cannot housebreak my sheltie

J

jerjon7

Forums Novice
We got riley when he was six weeks old, he will be fifteen weeks tomorrow and he still isn't house trained, we have been doing the crate method. he would go when outside, but not all the time, sometime she would just play and play. the times he would go outside, and we would let him out to play and run around, he just always pee's whenever he feels like it, its just a little but he just goes whenever he feels like it, thats usually about 45 minutes out of his cage, sometimes after being outside for a long time for him to use the bathroom and he does not go he will come right in and poop, how can i get him to realize peeing and pooping in the house is not appropiate?

the new problem that is going on now, he used the bathroom in his cage for the first time yesterday, now he just keeps going and going in his cage, we washed it out, sterilized it with clorox wipes and febreeze mister clean and he still keeps going. what do i do? we are taking him to the vet tomorrow if it persists cause maybe he's sick, but if he's not how do i remedy this situation?
 
Wow, I wish I had the answer for you. I didn't have trouble with Meggie and she is the first dog I ever trained on my own. I'm sure, however, that you'll get some great advise from the others on the forum.

Good luck!
 
You first need to clean out the crate with something that neutralizes odor and doesn't mask it (Febreeze just masks odor, despite what all of the commercials say). You can get such a spray at most pet stores and I'm sure other members of the forum can make other suggestions too. Use these types of products on all of the places he's peed/pood in the past, otherwise he will get confused and return to these areas to relieve himself.

If your pup can find a place to relieve himself in his crate, the crate is too big for him. It should be just big enough for him to turn around. If its bigger than that, perhaps you can find something to block up one end of the crate till he's older.

Try getting him on a schedule. Take him out to relieve himself. If he goes, give him lots of praise and perhaps a high value treat, then take him out in another hour.

If at that time he does not go, put him in his crate for a 1/2 hour. After the 1/2 hour, bring him out again. If he doesn't go again, put him in his crate for another 1/2 hour.

The point of putting him back in his crate is that if the crate is the right size, he will not pee/poo in it. Eventually, when you bring him out he will have to go.

Keep in mind that puppies usually need to relieve themselves after eating, sleeping and playing. Its important to take him out first thing in the morning as soon as you get up, then again after feeding him. Until he understands that outside is the place to go, carry him outside so that he's unable to pee inside.

Don't worry, he will catch on eventually :)
 
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Ontario Sheltie is bang on!

The combination of right size crating, scheduling/consistency, praise and treats.

It's important that time outside does not turn into playtime, until the business is done. Take the pup outside, give a verbal command (like "be quick" or "go potty"). Wait 5 minutes - not much longer. If nothing, then back in the crate for a short time.

And watch him like a hawk. If he loose around the house, do not take your eyes off him. If you see him starting to sniff, circle, pick him up and bring him out. Give him the verbal command and cross your fingers. If you catch him in the middle of the act, say "Ah-ah" in kinda a growly tone, pick him up and let him finish outside. Treat and praise.

If you can't watch him, he needs to be in his crate. When Bacca was a pup, all of his accidents occured when I turned my back for about 20 seconds.
 
The two lovely ladies above have nailed it. Our Duncan is also 15 weeks old now & hasn't had an indoor accident since April 30th. We're fortunate that my wife works from the home & is with Duncan all day. She also has an iron will when it comes to house training dogs... much better at it than I am. She only trusts me far enough to pick up the poop :uhoh:

Does Riley sleep through the night without needing to go potty? You started out good by using the crate, but it sounds like you need to adjust the size somewhat. You absolutely have to be consistent in the potty schedule, as Barb & OntarioSheltie said... no play at the key potty times until the puppy potties. My wife actually took Duncan outside every 30 - 60 minutes when he was 6 - 7 weeks old. You may feel like your life has become one big potty parade, but the end result is worth it. Using the tips above, I think you'll start to see better results right away. Good luck!
 
davemize said:
The two lovely ladies above have nailed it. Our Duncan is also 15 weeks old now & hasn't had an indoor accident since April 30th. We're fortunate that my wife works from the home & is with Duncan all day. She also has an iron will when it comes to house training dogs... much better at it than I am. She only trusts me far enough to pick up the poop :uhoh:

Does Riley sleep through the night without needing to go potty? You started out good by using the crate, but it sounds like you need to adjust the size somewhat. You absolutely have to be consistent in the potty schedule, as Barb & OntarioSheltie said... no play at the key potty times until the puppy potties. My wife actually took Duncan outside every 30 - 60 minutes when he was 6 - 7 weeks old. You may feel like your life has become one big potty parade, but the end result is worth it. Using the tips above, I think you'll start to see better results right away. Good luck!
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thanks everybody, i have been following most of what was said, i am going to adjust a few things, i did end up going to the vet, they think he's fine, i thought it might of been parvo for a sec so i freaked out, the vet gave me a lot of the same advice that you all have, i think if i adjust a couple more things he'll be alright, i will keep you guys updated
 
how long after he goes and does his business should i allow him out of his cage to play? how long to leave him in there before i take him out again? and so on, this is assuming i am there all day and able to do this of course?
 
usually after they go I assume I have atleast a half hour to hour..as it gets closer to the hour mark watch him because thats when you will get the stop n squat! Than let him out and see if he potties than I would bring him in and crate him (after he pees of course) for awhile because after almost an hour of playing they are usually ready to sleep.
 
If he does BOTH his business then he does not need to go back into his crate right away. If he does one and not the other in the morning, then you need to crate him or watch him like a hawk until both is done.

My pups will normally pee many times a day, given the opportunity to go outside, and religiously poo twice or thrice per day, again given the opportunity. Once in the morning for sure either after waking up or eating breakfast, and again after supper.

As a young pup, if you are able to be there, give him the opportunity to go outside at least every hour. Mostly because it gives you the opportunity to treat and praise for all his successes. You can extend that hour longer and longer as he gets older. (in theory a pup can hold its bladder for 1 hour for each month he is old - that's the theory, but since Bacca slept through the night from the start, that didn't really apply)

Does this help?
 
It took me a while to get my male house trained. I found 2 things really helped. Routine and routine.

Going back to basics and taking him out every hour.

Recording exactly when he toileted, when his was fed, when he was walked - basically working out his routine in relation to his toileting. Then I did up a little schedule for me to make sure I was available to take him out at the times he was ready to go.

Are you cleaning the floor area he toilets on with something like a vinegar/water mix to remove the smell. Also, sometimes dogs develop a preferance for a particular surface to toilet on (my male liked to poo on concrete - I think because the breeder used to take him to work at a factory).

Are you praising heaps when he wees outside. If he pees inside, as soon as he does this take him outside so he associated outside with peeing. Its also better not to clean up in front of him. And definately no scolding.
 
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