back to square one

[Nicole]

Hi all! Barney has been absolutely the smartest, easiest puppy from 6-9 weeks. Very few accidents, going to door to go potty, coming when called, etc. Since Sunday, however, he has regressed :( He is wanting to go outside all the time but to play...not to potty. Then he comes inside from being out and pees/poops in the house. Most of the time he hits the puppy pad that is kept in the kitchen but just now he was out for 20 minutes...I saw him pee and made a "big fuss" over what a smart puppy he is and gave him a treat. We came inside and I went to get treats for training practice (sit, down, and stay are coming great!)...went back into the family room and he had pooped on the floor. I cleaned it up, commenced training, and when I went into the kitchen 5 minutes later to put treats away he peed on the floor...no puppy pad was down! :( I guess it's back to square one? Setting timer for every 15-20 minutes, putting him in crate if I leave the room, etc. It's just frustrating because he has been doing SO WELL...has anyone else experienced this kind of regression????? DH threatened to put him on E-Bay tonight lol (he was just joking...he is crazy about "little man" as he calls him)

 

[Eva and Fenway]

Hey Nicole, 

 

From what I've experienced this is pretty normal.. when Fenway (8-9 weeks) becomes hyperactive and 'forgets' about this sort of thing it's because mom was tired/busy/too hot outside and she didn't get the exercise she's used to. I don't have any real advice since I am new at this myself, but I was curious about one thing. 

 

You're working on sit, down, and stay? Fen has the first two down, but 'stay' has been a bit of a challenge.. what method are you using?

[Eva and Fenway]

Thank you for the advice!!! This will be helpful

[Nicole]

I am working with a personanl trainer and it is very much like Megan described, except we have him on leash in front of us rather than heel position...we stand right in front of him, give him the hand signal and say "stay", then just stand there toe to toe for a few seconds [she told me it is important to stand up straight rather than bend over towards him as I have a tendency to do :(] ...then give him the release command (we chose "go play")...after giving a yummy treat and a reinforcing "good stay!" of course!...we will make the time gradually longer, take a step or two back then move back in to treat and release, etc. when we know he understands the command, and eventually add other distractions...(moving around, using toys, etc.). Our trainer told us the "toe to toe" was important at such a young age...and it seems to be working for us. We haven't done any leash training or worked on heel yet...but that's interesting! I may try that too and see how it works for us :D There are so many ways to teach things out there...good luck!

[Nicole]

I think you hit the nail on the head...he wasn't playing outside that much (or if he did it was after going potty) because it has been very rainy AND he could fit through the fence rails...so now instead of a place to potty it has become the place to play....Thanks for the advice and we will be playing inside now for awhile :D

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

With Bexter (now 10 weeks), I would take him to the exact same spot in the yard to pee/poop.  If he strayed too far from the area I'd keep picking him up & putting him back in that area.  I've had him since 7 weeks old.  He has been really excellent about potty training, sooo I thought I'd let loose a little & let him pee anywhere in the yard.  Now, he does what you describe...finds sticks & chews them, finds leaves, runs around... & forgets to do his business.  So...Now I am putting him on his leash & taking him out.  That way, he knows to potty & he obviously can't really play because he's right by me.  This seems to be working.  Off lease (in our fenced in yard) he knows he can play, but on lease he's getting down to business.