Hello! We are new puppy parents to a 3 month old Sheltie. We got him 2 weeks ago today and we have hell yea idea what we are doing. So far we keep him in his crate while we are gone during the day and let him out when we get home. We take him out to potty and sometimes he goes, sometimes he doesn't. At times we can be outside with him for an hour and as soon as we come inside he will pee. We have bought "no go" spray and "no chew" and it doesn't seem to be working. We feel we have to follow him around to make sure he doesn't go potty in the house. He won't let us get near him most times and runs and barks when we want to hold him. He will let you hold him as long as you want but as soon as we sit down, he hops right off. Are we doing something wrong? Thank you! So happy we have a place to go for answers!
Help!!
- Thread starter andie17
- Start date
First off, at three months it's a little early to expect a puppy to be accident free. House training is diligence. Take him out, if he doesn't go right away, don't play with him. As soon as he goes, bring him back in, with lots of praise. Never scold accidents, especially if he's already a bit shy (running from you).
Some shelties take a long time to trust their families, but once they do, they are yours for ever.
Some shelties take a long time to trust their families, but once they do, they are yours for ever.
Pups don't really have control of bowel and bladder til 5-6 months. At 3 months, the pup has NO clue. Crating while you are at work is fine, crating at night is fine. When you are home, yes, you have to constantly follow the pup around. IF you catch your pup in the act, don't get mad, wail and moan like it is the worst thing ever, and grab the pup, run out, and urge business to continue outside. There should be some happy celebrations outside for pottying. I mean totally cheerlead, clap, treat, praise, get happy. It will sink in with "I SHOULD go outside" before it will sink with "I should NEVER go inside". Since your pup might sneak off or be hard to catch, try the leash method. The pup should be leashed to one of you when you go about your business that way it is close and also learns its place is with you. This also helps with chewing inappropriately. If there is an urge to chew, you NO and then give the pup something OK to chew like a kong or bully stick or stuffed toy (NO rawhide, that stuff is BAD and undigestible). Start there and really be diligent. You may have to go outside every 20 minutes, their bladders are tiny when they are pups. I nag at mine to go potty, potty, pee, poo, etc. and pretty soon mine learn to go on command which is helpful.
Keep asking questions -- we have answers around here.
Keep asking questions -- we have answers around here.
PS -- DON'T play the chase came. Have a treat, call the pup, give the treat, then start a touch sometimes, then pet sometimes, then pick up sometimes. Call to you very excitedly and for nothing bad (like a bath or when you are angry). It is very very important for the pup to learn that when you call and it comes it is a very rewarding thing. That could save the pup's life.
sherry1246
Forums Novice
it's potty time
My jazzy girl would never go on her walks. I'd take her out to potty & 1 minute after we came back inside she'd pee. I started bringing jazz & Sammy back in then immediately take jazzy back out & she'd go every time. Try this. I learned from her potty breaks & walks were 2 separate things to her.
My jazzy girl would never go on her walks. I'd take her out to potty & 1 minute after we came back inside she'd pee. I started bringing jazz & Sammy back in then immediately take jazzy back out & she'd go every time. Try this. I learned from her potty breaks & walks were 2 separate things to her.
Yeah that sounds about right! As SOON as we come in! We don't walk him yet because he needs one more round of shots and we don't play with him so he knows we mean "business"! We repeat "go potty" and sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. He is 4 months as of Sunday so hopefully this will get easier. Thank you!
trini
Forums Sage
It will get easier. 
One of the things I have done with fosters who came in totally clueless about housebreaking is to put up in a corner of the yard one of those little folding metal doggie playpens. When it is potty time I put them in the playpen (always staying outside with them myself) and let them remain in the playpen until they have done their business. BTW it can be a big help to have the urine scent from another dog in their playpen if you can manage that. Most dogs, both male and female, are prompted to go (mark over) when they smell the urine of another dog. Once they had done their business...huge happy praise and let out of the playpen to have fun running in the bigger fenced yard. In time you can remove the playpen and your dog will have learned not only to go first and play later, but also will have learned to use only that corner of the yard for business...which makes it so much easier to locate and pick up poops so your yard stays clean.
