Potty Training Advice!

[Meredith Spencer]

Hi! I have had my Georgia for almost a week, she was 9 weeks old when she came home so she's about to turn 10wks! I know she is still a baby, but I want to make sure I am being effective with my potty training, and I am worried since still to this day she tries to go inside....The moment she comes out of her crate, either in the morning, at lunch or in the afternoon after work - we go outside, I pick up her front paw and ring the bell, let her out and say "Lets Get Busy" - typically she'll sniff around a bit, find a nice looking spot and go for it - I'll repeat "Get Busy, Get Busy, Get Busy" for the duration of her elimination - however, she doesn't go in the same spot, all the time - do I need to be next to her, treat in hand repeating the phrase, the praising and treating immediately? Typically I run to her when she is done and praise her...? All that being said, when I am home for longer periods of time, I try to take her out about every hour - however, she will still sneak out of my sight, and go to either the rug, or the carpet in my bedroom and get ready to go! I'm wondering if she is mistaking carpet for grass? Or she just likes the comfort of being inside? In those situations I typically say "NO!" loudly and in a deep voice and scoop her up ASAP - mid-stream, mid-poo, doesn't matter - and take her outside (repeating the "get Busy") - then I'll clean whatever soiling happened if I didn't catch her in time. If I have had her for a week, and she's about to be 10weeks old - should I expect for her to still be trying to go in the house? Is there something I can do to be more effective in re-enforcing that pottying is for outside only and not inside? Sometimes I think shes too smart for her (or rather MY) own good and does it just because she's not supposed to! Any advice or opinion on the way I'm going about this would be VERY appreciated!

[Katie & Charlie]

Hi!  Georgia is adorable!  :)

It sounds like you're doing things right!  The only thing I would recommend is when you're home for longer periods of time, you may want to take her out every 20 minutes or so.  When she's out of her crate, running around playing, you don't want to let her go longer than 30 minutes.  I'm no expert but I potty trained my Golden Retriever years ago and now am potty training our new doodle and if we didn't get him out every 30 minutes (at least) he would have accidents.  It's only been a week, so all I can say is hang in there.  She WILL get it if you continue to be consistent the way you have been.  I know getting her outside that often seems excessive, but it's only temporary.  We got our Charlie when he was 10 weeks old.  We've had him for a month now and he's about 95% house broken.  He will have a rare accident here and there but for the most part, he goes to the door to tell us when he has to go out.  Best of luck to you!  :)

[Meredith Spencer]

Thanks so much - I didn't realize that they would need to go that often! thanks for bringing it to my attention, I can definitely get her out every 20-30min especially if it will keep her from needing to go in the house.  I'll start giving that a shot today!

[Katie & Charlie]

Yeah -- I found it really annoying.  For the first couple of weeks, I felt like all I did was take Charlie outside.  :)  It pays off in the end.  One day, Georgia will start to get it and you'll feel very proud. 

[Lindsey & Cocoa]

Sounds like you are on the right track. My vet told me they really dont have total control over their bladders until 10-12 weeks so just getting the routine down and showing them where to go until then is half the battle.

Cocoa will be 10 weeks tomorrow and I got her at 8 weeks and she is still having about 2 potty accidents in the house a day but she has not pooped in the house in almost a week now (hope im not jinxing it now..lol).  She will show signs when she is going to poo but not pee, when she pees she just drops it where she is no going and hiding just BAM.  As the other person told you when she is awake and playing I take her out every 20-30 minutes. Play stimulates the bladders and makes them have to go more often.

Im expecting her to be about 16 weeks before I can let her out of my site.  She is only allowed in 1 room and if I have to leave the room or cant watch her she goes right into the create... and she has not used the bathroom in her create at all.

[Pattty Oehrlein]

 My Quincy is 10 weeks too. We bring her out about every 45 min if she is out of her crate- in her crate she can go 5 hours over-nite or 3 hours during the day. I have been home with her for a week and I do feel as if all I do is go out to the yard- we have steps she is not good at mastering yet so I carry her to the spot each time- I'm def not an expert but everything I read and hear says just keep repeating outside trips and they will eventually learn but they are still lil babies and think of how long it takes to train a toddler. Good Luck!!

[Katie & Charlie]

Quincy is SO cute!!  :)

[Meredith Spencer]

I swear doodles just have the sweetest faces ever

[Pattty Oehrlein]

God makes 'em that way so we clean up after with a smile. :)

[Pattty Oehrlein]

yea I think she knows it. :) thanks

[Meredith Spencer]

Guess I learned truly how long my little girl can hold that teeny bladder of hers!  Today I got home at lunch, well a little after lunch (I wanted to see how she was doing with different time lengths) and she'd pee'd all over herself :(  I felt like such a bad mom!!!  I gave her a bath (the first one at my house) and dried her off, she was shaking the whole time - poor thing!!  I now know lunch time is lunch time no exceptions, and I will be home!

[Mimi Linna, Lilly and Lolly]

Georgia is a cutie... invest in a Bissel Spot Bot for those carpets.. you will be glad you did. You are doing great..It just takes time. I think by the time Lilly was 3 months old she was pretty well trained but those first few weeks were not fun. Lilly uses the bell and at first i was like you and took her paw to ring the bell. Now it sounds like she is trying to ring the church bells down the street when she has to go out. She still rings them to go look at sticks and what is happening outside,but I can tell when she means it- she will whimper as she rings the bell. another great thing about the bells is when you travel with her, you just put the bells on the door of the hotel room and she will ring it when she has to go outside.  I think I took her out every 20-30 minutes at the beginning and a couple of times at night.  I took treats and as soon as she went potty I made a big deal and gave her a treat. Ypou are doing it right sister..hang in there.