Encouragement for potty training fail

[Calliesmom]

You guys are lucky with your girls! I swear Finnie would get to day 20 without an accident and I'd think "YES" he's got it. Few days later he'd have an accident and we'd be back at square one. On and on until he was neutered and then last Christmas when he hurt his hock he started that again but I quickly realized why so I watched him closer and took him out more which helped.
Piper same thing but he was worse in a way. His marking was so bad (outside only) he'd even pee overtop of Riley's pee in the yard. I think because of this he never quite emptied his bladder and had accidents. Neutered at 2 and he's had 1 accident in 3 years.
I've used treats when both were pups and then stopped when they got older. Whenever they regressed I phased in the treats again but only for a short time. I also always took the accident prone dog out alone...less distractions and if I had both dogs then both would want a treat lol.

Dixie is probably my biggest marker these days- she'll walk pee all over where everyone else has gone.
I actually don't remember Jocu going in the house much pre-neuter- however, the pet stores were a different story. if he smelled where another dog had gone in there, he was all over it. very embarrassing

 

[Caro]

I'm surprised you guys are so stressed about issues at their age. I still have Kismet using the inside pee pad occasionally. I'm not going to stress about Kismet - I know she gets distracted, and part of that problem is I can't always get down the stairs to make sure she pees. Tully was toilet trained quite young, but could not always hold on overnight until she was 2 years old and Kismet, who is smaller than Tully, is the same. And Kismet may use the pee pad if I'm out all afternoon as she's used to being taken out then. My only stress with toilet training is she still isn't peeing when we leave home. Probably because she's not mingling with other dogs because of Covid and my injuries.

 

[Piper's mom]

Dixie is probably my biggest marker these days- she'll walk pee all over where everyone else has gone.
I actually don't remember Jocu going in the house much pre-neuter- however, the pet stores were a different story. if he smelled where another dog had gone in there, he was all over it. very embarrassing

Finnie too! We'd be in a store less than 5 minutes and I'd be watching him suddenly up went the leg...
I hated having to tell them but I'd rather that than have someone step in it! That was near his neuter when it was getting bad.

 

[Daisy1015]

She never wanted to use a pee pad even though did at the breeders. I have so many extras to give you!

someone asked how old my kids are, just turned 9,12, 14. old enough to trust. They are very involved in all dog care and responsible - especially the older two.
Rather obsessed with their dogs. that said they usually handle the potty breaks while i am teaching
From home (virtual so not fun) if they want to take her out on their breaks. When free to play it is easier to be distracted or miss signs so she is being penned more unless i am able to have eyes on her not just be in the room.

yes we have a designated small area plus we take her on leash. She goes quickly.

it has been better the last two days. More crate training during school or pen after - not whole kitchen that was a one time fail. if she is running we take her out immediately. She calms well but I guess her overstimulated manifests as bladder control.

Some of this regression has to be a stage. She has regressed in a couple other things the last few days too (shhh command and jumping up) but grown in other areas (drop command and leave it, and wait for her food in a sit for 3-5 seconds before I release this shark). All of which is huge for one so food motivated. I will treat for a bit. That is speaking her language. Maybe at this age she will make the connection better than before.

I just hope smells in carpet aren’t adding to problem. I do have enzymatic spray and shampooer. Carpet is overdo for changing so post covid we will be replacing it finally. She will be potty trained by next summer!

 

[Piper's mom]

Sounds like you've got it down pat. There's definitely a learning curve for us humans as far as puppies are concerned and just when we think we've got it and get another puppy they throw us a curve ball and are totally different than the last!
Although both my last two were just as bad lol...

 

[Cindy]

I never had any issues with Gavin using a pee pad/potty area inside and not going outside. He understood the pad was for only when I wasn't home. Sometimes I wish he would have used it instead of waking me up at 2AM to go outside, but he was pretty stubborn about it. When he was under a year, there was always one accessible when I went to work since I was gone 8-10 hours at a time. He stopped using it on his own, so I knew when he was able to hold it without concern. If I knew I was going to be gone a long time (12 hours or more), I would bring it back out and he would on acoassion use it, but Gavin has a bladder of steel and can hold it 18 hours easy.

I didn't do anything special that I remember, but living in an apartment without a doggy door meant I was pretty consistent about getting him outside.
Shelties are pretty smart and adaptable, so as long as you are consistent they will pick it up eventually.

 

[Caro]

I never had any issues with Gavin using a pee pad/potty area inside and not going outside. He understood the pad was for only when I wasn't home. Sometimes I wish he would have used it instead of waking me up at 2AM to go outside, but he was pretty stubborn about it.

Same here! Last thing I've wanted to do before dawn in the middle of winter is stand on the back verandah and freeze while Kismet finds just the right spot to toilet. Lately I've been getting up at 4ish to go to the loo myself - Kismet gets up but won't toilet. She has to wait until I've just nodded back off again to wake me.

 

[Sandy in CT]

I just hope smells in carpet aren’t adding to problem. I do have enzymatic spray and shampooer.

Back when we were potty training Brodie, I believe it was Ann who recommended Fizzion (sold on Amazon). Best urine product I have ever used. Love that it comes in tablet that you mix up with water. Safe for carpet, hardwood.

 

[Daisy1015]

I never had any issues with Gavin using a pee pad/potty area inside and not going outside. He understood the pad was for only when I wasn't home. Sometimes I wish he would have used it instead of waking me up at 2AM to go outside, but he was pretty stubborn about it. When he was under a year, there was always one accessible when I went to work since I was gone 8-10 hours at a time. He stopped using it on his own, so I knew when he was able to hold it without concern. If I knew I was going to be gone a long time (12 hours or more), I would bring it back out and he would on acoassion use it, but Gavin has a bladder of steel and can hold it 18 hours easy.

I didn't do anything special that I remember, but living in an apartment without a doggy door meant I was pretty consistent about getting him outside.
Shelties are pretty smart and adaptable, so as long as you are consistent they will pick it up eventually.[/QUOTE

my apartment dog was my easiest! I had a door he could look out - i swear this helps- and a patio litter box for those not safe hours.

 

[Daisy1015]

Well this time around she is certainly connecting pee and get a treat. When i forgot once, she ran in and to the closet where i keep her food. Lol

today she has yipped to go out several times and started standing on her hind feet to look out the window to tell me again! . (I swear a full length glass door is a huge advantage- I miss it). Then today shortly after I took her out, my daughter held her in her lap, she was relaxed and cuddly. When my daughter got up, i realized she peed on the chair while held. Never stood or squatted, never happened before. Never in a crate before either. It was the weirdest thing. My daughter didn’t get wet. She peed alot for me and I had just gotten her up from naptime when she yipped to go out from her crate. She just had shots on friday. Had alot of activity with four visiting neices/ nephews so maybe more tired. It makes me a little concerned she can’t hold it sometimes or that something is wrong. She seems very well otherwise. No strong smell or color. She Goes all night no accident. She is the most interactive delightful little pup and I am smitten with her.