Almost a week together now.....

[Jenna & Cider]

I brought Cider home last Saturday and Sunday I had my infamous breakdown. A big "Thanks" to all you lovely folks on this site who responded to my cry for help, I read your comments and started regaining some composure!

Cider was great with going potty outside, didn't have any accidents in the house..... until yesterday. Monday I went back to work and had him gated in a small hallway with his toys and his crate. I came to check on him and let him outside at lunch and the good boy was laying in his crate and didn't have any accidents! I was stunned, same thing Tuesday and Wednesday. Yesterday however, I came home 20 mins later than usual and he had peed on his dog bed. I knew something was odd when we went outside and instead of peeing immediately, he just wanted to play. That's when I went back and took a closer look and saw he had soiled his little dog bed. When I came home in the evening, I let him out first thing and he was so excited and jumping around outside that I went to check if he'd peed somewhere in the hall again (his bed was removed and in the wash). He didn't make an accident but in the time I was peeking in the hall, he had followed me in and peed behind me! I was so bummed because he was doing so great! Is he testing me?!

I was wondering if I should just crate him now while I'm at work to reinforce the potty training?  He still barks and whines when he is first put in his crate. It's a process to get him into his crate right now anyway. I've been trying to get him to go in on his own and sometimes he will but he's very stubborn! I have been keeping such a close eye on him at home and letting him out often and maybe that's why he's been flawless up to this point?

He's also becoming much more active. He's been nipping quite a bit now, I guess he's more comfortable in his new home? I've been using the bitter apple, saying no and holding his mouth and saying no...I know this will take time. I know he's a pup and he's playing but I want to put the kabosh on this early!

He also seems to pick and choose when he "knows" his name. He does not come to me unless he wants to. He is letting me put the leash on him now at least without too much resistence. Baby steps I suppose!

I'm really looking forward to puppy training classes on Sunday. I feel like every teachable moment is so critical and I'm terrified I'm not responding correctly to fix the behavior. Just wanted to type it out what I was thinking, I hope I'm not boring anyone to death!!!!

 

xoxo Jenna & Cider

 

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Traci reminded me about something that I neglected to mention earlier.  When I wanted Wally to pee, I said, "Hurry up," like I shared above.  But, when we headed back in afterwards, I said, "Inside!" and we ran back into the house.  When we stepped in the doorway, I said, "Good Inside," and gave him a meaty treat.  Now that he's almost six-years-old, I can let him out back to relieve himself without me.  When I shout, "Wally, Inside," he comes racing back into the house for his yummy treat.  In fact, whenever we're out in the yard playing ball or whatnot, I just have to utter the magic word, and in he runs.  We often had difficulty in getting our previous dog to come back into the house when we needed him to do so, therefore this was a really important command for us when we got Wally.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Oops!  I meant to say, him!

[Jenna & Cider]

Well...given the helpful comments by everyone, I will surely crate!!! As if I needed any more affirmation, when I got home for lunch an hour ago, I discovered that Cider jumped his gate and had FULL reign in the house all morning *shudder*. I can't believe that little bugger jumped it!!!! He only piddled  (it could have been sooo much worse) so thankfully I do have nature's choice. He's now in his crate :)

 

When I do let him out to potty, when he finishes I say "Good Potty" and he bolts to me to get his treat. He was fighting the leash but I've been having him walk around the house with it on and have been trying to use it to take him out to go potty. He gets so distracted by trying to chew the leash off that he doesn't do his business right away, he thinks it's play time. I'll stick with it though.

 

Thank you all !!! I am so happy that this site exists!!! I feel like no matter how much reading I did before getting him...it's a whole lot different in action!

 

I hope you all have a great weekend :)

 

J

[Janice Hammond]

You are doing well. Remember this is a "baby".I always put a leash on Sadie at first when I took her out so that she learned that it was businees first and then play.

They are so excited to see you when you first arrive they just want to play and forget to pee.Enjoy Cider.The puppy stage doesn't last very long.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Not at all, seems like typical puppy behavior, don't be bummed. The fact that he is fine more than not is a good good sign.

