toilet training

[Kathryn Hall]

Nora is 11 weeks old and hasn't got the least idea about asking to go out.  I take her out every hour, but still have 3-4 misses in the house a day.  I'm using Amichien training techniques, food reward, etc. When does this change for the better?

[Becka]

For an 11-week-old puppy, once an hour is not enough--I would up it to every 30 minutes, and always immediately after waking up from a nap, playing, and eating. I'm not familiar with the method you mention, but there is a lot of information about potty training in the Puppy Madness group--just join the group and do a search for "potty training." A lot of DK members have had a lot of success with bell training.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

I'm not familiar with the technique you mention. We did the bell training with Monty. Just like Becka wrote: you need to watch the puppy. Did she just wake up from a nap? IMMEDIATELY, take her out (I would stop by the back door and rang the bells, then took Monty outside). Did you have an intense play session for 10 minutes? Immediately, take her out again. The same with eating. Puppies don't know they need to go until it's already coming out. :-) And they can't hold it at all just yet.

The key is to be in tune with their puppy biology cycle and keep an eye on them. I did not treat Monty after going potty outside (other than verbal praise). He was not that big on treats then. He is my first dog, so I naturally had fears about training him to go potty. All in all, I think we had about 5-6 accidents in the house, no poo-poo, though. :-) He started ringing the bell by himself within the first week, but I still did not trust him and took him out after each activity.

 

Good luck to you and your puppy!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I took Peri out every 20 minutes (when I was home - she could hold it longer when in crate) until she was 4-5 months I would say!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Riley didn't ask to go out until he was about four months old but was clean in the house from 12 weeks with no accidents after that.  We took him out about every 20 minutes and lifted his water from 7pm at night.  He was encouraged to 'Get Busy' and got huge praise when he went.  Now if he wants to go out he just goes to the door and gives a little whine.  If we don't hear him he will come to one of us and do the same thing.  I thought in the beginning he would never 'get it' but he just did and it seemed to be overnight.  He is 7 months old now and can be left for quite some time free in the house with no problems.

Oh  just remembered that in the beginning I did treat him when he went but he realised that if he did a 'fake' wee he would get a treat, I stopped the treats then!!! lol

[Adina P]

The only dog I've had since 8 weeks of age needed to go out every 15 minutes.  At least he WOULD go every time I did take him out that often.  I was super paranoid about it and was determined NOT to have any accidents.  Anyway, most pups have to pee often and surprise themselves when they have to go...often they will stop while playing.  An 11 week old pup can hold it 1-2 hours during the day in a crate, but not while out and about.  We also taught ours to ring a bell to signal their need to go out.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We crated when we left for short periods and at night; we also limited Ned's space in the house to our den/kitchen area (which was also tiled).  We were lucky enough to be on summer vacation when we got Ned and we were able to be with him most of the time and to take him in our RV - which is also a limited space.

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

Wilson is five months old and still doesn't "tell me" or ring the bell like his brother.  As a matter of fact he peed on my ottoman last night.....so, I've got nothing.....at this point I am praying for divine intervention, lol.

My murph on the other hand was ringing the bell at 10 weeks.

[KAHLUA]

I love the comment "I've got nothing", made me laugh out loud.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Ours also learned with the bell and going out every 20 minutes when not crated. They learned really fast witht he bells.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Nora is still very young yet... be persistant and she will get it :)  I crate trained both my doodles, not to say that there was not accidents.. believe me there was, I limited the water and fed them only in the a.m. and p.m.  I strongly recommend crate training.  Both my doodles did not mess in their crate at all while I was at work.  I would immediately feed them and let them drink as much water as they wanted but about a hour before I would crate them before going out or to work I would pick up the water and well the food it never lasted, they would eat it as soon as I put it down.  Your food bag may say how long it should take to pass thru their system.  The puppy food I had Sasha and Oliver on took about 5-6 hours to pass.  Each dog is different, Oliver needs to poop about a half hour after eating and Sasha poops in the a.m. and p.m.  In the evening I would pick up the water at about 8pm and would go to bed about 10 pm, I would crate them and the second I got up in the morning I would immediately take them out.  Good rule of thumb to follow.... what goes in must come out !!!!  its all in the timing.  Nora is still very young and she will get "it" soon, be persistant and don't give up it all comes in time.  Good luck Kathryn the puppy days are fun but can be difficult at times.

[KAHLUA]

I used the bells on the door.  I think they were great.  Everytime I took her out I said potty, opened the door (bells rang).  It took about a month before she started hitting the bells with her nose.   Worked for us.  Good luck!

 

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

They worked great for Murphy too.  Wilson? Not so much.  I have decided the bells are working backwards for Wilson....kind of like this...Murphy has to pee so he rings bell.  Wilson HEARS bell so he pees (in floor).  Good grief.  I really have no clue how it could have been so easy for Murphy and poor Wilson just doesn't get it or doesn't care or.........again..I've got nothing.  :)