Until your little one has "gotten it" and only goes outside, don't ever give him free roam in the house...always have him in the same room you are in so you can see what he is doing and if need be you can use the "apron string" method to make sure he stays with you...long light lead that you clip him to and then tie the other end around your waist. When you can't keep a close eye on him or keep him tied to you...crate or use a playpen. This is not only for housebreaking but also for you pup's safety. Puppies will chew anything...including electrical cords...and they can seriously hurt themselves. It is no different from having a human toddler...they need constant supervision until they learn the needed boundaries to keep themselves safe.
As far as getting him to come to you rather than running away...until he has learned "come" keep super good treats with you (tiny pieces of cheese or low sodium hot dog) ready to give him a treat every time he comes when called. Once you can see he is really "getting it" gradually back off the treats and only give randomly (every other time at first, then every 3rd time, etc.)...eventually coming to you when you call with be second nature to him even if he knows you don't have any treat to give him. And always praise good behavior so he knows when he has done something right...our world is very different from a dog's natural world and we have to help them understand what it is we want/expect from them. Also, never scold if not actually caught in the act of doing something wrong...dogs live in the moment and if you scold him "after the fact" all he will understand is that you are mad, he won't understand why.
Shelties are ultra smart...if you stay consistent in what you ask of them they learn fast...and once they bond to you there is no loyalty or love that is stronger.
Good luck and enjoy your new little lad!
Trini
One of the things I have done with fosters who came in totally clueless about housebreaking is to put up in a corner of the yard one of those little folding metal doggie playpens. When it is potty time I put them in the playpen (always staying outside with them myself) and let them remain in the playpen until they have done their business. BTW it can be a big help to have the urine scent from another dog in their playpen if you can manage that. Most dogs, both male and female, are prompted to go (mark over) when they smell the urine of another dog. Once they had done their business...huge happy praise and let out of the playpen to have fun running in the bigger fenced yard. In time you can remove the playpen and your dog will have learned not only to go first and play later, but also will have learned to use only that corner of the yard for business...which makes it so much easier to locate and pick up poops so your yard stays clean.
Until your little one has "gotten it" and only goes outside, don't ever give him free roam in the house...always have him in the same room you are in so you can see what he is doing and if need be you can use the "apron string" method to make sure he stays with you...long light lead that you clip him to and then tie the other end around your waist. When you can't keep a close eye on him or keep him tied to you...crate or use a playpen. This is not only for housebreaking but also for you pup's safety. Puppies will chew anything...including electrical cords...and they can seriously hurt themselves. It is no different from having a human toddler...they need constant supervision until they learn the needed boundaries to keep themselves safe.
As far as getting him to come to you rather than running away...until he has learned "come" keep super good treats with you (tiny pieces of cheese or low sodium hot dog) ready to give him a treat every time he comes when called. Once you can see he is really "getting it" gradually back off the treats and only give randomly (every other time at first, then every 3rd time, etc.)...eventually coming to you when you call with be second nature to him even if he knows you don't have any treat to give him. And always praise good behavior so he knows when he has done something right...our world is very different from a dog's natural world and we have to help them understand what it is we want/expect from them. Also, never scold if not actually caught in the act of doing something wrong...dogs live in the moment and if you scold him "after the fact" all he will understand is that you are mad, he won't understand why.
Shelties are ultra smart...if you stay consistent in what you ask of them they learn fast...and once they bond to you there is no loyalty or love that is stronger.
Good luck and enjoy your new little lad!
Trini
Great idea!
Thanks Trini! That sounds like a great idea!!! I didn't think of using a pen outside! Worth a shot!
He is starting training classes this weekend so I'm hoping it will help!
We are so in love with our new addition that when we see his little face it makes it all worth it!
Thanks Trini! That sounds like a great idea!!! I didn't think of using a pen outside! Worth a shot!
He is starting training classes this weekend so I'm hoping it will help!
We are so in love with our new addition that when we see his little face it makes it all worth it!
coming
To teach come to my lil wonders I would turn around, say their name in a upbeat tone & whistle or snap my fingers, in the puppy stage they usually like to check stuff out, when they came, I rewarded with special treats....they got that snap or whistle meant come quick it will be worth it. I tried really hard in the beginning to make come exciting and a good thing so later it wouldn't be an issue.
To teach come to my lil wonders I would turn around, say their name in a upbeat tone & whistle or snap my fingers, in the puppy stage they usually like to check stuff out, when they came, I rewarded with special treats....they got that snap or whistle meant come quick it will be worth it. I tried really hard in the beginning to make come exciting and a good thing so later it wouldn't be an issue.