Potty training weirdness

[Jayme K]

Hi hi! So Henry has been doing great on his potty training in our new house. I live in the city in a rowhouse and we have a back brick patio area and then a narrow trip of gravel that goes partially along one side of the house. I've designated this as his potty area and he immediately took to it. I would say 'outside' and we'd go together to that area, no problems. There are also some large brick stepping stones in between the gravel so I designated those as non potty areas so I could step around in his potty area without stepping on areas he's peeing in. I keep it fairly clean but leave one or two poos as I read that will help him now this is his potty area.

Well just the past three days he has been very weird about the area. He doesn't seem to want to potty in his area and started peeing along the edge. I first thought this was him just trying to extend his area. Then it seemed like he didn't want to walk on the gravel and would stand on the brick stepping stones with me and would be very wary when I put him on the gravel. He keeps trying to run out and poop on the main patio area. I run out, pick him up, bring him back to his area and it takes a long time before I can get him to go in the right place. Is he picking up on me not wanting to step on the gravel and mimicking? Could something else be causing this? The behavior was overnight and just odd to me...

Thanks everyone! :)

[Judith and Griffin]

how many weeks old is he?  My Griffin is 9 weeks and though he loved walking on some rocks we have in the back yard when we first got him, he won't walk on them now.  He does not, however, care where he potties - a manhole cover, the middle of the road, whereever lol!  I assume he will get a bit choosier when he's older...

[Jayme K]

He's 16 weeks, and it does seem that he doesn't want to walk on the rocks anymore. He sometimes tries to keep one paw off the ground like it's 'icky' or something and this just started. I don't want him to go on the patio because it's where we sit and eat. I'm using the Monks of New Skete and Dr. Ian Dunbar as my puppy gurus and both talk about designating a specific potty place and how to do it. Everything was great til a couple days ago. That being said, I take him for walks and he'll go while we're out on a walk as well and he knows that is fine, grass, sidewalk, wherever. I'm trying to teach him that the patio is part of his 'den' and an extension of the house and not his potty spot. 

I just thought his behavior was funny so thought I'd see if anyone else had experienced anything similar. 

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Doodles can be picky, and suddenly, about stuff like that. Seems to me my older doodle, Lucy, was like that about certain surfaces at that age... but then she's picky all around. You may want to try picking up the poos you've left out there. That may be why your pup doesn't like it. I've never left poo out and the doods never had a problem figuring out where to go. They've got really sensitive sniffers and believe me, they know where they've gone before. Just a thought...

[Bob Johnston]

you may have to hose off the area maybe its to strong smelling. spray a little white vinegar water mixer on it let it sit then wash off with the hose. Would it be possible to put in a small part of fake grass to give him a little variety. They was clean with the hose and everything drains just like the rocks but looks and feels like grass. If the rocks you have down is like a pea gravel you can put the fake turf right over it and pin it down.

[Jayme K]

Thanks for the suggestions! I will try all of those things. :)