Potty Training Advice

[Mommy2Max]

I can really use some advice from you wise doodle owners.

A few facts...

Max is 16 weeks old and has been crate trained from 7 1/2 weeks old. He has always been either in the crate, on the sofa (on a blanket) or tethered in the kitchen - always with someone with exception to the crate. He had very few accidents. The few accidents he had on the floor was his first few days home with us and mommy and daddy were just figuring out how to crate train. The other few accidents were in his crate when mommy got stuck somewhere longer than say 2 hours.

Fast forward to the last week and a half. Max proved to us that he could both hold it in his crate for more than two hours (3-4 hours) plus hold it overnight (8.5 hrs). So, I decided to give him more freedom in the house. He did wonderfully last week. No accidents and he was starting to use the poochie bells. I was so happy and proud because he really earned that freedom and he really needed that extra exercise he gets from the freedom of movement.

Here comes my problem. Last night and just now - he urinated on my carpet. To say the very least, I'm not thrilled. My house is new and I don't want it smelling like a gas station urinal. Then again - who does? He was being watched but, dang it, he is fast. Since I didn't catch him "in the act", I couldn't give him an abrupt "NO!" Each time, I've said "bad potty" with a dissapointed voice and gave him a long time out in his crate. I've also cleaned up the mess with some Urine Off.

I knew there would be some accidents along the way but, he keeps having these accidents an hour and a half after a potty break so, it's not like I've pushed it time wise. Maybe I am mistaken but, I thought he could hold it for about three hours now.

Did I give him too much freedom too fast? Obviously, he doesn't see the home as an extention of his crate even though I introduced him slowly to his surroundings. Should I take a step back now and go back to his stricter routine?

WWYD? (What would you do?)

Thanks,
~Danielle

(PS. I don't think he is marking because it's more than a small trickle and he isn't lifting his leg)

[Adina P]

Hi Max's Mommy!

Sounds like you have done all the right things. There is only ONE little loophole in this. WHILE Max and other pups can usually hold it for 3-4 hours in a crate, that is not so for out of the crate.

So all you will need to do is take him out more often (say every 30 min) while he is free in the house and that should do it most likely. Also if you don't catch him in the act, any punishment (i.e. "bad potty" and crate time) is really not very educational for him. If you DO catch him...I'd mostly use the loud "NO" as a way to startle him and get him to go outside to finish where he can get praise/treat for going there. That's not always easy to do and may cause his little puddle to turn into a stream as he rushes out of the way if he's afraid of your reaction.

Overall I think you've done great...just expect him to need to pee far more often when he's free. You'll still need to have an eye on him too.

(P.S. my Rosco peed probably every 15 minutes still at 4months !)

[Mommy2Max]

Woops!

Okay - the math doesn't equal outside the crate. I'll take him potty more frequently.

I knew the "bad potty" wasn't doing a thing for Max. Admittedly, the time out was more for me - LOL.

I guess I need to walk up to a mirror and say "bad mommy" then put myself in the bedroom for a long time out. ;D

Thank you for the advice. I'll take a step back and try again. Good thing these doodles are WAY TOO CUTE!

~Danielle

[Mommy2Max]

I got fooled because if he was tethered in the kitchen and had to go before his next potty break, he would walk towards the door and bark. He did the same when I asked if he had to go potty. I suppose with the new found freedom he doesn't find it as important to tell me. :)

I jumped the gun and will be happy with the progress he has made.

~Danielle

[Stella]

It is amzing that no matter how closely you watch them, they still manage to pee on the carpet!! Our first doodle was pretty quick to housetrain, and always went to the back door to ask to go out (now he uses a bell to let us know). But, our new puppy, now 14 weeks old, is much slower to get the idea. We take him out every time he comes out of his crate, when he wakes up, when he has been fed, when he has been playing etc. and he can pee and poop on command outside. But, he hasn't worked out how to ask to go out, and still (if we aren't paying enough attention) will go inside if given half a chance. It is so frustrating!!!

[Mommy2Max]

Fast as anything unless they don't want to do it...furry kids! :)

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

Hey Danielle - you've done an awesome job so far! And Adina is so right - being OUT of the crate is a whole different issue. Since either my husband or I are usually home, we found that taking Penny out every 60 minutes worked well (Max might need more often). When we got Penny, the vet said to expect accidents for as long as a year. I just laughed, but he was SO right! Penny trained very quickly, but every once in a while there would be a "whoops" (piddle, no poo). We'd go for a whole month and things would be great, then Whoops! With Penny, it was about 10 months before she had grown into holding it and going outside with NO accidents. Don't be hard on yourself - Max is still a baby, and you've done a great job!

[Mommy2Max]

Thank you so much. I guess my expectations were a little too high and I almost set him up for failure.

The advice given here at Doodle Kisses is very valuable.

~Danielle