House Training Trouble

[Patti]

I sure need some help here! I have house trained puppies before with a minimum of accidents in the house. I'm having trouble with our 15 week old Kendall, though. She knows how to ring the bell when she wants to go out. (which is constantly) She does go potty outside - so she correlates the two. However, she is pooing in the house! We are finding "presents" from her in the dining room and hallway. This will be after she has just been outside - and gone out there. I can put her out in the morning and watch her go. Then she goes outside to get the paper with my husband and will sometimes go again. Within a short period of time, I might walk into another part of the house and find that she has gone in there!

She is crated a lot - too much really, I think. She is in the crate during the daytime when we are at work and does not mess in it. She is also crated at night and will not mess in it. So, she seems to be able to hold it.

Any advice? She probably goes outside every 20 min. with her bell ringing. She likes to go out to play as well as potty.

I don't get how she has all of this in her to go so often!

[Adina P]

I'm guessing that you don't see her go poo...you just find the accidents later. This means that she is out of your sight too often if she is able to sneak off and go poo. I would put her leash through your belt and keep her tethered to you when you can't watch her. Really, at this age she should never be in any part of the house without supervision...that way you can see her give signs of having to go and rush her outside before she goes in the house.

Also pretty soon she should develop a poo schedule...you'll notice she needs to go at certain times and then you can be sure to take her at those times for a quick run around the yard. After her vaccinations are done, you should start taking her on short walks to 'shake' the poo out of her. And praise her and give her delicious treats when she goes poo outside so she knows it is rewarding to go outside. Also start to train her to go poo on command by saying "Go potty" (or whatever phrase you like) AS she is pooing. Say "Go potty" for 50 poos, praising after each. Then once you've had a chance to say "Go potty" for 50 poos then say "Go potty" right before she goes and soon you will have trained her to go on command!

Also, are you cleaning up the poo accident areas with an odor neutralizer like Nature's Miracle? Be sure you use that or something like it so the scent is gone or else she might go back to that spot later.

Finally, even though puppies can hold their potty and NOT go in their crates for hours...while they are playing they really stimulate their bladder and bowels and can't hold it as long as they can in their crates. They just can't.

When she rings the bell to go potty, what I would do is put a leash on her and take her out without any playtime...give her 5 minutes and if she doesn't go, then RIGHT BACK in her crate or tethered to you. She should not have a chance to play after ringing the bells...only business.

[Patti]

I'm going to try the tethering this week as I will be off work for Spring Break. I'm also going to try the go on command. Never tried it before! I am cleaning the carpet areas with Resolve and cleaning hard floors with vinegar/water. Would Nature's Miracle work better?

[Adina P]

The poo on command will take time ... but worth starting!
As to Nature's Miracle...it's 'supposed' to be better...can't say I can tell for sure, but worth trying too!

[Patti]

Thanks! I'll let you know what happens!

[Patti]

I had wondered if maybe the food is too rich for her. She is on Purina Pro Plan Puppy food -chicken and rice. I'll have to ask the vet this week when she goes for her shot/checkup. Thanks for the help!