oh dear, Annabelle, sorry you are so frustrated!! I don't have a lot more to add to the good advice already given except to say, go back and read your first sentence of your first post. She's nine weeks old, and you've only had her for a week. You are doing just fine - there is some progress made, even if it's the one step forward, two steps back type of progress. You both are figuring each other out, it takes awhile but you will get there in the end if you are consistent. It just takes a lot of constant monitoring and supervision at this stage, and it feels like you'll never get there, but don't worry, you WILL crack it and this will all be a distant memory. Hang in there, you can do it!! And BTW I seem to remember you have 6 kids as well?? Yeesh you're a star in my books, that's all I can say!!
Re: Help! When I got Harley it took nearly 2 weeks to get her house trained, we still had the odd accident inside for a few weeks after this. Bear with her, she will get there
Re: Help! Thanks guys. Lisa I do remember she is only a baby and it will take time but we have not been having just a few little accidents they have been many and often straight after being out. Yes we have 7 beautiful children who are all adoring their new best friend. It was a terrible morning but after the incident outside when she refused to go etc I put her straight back into the crate for about 40mins then we started again. No accidents from then on. Tomorrow is a new day right? I am really convinced that she just hates the hot turf. I did hose it off a bit to see if that would help. I don't think it made much difference but she seemed fine when there is some shade to go on. It doesn't feel that hot to me and there were dogs being walked on the pavement at the same time so not really sure what her issue is. It does get hot but the kids seem to be able to bare it at least for a little while. She was not even remotely motivated by food rewards even to get her to the grass and stay there. Funny bunny that she is. We still love her to bits it was just a very frustrating morning. We will see how tomorrow goes.
Re: Help! Forgot to say we also start puppy class tomorrow night so I will ask them about it too. Just to check I'm on the right track and maybe get some other ideas
Re: Help! Sounds like a good idea - I'm sure it's a topic that fellow puppy owners will have at the forefront of their minds!! Makes sense that she is going with the most comfortable option of weeing indoors where it's cool.... I also wonder if it's got something to do with the kind of surface she got used to weeing on at the breeders.... Anyway, the crate seems to be paying for itself at this point
Re: Help! Hi Annette... it's just possible that it's a combination of the heat and texture of the turf?? Her little pads won't be very tough yet, and she might just be finding it a little prickly as well as warm... I have a friend who decided that the only solution to his tiny patch of muddy lawn was to astro turf it, and his dogs didn't seem to mind, but they were adults with tougher pads from plenty of outdoor activity. Have you got an alternative corner somewhere you could make her regular toilet spot? Might be worth trying it just to see... Aside from that, it's early days still and you will get there Let us know how puppy class went, and we definitely need more photos. Clare
Re: Help! Not sure if it will directly help with the toilet training, but does she have a little paddling pool outside that might tempt her onto the astro?
Re: Help! Thanks Clare. Yes I got a little paddling pool on Friday for her and she loves it. She hasn't worked out how to get in it yet and won't come off the veranda to do so. We have to lift her in. But she will then go on the grass after being in the pool. I can definitely confirm it is the heat of the turf she doesn't like. It is a lot cooler today with a bit of rain and she has had no probs going out to do her business. I had even thought she was done at one point and she wouldn't come in which was very strange but then she went and did another poo. So I think she must just not like the hot turf. I might set up an easy up on the hot days to hopefully give her a better desire to go outside. What a funny creature she is. I have never had a dog that didn't like the turf. Hopefully by next summer her feet will be tougher
Re: Help! [quote author=AnnetteB link=topic=4294.msg52122#msg52122 date=1391465988] What a funny creature she is. I have never had a dog that didn't like the turf. Hopefully by next summer her feet will be tougher [/quote] They are so strange sometimes! Yesterday, Charlie legged it to his crate when I picked up the kitchen roll! Took me a minute to figure out that's because I also pick up the kitchen roll when it's ear cleaning time!
