House Training - age

L

LaurGold

Forums Regular
Hi guys,

So Bailey is about 5 months or so now, and we're still trying to figure out how to house train him better. He is down to about 1 accident in the house a day, but sometimes none and sometimes more. I think the problem is that he hasn't figured out how to tell us he has to go out. Sometimes he'll drag his water bowl around the kitchen, but that means he's thirsty other times. It's frustrating because he'll go right after we've taken him out for a long time - the minute we leave the room we are left with a present! By what age should he be fully trained? We definitely can't let him in more of the house until we can trust him more.
 
Mine is about 6 months and fully trained. We use the bell method. Hung some bells on a string that she can reach. First we rung the bells every time to bring her outside. Then started making her do it too after we rung them. Now she rings them by herself. You just have to make sure every time the pup rings them you immediately drop what you are doing and get them outside.
 
I have a Bailey too! Watch out, those Bailey's can be a handful :wink2:.

At 5 months old and not fully house trained, you should never leave him unattended. All it takes is a second for you to turn your back and he will have an accident. Set him up for success by keeping an eye on him at all times. If you cant watch him, then leave him in his crate or x-pen (if you have one) until you are free.

If you take him outside and give the opportunity to go potty and he doesn't, bring him inside and leave him in his crate and try again in a few minutes. Do not let him run around inside until he makes outside. Playing inside will also serve as a reward for him making outside. Also, when you do take him out, try not to play with him outside. This will let him know you mean business and after he potties he can play.

Some dogs have very subtle signs. I know my dog needs to go when she starts pacing. Another sign is she starts drinking more water when she has to go out. When she really, really has to go, she will come up to me and whine, but at that point she is ready to explode. I usually don't even wait for to tell me. If I notice she's drinking a lot of water and hasn't been out in a while, I will take her out.

Good luck!
 
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Olive didn't start to get the idea consistently until she was 7 months old. I think her method of 'telling us' was far too subtle for for us mere mortals :lol:. We went to our cabin for the summer when she was 7 months old, and she 'got it' when she only had access to the tile floors, and didn't 'get it' when she had access to the carpet. As she was sneaky about it, I think she knew the carpet was off limits, too, but chose to go there any way. Or, it seemed more like grass to her. Who knows what goes on in a doggy brain, anyway?

Now she's 10 months old, and rarely has an accident, but I still don't trust her on the carpet without direct supervision. I think the advice about keeping Bailey close all the time is excellent. It is difficult, though, and part of the reason I am still having some problems is because we didn't do that part very well. So, I would take the advice about keeping your pup close until you're sure he's safe.
 
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