Help with potty training

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Miss Hattie is perfect but I need help with potty training! I take her out every half hour and she thrashes around on the leash and rolls and cries wanting to go back inside. So I bring her in and set her in the playpen and she poops or pees! It is hot outside and maybe that is it,because she keeps wanting to get in the shade. What am I doing wrong?

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Are you bringing out treats with you?  You need to be in the habit of taking her out and not coming in until she poops/pees.  When she does go outside, immediately (while she is giong) have a peepee party "yayyyyy Hattie"...this is big party time and then she should get a treat.  When she goes inside, say sternly (and in a deeper voice) "NO" and take her outside.  She will start to get it that outside=GOOD and inside=BAD. 

She is probably not used to a leash and she might be a little hot, but she will get used to it. Our breeder never had to put Peri on a leash because they had a fenced yard, so it just took a while to get used to it!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Can you identify a shady spot that will be her "potty place"?  I would always take her on a leash for now right to her potty spot.  No playing at this point it's all about going potty.  As Allyson says, if she goes...big party and treats.  If she doesn't go you'll need to watch her closely in the playpen.  If she starts to go there I'd also say "NO" or what ever verbal correction word you're using, scoop her up and carry her outside to finish.  Then I'd praise and treat if she finishes outside.  They all fight the leash for the first few days...they get used to it, and it's important.  Do you have her on a feeding schedule and build your potty times around that?  Also, is water always available to her?

[Adina P]

Does she have a crate for inside or only a playpen?  If she doesn't go outside, then she needs to be confined in a smaller area (crate for instance) she WON'T go outside.  I would start by just planning on spending 15 minutes outside with her until she goes.  Try first thing in the morning as your longest outdoor time so that you can't help but catch her peeing or pooping and can treat and praise her big time.  Just ignore the thrashing and rolling and crying as best you can because she can't learn that she gets her way with that behavior.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'd go back and ask where she pottied at the breeder's home. If it was in a pen or run of some kind, that might be part of the problem; she may be accustomed to pottying in an enclosed area. I sincerely doubt this has anything at all to do with sun or shade.

Maybe you can find a private, secluded place outside to take her for pottying. An area with some bushes, maybe? Many dogs like to potty next to an object of some kind, not just in the middle of a large open space. Just like some human kids, some dogs need to feel "secure" before they can go.

I agree you should keep her on a leash outdoors while housebreaking.

 

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

I 'trained' Knox to pee on-command. Each and every time I took him out to potty, I would say "go potty, Knox!" When he did it, I would just go crazy and have a my 'pee-party!' He has been trained for a long time now, but I will still say the words sometimes and he squats. I really think the excitement from you is key! Also, I put some sleigh bells on a string and bell trained him. I'm sure you can read all about the pros and cons here on DK, but it worked for me. Each time I took him out my back door I hit the bells. Soon he was hitting them and going out and doing his business. But, please relax. It will not happen overnight.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Sandy both our doodles were trained with the potty bells on the door that you use for potty. They did extremely well and we had very few accidents. You really need to take her on leash and yes we treated  them when they did it on the spot with lots of praise! It may take some time-wish you lots of luck! You can probably find even more articles if you google it!