Are you feeding him in his crate? That is how I got Daisy to love hers, once I did that for a while I started to offer her a treat in her crate, then we moved on to a Kong with peanut butter (those were the good old days when food motivated her) she would Run like the wind to get in her crate when I got the Kong out of the freezer.

[Jenna & Cider]

Oh! no I wasn't feeding him in his crate but I shall try that and see how it works! Thanks!!!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jenna, Do you put anything in the crate with him when you leave. I always left a Kong with peanut butter in it and the TV on. Just a thought. I think he sounds like he is doing very well, but I would crate him, too.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Jenna, both my doodles were crated as puppies and still are while I am at work.  I to come home on lunch and let them out to stretch and take care of business.  As other DK'ers mentioned... its a good idea to leash them up when they are learning the peeing and pooping thing.  When one of my doodles would pee or poop I would say "good girl/boy you went peepee or poopies" and every time they would poop or pee I would say that.  Then as they were getting the whole "outside" potty thing and would want to play first I would walk them to their fav. spot and say "lets go poopie or peepee" - I know, I know I sounded like a nut but it worked - LOL.

 

With the crate training, I would refer to the crate as "your house".  I would make their crate a happy place to be and a place where they could go to feel comfortable and safe.  It was cake to train Ollie - he just followed what Sasha did.  When I would leave to go to work I would say "OK - doodles in your house" and both would just turn and go into their crates, of course each would get a cookie, I would tell them that I loved them and out the door I go.  I still do this but will start to work on not having any crates.  Both doodles are loose at night and when I go for short 1 + hour errands I leave them loose.  Sasha is 2 1/2 and Ollie will be 2 in June so they are much older than Cider.  I would not leave any toys in the crate because both are agressive chewers and I was worried that something could get caught or they would eat the toy.  I do not make a fuss at all when I leave, if you make a big fuss I feel that causes (with some dogs) seperation anxiety. 

 

You will have many set-backs as most of us have while training.  I would go for weeks with no accidents then BAM - just when I thought we had it I would find a poop or pee.  It all goes with the territory.  Oh.. also.. one important thing, I would pick up the water about a hour and a half before I left for work and I made sure both doodles pooped before I left as well.  I would feed them between 5:30 - 6:00 am and I would leave for work @ 8:00 am, that gave them plenty of time to eliminate.  I also fed them @ 6 pm so they were on 12 hour feeding schedule.  If you let Cider graze then you will not have a real ideal as to when he will poop.  It think it take about 6 +/- hours for food to go thru their system.

 

I think you are on the right track and please do not get discouraged - he will get "it", it just take time.

[Jenna & Cider]

Thank you so much, great information!!!!! Hope you enjoy your weekend!!

[Liana & Jindi]

Hi Jenna, yes I agree with the others about putting Cider in a crate. I don't know if anyone else has heard of this but I read or was told ( can't remember ) that if the crate is to big the puppy may still relieve themselves in the crate. I only wanted to buy one crate & bought a big one. I put a couple of boxes in the crate to make it smaller & had no accidents in there.

Whoops I just read the comment Doris wrote.

[shelly]

I would MOST definitely crate him.... he will not only take to peeing out of his crate while you are gone, but chewing, counter surfing, and eating anything he can get his mourth on.... it's really for his own safety.  Don't sweet talk him when you come home.  Just walk over open the crate and go right to the door.  We made that mistake and Tori would start peeing just from the high pitched welcome we gave her when we would come home.  Keep the crate smaller than larger.  enough room to stand up turn around and rest comfortably.  Too much room will allow him a 'spot' to pee or poop - then you'll have to bathe him as well.  It IS exasperating!  Take a deep breath and realize that this shall pass - and NOT without a few many tears... soon you will be giving advice to a new puppy owner who is going through exactly what YOU are now.... what we ALL did too.  Good luck!  Baby steps is right!  :o)

[Ginny Nightingale]

Use a toy to replace your hands etc when he nips-- a big rope toy is good--just shake it around in front of his face and get him to bite that instead of you--when he does nip you make a very loud, high pitched OW so that he knows he hurt you--they learn this from other pups when they play--the yelping teaches them to bite gently--so you are imitating that. Yes, it will take a long time and just when you think you have it licked, they start all over again!