Potty training!

[Christina Casper]

Hi, so our puppy is just about 9 weeks old. I am wondering at about what age will a puppy start telling me she has to go out? I pretty much watch her like a hawk and take her out a lot! We have established her "spot" outside and she knows what to do. Any suggestions on how I can help her to tell me when she has to go?

Also, how much do puppies sleep during the day? She sleeps from 10pm-6am typically with no potty breaks!

Thankful for the wonderful advice!

[Theresa and Doodle Dagny]

I'm having a terrible time potty training, and we've had Dags for 9 days. We're using bells, but she's terrified of them. I've tried to get her to play with them and I use treats and ring them every single time we go potty. She must pee 3 times every single time we go out - in just a few minutes! It's like she never completely empties her bladder. When we come in, she pees on the floor within minutes. I don't get it. We have a routine every couple hours. Crate, potty, lead, potty, free, lead, potty, crate. She sleeps through the never and has never had an accident in her crate, but can't seem to hold it any other time. Is it because she had free range with the breeder? She's 12 weeks now and doesn't seem to be getting it. Sounds like you're doing an amazing job! Sorry, I vented!

[Judith and Addie]

First, have you had your vet evaluate her since you've brought her home? Make certain she doesn't have an infection.

I am trying the bells again. My puppy is 10 months but we just went through a move that lasted 3 months. When we finally settled into our new home, she seemed to forget she was potty trained. So far, 4 days with bell training and she doesn't seem to have a clue, much like the first time I tried.

Your puppy can hold it in her crate probably because she is sleeping and not active. When she becomes active, so does her bladder. Oh how I envied those people who were posting how their puppies potty trained in days! Addie took months to be reliable, and finally seemed to have gotten an "Ah-hah, that's what it is about!" when she was a little over 6 months. At 7 months, we began packing for our move. Not good timing.

I used Ian Dunbar's suggestions for potty training. It worked in three days on my previous pup. For my now 10 month-old, not so quickly. For Addie, this is what I did. She was crated and every hour I would take her out of the crate, and outside to potty. If she did potty, treats and some play time. Inside for a few minutes of play, explore under close watch so that if she started to squat, I picked her up and moved her outside. If she didn't potty the first time I took  her out of the crate, she went back in the crate for another 15 minutes or so, and then out to potty, etc.

Potty training takes quite a bit of attention to your puppy at all times. Puppies are more likely to potty when they first wake up, after a meal, after a play session, and when they are excited. It will happen, eventually.

As an update, three weeks after closing on, and moving into, my new home, Addie has been accident free for 6 days.

Good luck. I know your frustration but your pup will get there.

[Theresa and Doodle Dagny]

Thanks for your encouragement Judith! Based on all of the success stories here, I thought there must be something wrong!  But, I guess it's just going to take my pup a little longer than others :)  She did have a vet appt a few days after we brought her home and he's determined that there's nothing wrong.  I really appreciate hearing about your experience! 

[Joan Bollaert]

My Millie was 8 weeks old when I got her and she was potty trained within a week.  I took her out very often and the rest of the time she was in her crate. Took her out immediately when getting out of the crate and she made it down the hall and a flight of stairs since I live in a condo.   Only played for a few minutes then back in the crate. Unless she was sleeping, I took her out about every 1/2 hour and kept lenthtening the time between outside potty breaks.  She learned quickly that going outside was to potty.  Taking out often so they get the idea of what going outside means is important