The Joys of Housetraining

T

Traverse

Forums Novice
Kona has been home since Thursday... and house training has definitely been a challenge with him. I've read different books and a lot of the threads on the forum here. Of course I know that house training doesn't happen magically

However, a lot of the time when I stop him from going in the house and take him outside he'll just eat grass and do nothing. I'll bring him inside and put him in his crate (which he is not happy about unless it is bedtime) for about 10-15 minutes and take him back out... nothing again.

I feel bad because even though I am trying to teach him that inside is a non-potty zone - I can tell he isn't pleased with his momma.

Of course I know house training doesn't happen magically overnight - but I'm worried I'm doing my harm than good. Any tips and tricks would be fabulous. I've read so many things with different ways of house training that my head is spinning!
 
Honestly, it sounds like you are doing the right thing. Keep it up! It's just a totally different thing for his little mind to process. One day it will just click!

The only other recommendations I would make would be to not allow him to play outside when you take him out to potty. If he's not on a leash, I'd put him on one and just walk him around for a couple minutes. If he just wants to eat grass or play, take him back in. Don't pet him, cuddle him, play with him, etc...

You're doing the right thing by putting him back in his crate. For the first few weeks we were probably taking our puppy out every 30 minutes or so. I know it sounds excessive, but once she figured it out, she never had an accident again!

Once your pup goes outside, you can throw him a huge party. Lots of treats, he gets to play, it just becomes the best thing ever. I bet it won't take but a week or so for him to at least get the idea.
 
he seems to be doing a lot better now! except today when he was crated up he decided eating 3/4 of his nylabone was a good idea... now i've got diarrhea to deal with :no:
 
Traverse said:
he seems to be doing a lot better now! except today when he was crated up he decided eating 3/4 of his nylabone was a good idea... now i've got diarrhea to deal with :no:
Click to expand...

I know a lot of people really like Nylabones, but I'm not a big fan.

Anyways, that aside, I wouldn't leave my dog unattended with any bones at all. Either they will eat a lot of it and get sick, or could choke on it, etc...

If you're looking for something to leave with him in the crate to keep him occupied I'd suggest something like a Kong. I stuff mine with veggies or cheerios and then put a bit of peanut butter in the end and freeze it. Keeps the dogs occupied and they love it! They don't even notice me leaving anymore.
 
I have convinced myself after potty training 3 dogs, that I must not know how to do it right. ALL 3 of them took until about 7-8 months to potty train, maybe less for Megan, but not much!

However, once it clicks in their mind, they've got it! :fl
 
Ashley's advice is spot-on. Puppies are definitely time consuming but crating is the right thing to do. It is great you are putting in this time up-front—it will pay off later. Shelties are smart. It didn't take long for Buffy to get the idea. I think she was reliably potty-trained at 5 months or so but it took a while for us to trust her by herself inside... she spent a lot of time in the crate or pen as a puppy.

Take lots of pictures while he's a puppy, you will be happy you did later!

And yes, don't play when they go to their spot. And go to the same spot each time for doing their business. Someone was watching me the other day and was impressed that Buffy always goes in her spot right away—her potty breaks can be super short. I said that we worked hard to train that! It comes in handy when it's raining or snowy.
 
Going through the same thing at the moment with my Pip, he is 11weeks now and he seems to have got the idea for pooing but for pees he has a whole different learning curve!

I took him to agility training last night to meet all the dogs before class he sat in his crate in the car for an hour and wouldn't pee after that so back in the crate for another hour (2nd dog) out for 30mins would not pee drove home put him in the kitchen he runs to the back door goes outside and has THE longest pee ever! Silly little man!

I feel your frustration!
 
Took about 2-3 weeks for Miss Sadie to be trained enough for me to feel safe. I did the crate training and we have only had two accidents since the third week. I kept on her at all times. She learned to go to the door. Took a while for her to know she needed to make some noise at the door. She is 6 months now and she will go to the door and whine, if I don't move fast enough she comes to me and will just sit and stare at me as if to say "Come on I have to go". When I leave the house I still crate her. Not because of potty but she would chew up my whole house.

I think the main thing is consistancy.
You have to stay with it and not let your guard down. It's a lot of work. Like my husband says it's like having another baby again. On nice days I just leave the door open a little and she comes and goes as she wants. When it's raining she hates to go out. It just takes time.
 
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