Hello, newbie here. I made a brief post last week under puppy problems with some pics too of Maggie. She is our first Labrador puppy, yellow Lab, 8 weeks old. So far so good, she is smart, loving and affectionate. She has never messed her kennel once since we got her home 10 days ago. She also doesn’t whine when she is in it. She had an accident the first night in the house, to be expected though with the stress of a new place and all the changes from her previous environment. I am home a lot so I am able to take her out regularly to go potty. I help her to ring a bell and say its “potty time.” So for about 3 days there was no accident at all and I thought great, this going nicely. Then twice out of sight she would poop on the carpet all on the same day. So after watching some training videos on Youtube I blocked off the living room and an area the basement to keep a closer eye on her. No problems since. Sometimes she will give me some signals to go and other times I would catch her just going into a squat and immediately take her outside. She also seems a bit stubborn when we take her outside even in the daytime when its warmer. She will pee right away, but then she wants to go right back in. We stand there with her and it takes about 4 or 5 attempts before she will poop. There are times though she will go poop very easily. We use two phrases to help her go as well. (Breeders conditioned her with pine shavings) We have a large spot with a large amount of pine shavings on the ground also to help with the cold. We live in northern MN and its very cold up here, well below zero most nights so I can understand she may not like the cold, but sometimes I think she is just stubborn. My question is about her “stubbornness,” if that’s what it is and since I take her out so often is that bad because she isn’t signaling to me that she needs to go out? In the video it said to take her out as often as you can to ingrain in her that outside is where she is to go to the bathroom. Thanks Pat
Re: New Puppy and Potty Behaviors Welcome Pat and Maggie. When I first got Harley she hated going outside when it was raining (I would often have to stand in the rain with the door shut so she couldn't go back in!) but after persisting she quite happily goes out now no matter what the weather. Do you have a door that Maggie can sit by to indicate that she needs to go? I would sit Harley on the mat by the back door then take her outside for a wee/poo. I always praised her a lot and gave a treat when she had been a wee/poo outside? After a few days I didn't take her out as regular, but watched her for signs that she needed to go. She picked it up very quickly that she needed to sit by the door and I would open it. Keep trying and you will get there Ternaya and Harley (19 weeks old)
Re: New Puppy and Potty Behaviors Hi there, of course she's stubborn, wouldn't you rather pee and poop in a nice warm house than outside in the cold and snow??? ;D Not trying to be funny, but if you think about it, you use the bathroom indoors and wouldn't enjoy doing your business outside either!! Don't worry, she'll get used to it, it actually sounds to me as though she is doing brilliantly. Well done for staying so calm with her, can't be that much fun for you either popping outside at night and waiting while she does her business…
Re: New Puppy and Potty Behaviors Hi Pat, Welcome to you and Maggie from me and Lilly. I remember when Lilly wasn't well her first Christmas (she is 3 and a half now) she was really sick and had diarrhoea and for 2 nights we did the 24hr nursing scenario - that was our coldest snowyest winter here in the UK for years and years, but I guess not as bad as you guys. It wasn't much fun going out in the snow with wellies and PJs, warm overcoat - every half hour or so the first night. Sounds like you are doing really well with Maggie - stick with it. Feel for you in the cold weather though jac
Re: New Puppy and Potty Behaviors Hello again and thanks for the input. I am still a bit baffled by my nine week old pup's pooping behavior. Sometimes she will go very shortly after eating, maybe about 30 minutes. But then there are many times it can be as long as 3 hours. And yes she gets plenty of water, its mixed with her food as the breeders instructed. And we give her access to her bowl of water in the blocked off areas. She will at times give me signals to go out. But I still after 2 weeks of potty training I still don't trust her, because she seems to hold it so long. We still only allow her in certain areas of the house that are blocked off from the rest to keep an eye on her. I take her out on an average of an hour and a half. She has also never messed her kennel and she has been in there as long as 5 to 7 hours at night. I am pretty sure its the cold here, but can it take as long as 3 hours before they are ready to go? Thanks
Re: New Puppy and Potty Behaviors Hi Pat. She is still young I guess a full tummy is the main trigger for a poop, but with Lilly its also going on a walk and exercising. Just like babies they poop more as they eat more, and more frequently, but haven't got true control over their reflex reactions. Have you considered using a cue word and reward, or even Click and treat training her for a poop outside. Might just encourage her stop going inside. Gives you some power over the process too. There is info about doing this elsewbere on the forum but can't find and copy right mow on the phone. No sure if this is any help.
