Puppies are hard!!

[Lucy & Ellie]

I've been so looking forward to Spring so we can be more active outside with Lucy.  Well it's here and we have but I swear, the more worn out she is, the more potty accidents she has inside.  Or I suppose more likely it's because she gets hot and drinks more and I just have to take her out more.

We took her to the vet today for her last round of vaccinations and the vet asked if she was all housebroken and acted like she totally should/could be by now.  Ha.  She still has accidents... not every day, but I still have to watch her like a hawk!  And after a big walk, with plenty of time to relieve herself, she still has an accident within 10 minutes of being inside.

I just so wish I could be more confident with her and let her roam around without being paranoid.  But I just can't!  It's exhausting!

Thanks for listening to me whine.... it really helps just to complain !!

[Gem's Jewel]

Jewel had an accident last night for the first time in weeks. We had gone on a walk, played outside and gone to puppy class...she was so tired I think she didnt finish going before coming in. She hardly made it upstairs to go to sleep, but woke sometime in the middle of the night & went. Normally she wakes me up about 5 am to go. Just like little kids...they will have slip ups. We will miss them being puppies soon enough, will not stress it here.

[Lucy & Ellie]

I know - I will be so sad when she's not a puppy anymore.  Despite her nipping and accidents, she is SO cute and soft and sweet and silly!  And I really will miss that!

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

I thought Yogi was potty trained at 4 months, but he continued to have a few more accidents... I did think they were probably my fault. But since 5 months he's been good as gold. Hang in there, this puppy time really does pass fast.

[Lucy & Ellie]

Well I am praying that a light bulb goes off in a month for Lucy too!  

BTW Yogi is so cute :)  He kinda looks like Lucy!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Rant/ vent away......we've all been there!
They say 30 days without an accident, you can safely say your pup is potty trained. Can't tell you how many times we had to reset the clock! Now, it's been months since the last accident...it all seems like a blur. Not to worry, you will get there too!
The problem with the nice long walks....they haven't figured out what they are for yet. Yes..she had plenty of time...but she doesn't know that. I would not have come in until she emptied the ole bladder.
Enzo has learned to pee on command and it is wonderful!

[Lucy & Ellie]

I simply cannot hear "vent away, and it will get better soon" enough!  Seriously, it really does help!!!

I think you nailed it.  She has not figured out what walks are for.  She doesn't pee at all except when we first go out the door and she finds her usually spot.  Then when we get back home I take her back to her spot but she never wants to go again and I don't understand that!  She knows "go potty" on command but nothing.  We just need a good groove!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Ro, you so sound like me when Oscar was going through the dreaded potty training. We'd count off the days he'd go without an accident and get to about 25, when BAM!, he'd have an accident and we'd have to reset to ZERO!  We reset so many times I lost count. So frustrating!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

LOL...exactly! Only thing that made it bearable was, it is so common...just what puppies do! Lull you into a false sense of security :p

[Malenie Piscetelli]

How old is Lucy now? My Lucy was 4 mos last week and she is now potty trained about over a week. I know her schedule. Every puppy is different.

[Lucy & Ellie]

It sounds like our Lucy's are exactly the same age!  Mine was 4 months last week!

I feel like I knew her winter schedule pretty well.  This lovely weather and lots of outside play is throwing us off!

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Complain away! My youngest doodle, Oscar, is 1-1/2 yrs old now, but he was my 'problem child' when it came to potty training. He was and is the sweetest, mellowest, cuddliest puppy around, and didn't give me a moment of stress other than the potty training thing (oh, and that he likes to eat socks!), but that alone was so exhausting to stay on top of, and so very stressful. It should end soon with your Lucy, as Oscar was pretty much done by 4-1/2 mos. Good luck!

[Judi Kilpatrick]

Hi Lucy, I can relate to the potty issues but seem to have found a solution for the boys. Our boys are now 5 1/2 mts and just under 5 months. I would be ok as long as I watched them vey closely, neither one would bark when they needed to go out, they would just stare at me! All ok unless I was doing something and just didn't see them. I ordered a set of poochie bells, followed the instructions and to my shock (and huge relief) both buys started ringing the bells within 24 hours to let me know they had to go out. We haven't had an indoor accident since the day we started using them about 4 weeks ago so I'm a big fan of the bells. Maybe give them a try, sure beats the cleanup! Good luck.