A Light at the End of the Tunnel?

[Sandy]

I just need a little pep talk. I'm at the end of week one with the puppy - he's 9 weeks old now. As far as things go, when could I (approximately) expect the following:
1) housebroken (I'm trying hard - reading his signs, etc)
2) trustworthy in the house
3) not requiring to go outside every couple of minutes (or so it seems)
4) not trying to follow if I leave the room EVERY time (even if he's sleeping, he'll wake up if I leave the room)

I know - a lot of questions. I think I'm just a little overwhelmed, and tired right now. I know things get better, and life gets back to "normal". It's just a lot of hard, hard work right now. :)

[Adina P]

Those first few weeks CAN be quite exhausting--it's a learning curve as well as something that requires constant attention. Are you getting at least some enjoyment out of it? It does get better...it's slow and then suddenly the improvement begins to accelerate. But diff aspects take longer than others:

1) Housebreaking can be "done" in a few weeks or maybe not until 6 or 7 months--it really depends on the dog, on you, on others in the house and on the communication between all.

2) Trustworthy in the house...anywhere from a year to 2 years. And there are exceptions on both ends. Do you mean trustworthy when left alone with nobody home or trustworthy while you are home but not in the same part of the house? This one was easiest for me as far as I was OKAY with crating as long as it took. Crating really is a HUGE lifesaver!

3) this one should start to happen soon. little by little he'll go longer and longer without needing to pee =)

4) Hmmmm...my Rosco follows me all day long! Well almost. I find it sweet. But again for NOW you can crate him to give him a chance to LEARN to be okay with separation. He's young, a baby, and curious. He wants your company =)

[Sandy]

1) I think we're all on the same page here. My boys at home at 19 and 25, so it's all adults here (hubby is here too :) ). We basically take him out when he gets up from a nap, and after eating. It will be nice when he can consistently let us know. :)
2) I was thinking just trustworthy when I am in another part of the house. I guess I need to remember that Toby is a dog, not a child, and if I need to clean somewhere else, I can crate him. That way I won't be annoyed if he does something I don't like (chewing, peeing), and I won't worry.
3) Looking forward to that! Hopefully before the snow flies at least!
4) I love it that he loves me enough to follow me. I just don't want him to be neurotic and HAVE to be with, or cry. One of his favourite things is to sit on my knee while I'm at the computer. I find that rather endearing.

Yes, I am enjoying my pup. And we are starting a three day week-end in Canada, so I will get help from others. I'm sure each week it will get easier and easier.
4)

[Stephanie]

1) Housebreaking can be completely different for each dog/family. Like Adina said...anywhere from a few weeks to months. My first dog was housetrained in about 1 1/2 weeks...we've had Brody for just over 2 weeks and we're still having accidents, although they are fewer and farther between. Remember consistency is your best friend during this time. The more consistant you are, the more consistant he will be.

2) Trustworthiness while you're not in the house depends on his potty training progress. But I would say at least a few months after you can rely on him being accident free while you're around (e.g. letting you know when he has to go out). For when you *are* home I would say when he is "potty trained" that is when he is potty trustworthy...as for chewing or other such issues, I would say as long as you are working with him and training him sometime after 6 mos....which is my own personal experience. You and your pup could be completely different. Just remember to use the crate if you neede to. I just started doing this and it is a HUGE help!

3) This should come relatively quickly...sometime in the next week or two he should be able to go longer and longer throughout the day...from 1 hour to 2 hrs, then 3. At this point Brody is almost 11 wks and he is going anywhere from 2-4 hours between potty runs. Although there is still the occasional 1/2 hr or hour run if he has had a lot to drink. Or sometimes we go out to potty then 1/2 hr later he realizes he has to poo...soo we go out again. Just the way it is with a pup.

4) Brody follows me everywhere! In fact, when Sam gets up with him in the am (after I get home from work) after about 1/2 an hr he will sit at the br door and cry for me. He ALWAYS wants to be with me. He loves Sam and will run to him and is excited when he gets home from work...but he bonded with me when we brought him home. I was the one who cuddled him, who held him while he was crying, who is training him, etc...its just a matter of bonding. He is scared and knows you to be his mama...and needs to be with you. He is a puppy and if not crated...will probably follow you anywhere and everywhere for quite some time. In fact I have a friend whose pup is 7 mos and she still follows my friend everywhere as well.

Good luck...it does get better...week by week and even day by day. Just work through it and enjoy every happy puppy moment you can!!!

[Christa]

I hope you are crate training your pup. It's the best way to housetrain them. When I am not playing with Patti Cake, she is in her crate in the living room playing with toys, sleeping or watching me. When I take her out of the crate, she goes right outside. Her command for going pee is "Go be good girl" and her other command is "Go Poopers". I know it sounds crazy, but has worked for my last 3 pups. She should be able to hold her water for a few hours at a time. He does need to know you're coming back when you leave. When Patti whines in her crate, I just say NO! She learns every day. Good luck. Our pup is 9 weeks. I feel your pain. Enjoy!! "Mother Knows Best" is a great training book for dogs too.

[Sandy]

I haven't crated him too much except for at night, or when I go out. I have to stop feeling guilty about it!! I really, really need to clean the upstairs of my house....I'll have to crate him and do it! He's doing quite well being trained, if I watch for his cues. He's just so full of spunk right now!

Okay - so - no guilt about crating for my sanity, and his safety. Got it. :)

Our pups are the same age. Maybe we can compare notes along the way?

[KJ]

Paddington is now 7 months old, he was potty trained with about 2 accidents since and both we're my fault since about 4 months. But we got him late. I accept if you'll have him trained earlier then that :) Just stick with it.

Paddington cannot be left alone, however he now stays just in our bedroom and can be in there up to 5 hours or so with out potting or getting into anything. We just have too many toys for P to eat, so I imagine it will be about 1 or 2 years before we actually trust him by himself in the entire house. We do close off bedrooms and attic and basement when we are here so that he won't go hide there and get into something.

And as for the following around thing, I find it comforting because not only do I have a companion I know too he's not getting into anything :)

[Adina P]

You got it Sandy! I was the opposite of you in my feelings toward the crate and quite a crating fiend. To the point that I lost common sense one morning. I'm an early riser and one Sunday I was up at 7am and decided to wash my floors. I plopped Rosco's crate in plain view and proceeded to work. He began whining, barking, crying...LOUDLY. I just ignored him as I was supposed to do.

My POOOOR roommate comes out of her room, rubbing her sleepy eyes and asks, slightly annoyed, "um...can you make him be quiet?"

I stubbornly (and obliviously) responded with a flat, calm, matter of fact: "No." and went about my floor washing.

Of course to me it made sense. If I give him attention for protesting his crate and let him OUT he will learn that it works to protest. VERY RUDE of me to put my roommate through that...LOL. I felt bad later.