Hi I have an 8 week old lab, he's been home 4 days and I'm struggling a little with the toilet training. I know it's very early days but I was just hoping for some reassurance that I'm doing things correctly. When I had Labrador puppies many years ago (1999 & 2000) we used the newspaper method which took quite some time so this time we thought we'd use the a different method and try taking him outside regularly. Am I doing this right? First of all we are keeping a written log/diary so we know what he's done and when. One of us is sleeping downstairs at the moment and taking him out after 4 hours in the night this is working fine. During the day he is taken out in the garden at regular intervals, if he's awake then I take him out every half hour and if he's been asleep I take him out. He wees and poos on separate visits so at the moment it feels that all I am doing is going in and out the back door. Today he actually went in his crate to wee! The crate is large but has a dividing section so the area he has access to is small so I was surprised he soiled the area he was going to sleep in. Once again I know it's very early days I just want to know that this is all perfectly normal and I'm doing this right. I would be grateful for any advice. Many thanks
Dot, it sounds to me like you are doing most of the right things. Well done for not using newspaper or pee pads and taking the pup outside from the start. Yes, it does feel like your entire life is basically going outside and back in again, but know that this period is over quickly and it will pass! With soiling the crate, it is likely that he just suddenly really needed to go and he looked for something absorbent to toilet on - typically most dogs will do that, and that's why they prefer, say, grass over tarmac or paving - it will soak up the pee. So in that moment he probably forgot it was his bed, he was just looking to go somewhere. Make sure you clean the crate thoroughly with something which will break down the smell of the pee. You can dilute some biological laundry detergent with some water and put that in a spray bottle and that works just as well as fancy enzymatic cleaners you can buy at the pet store and is much cheaper...!
Hi Jo, Thank you for your reply. I've sat and read through quite a few posts on here today (while Charlie was having a kip ) and feel a bit happier about things and that it is all just normal behaviour for his age. I love him to bits though and just have to remind myself that this is a stage that won't go on forever. Thanks again
My puppy is 16 weeks and is really good in the day with her toilet training I get up and let her out at 5am she goes to pee and poop then goes back to bed until 8pm. She is not in a crate she sleeps in the kitchen in her basket. She still has the odd accident but that's to be expected.
To me it sound like your doing great! just make sure to use something to break down the enzymes. My lab was very easy to potty train and stopped having accidents at 4 months. Luckily, it gets better fast. Keep up the good work!
I haven't tried bicarb of soda or white wine vinegar - I just dilute some laundry detergent in a spray bottle. It contains the same enzymatic agents. Make sure you choose an eco/safe laundry detergent Alternatively, you can buy sprays from pet shops with enzymes in them to break down the urine smell for the dog - they are the more expensive option.
