Ok so it has been along time since I have had a puppy and was wondering if I am doing this potty training right. He had an accident this AM and it was my fault as I stopped to do something before I took him out. He peed. I take him out right after he eats and every 2 hours and he has been real good. I have had Sting for 2 weeks tommorrow so my question is should he start letting me know by now that he has to go out? Am I doing something wrong? Shadow came housebroke.
Potty Training
- Thread starter Sharon
- Start date
Have you been making a routine for going outside? Saying something like "Do you have to go out?" If you make a routine or a concrete sequence of steps, then you should eventually be able to start the sequence and he will finish it. So for instance, the routine with my guys is: 1) they come and stare at me 2) I ask if they need to go outside 3) if they do then they run to the door, if they don't they continue to stare at me and it usually means food or toys. 
So to introduce the routine, I would ask "Do you have to go outside?" and then race the pup to the door, let them outside to do their duty, then race them back inside and PaRtY! So now, I just start the series by asking the question, and they do the rest. Their signal to me has then become the staring at me expectantly waiting for the question.
So to introduce the routine, I would ask "Do you have to go outside?" and then race the pup to the door, let them outside to do their duty, then race them back inside and PaRtY! So now, I just start the series by asking the question, and they do the rest. Their signal to me has then become the staring at me expectantly waiting for the question.That is good that you are training him to use a particular spot! Just make the process of going TO the spot as routine as the spot itself. If there is a set series of events that happen before he pees, then he will have more places to figure out a signal for himself.
Also, you can choose an action that you want to become the "I gotta go" signal and, whenever that action occurs, take him to his spot. So if you want whining to be the cue for going pee, then every time he whines take him outside to his spot. The hassel with this is that you NEED to respond EVERY time he offers the signal, even if you know darned well that he doesn't have to pee. So be careful what action you choose to associate with going outside, if it is something he offers regularly, you could be making many trips outdoors.
Also, you can choose an action that you want to become the "I gotta go" signal and, whenever that action occurs, take him to his spot. So if you want whining to be the cue for going pee, then every time he whines take him outside to his spot. The hassel with this is that you NEED to respond EVERY time he offers the signal, even if you know darned well that he doesn't have to pee. So be careful what action you choose to associate with going outside, if it is something he offers regularly, you could be making many trips outdoors.
BarbV
Forums Celebrity
Have you been making a routine for going outside? Saying something like "Do you have to go out?" If you make a routine or a concrete sequence of steps, then you should eventually be able to start the sequence and he will finish it. So for instance, the routine with my guys is: 1) they come and stare at me 2) I ask if they need to go outside 3) if they do then they run to the door, if they don't they continue to stare at me and it usually means food or toys.
I did pretty much the same with Bacca. It really comes down to being in tune with your dog and his signals. I can now mostly interpret a whine which means play with me vs. a whine which means I want out NOW! And I DO ask him what he wants. If I say "Outside?" he'll bee line for the door.
It does take time though. So to be on the safe side, crate when you cannot supervise. Make sure you bring pup outside shortly after feeding and I recommend about 10 or 15 minutes again after. (Bacca would often pee but hold his poop for some reason - then dump on the floor when I was putting my makeup). If he's peed and pooped at this point, then you should be fine for 2 hours or so. If not, take him out again in about 30 minutes, but watch him in between. And don't forget the fireworks when he does go outside!
Try to get a handle on his routine. I now know that Bacca pees first thing on being let out of his crate. Then he runs around in the bedroom for 5 or 10 minutes then needs to poop. Then I feed him and he needs to pee again almost immediately.
Now that I've got Indy, I'm trying to align their routines but still very watchful of signals and my giving verbal cues as well.
Hope this helps some.