Slight venting session

[Leita Hagemann]

Our puppy Denali is 14 weeks. he is quick as a whip most of the time. He knows all of his basic commands and does them very well - especially with a treat in hand. He also can go potty on command - he does the sniff the ground circle circle squat right after I say the word. I take him out all the time - after naps, after meals, before and after playtime. However he still goes inside. And its not “I cant hold it” pee its “Im bored” or “ehh i sort of have to go” pee. We have never had a day without an accident. Three accidents a day is not uncommon. Five it typical. one is a great day. He seems to have no concept of inside is bad and outside is ok. He has never gone in his crate or the kitchen. He has gone in my bed (#1 and #2) while I was in it. That was a fun morning. He also doesnt stop when we clap. We can yell “Hey!” and clap and move towards him when he is peeing and he doesnt stop. he sometimes moves making a pee line in the carpet rather than a circle. Also scooping him up doesnt make him stop either he just continues to pee on you and all down your leg. He goes sometimes no more than 5 minutes after going outside and going outside. Sometimes when he pees inside its just drips - like he doesnt even have to go but hes trying to go. What am I doing wrong? I feel like we will have a 2 year old dog that still goes in the house... Ugh!!!! I am so at the end of my rope with house breaking. Up to two accidents today and we spent over 6 hours outside.....

[Malenie Piscetelli]

You not doing anything wrong. He is still a puppy. Lucy finally potty trained until she was 6 mos old. I don't think it's a good idea to go to your bedroom yet. I won't let Lucy go to my bedroom yet until she is house broken. Lucy uses her potty bells every day. It does work very well. Lucy does use crate for sleeping at night and going out. Remember it does take time. Just like having a child. Good luck!!! :)

[Tracey & Spike]

Oh my! Have faith! It WILL get better. And fast!! Spike was the EXACT same way. Literally. What worked for us is the potty bells. That and taking him out on a leash. Every time he rang... which he picked up on FAST I took him out on a leash. Basically it was once or twice an hour at first. When he went outside and did his thing we threw a marching band, firework launching worthy party. I swear I don't know why my neighbours haven't had us commited. We immediately followed up with treats as soon as we came in. Immediatly after the deed was done. When he did have an oops in the house I scolded. Got him to the bell door. Used his paw to ring the bell and took him outside. No treats. No party. He went from having 5+ accidents a day in the house 1-2 in roughly two hard weeks. He's now 6mths old and we are accident free. 6 glorious weeks and counting. It does take time. Their bladders need to grow and strengthen. I know and totally understand how frustrating it is. But trust us! It WILL get better!! Also..... Make sure to hit the accident spots with an enzyme cleaner. Reduce the temptation to repeat :)

[Tanya and IsaBella]

Going frequently as you describe can be a symptom of a urinary tract infection. If he were mine I would have a urine sample tested ASAP, he may be suffering and not able to hold it.

[Abigail *George & Juno*]

I was going to say this! Our puppy was going out ALL the time. She had an infection. Antibiotics cleared it right up. Rule out illness before you get frustrated!

[Helga, Nimbus, Sierra, Clooney]

First of all: Love the name! Denali was on my list, too. I was pretty frustrated at times, too. Nimbus seemed to take a lot longer than my German Shepherd.We also use the potty bells. He learned how to use them really fast. After a while, of course, he'll just ring them because he wants to go outside, not because he has to go to the bathroom.

Confining him to a certain area (that you can easily clean) definitely helps until he is housebroken. Always have treats in your pocket, so he understands what he's being rewarded for.

Hang in there, it WILL get better.

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Hang in there! Our doodle wasn't fully trained until 5 months. Is does take time, one day the light will just go on and the house breaking will be a distant memory!

[Jenny Williams]

I think it may be that you are giving him too much freedom. Crate training, in my opinion, is essential to making them understand the difference. The less accidents you can have inside, and the more success outside, the better. We have a 16 week old that is still exclusively crate trained. We take her outside to potty as soon as she gets out, she gets 20-30 minutes play time (supervised) in the house, she goes back out to potty, and then she is crated for 1-2 hours. I think if you get stricter with the crate training, those indoor accidents will be minimal, and you will also not be as frustrated.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

#1 -- I also would recommend a trip to the Vet.  I sort of disagree that this really isn't Normal for a 14 week puppy if you are take him out all the time as you say.  I think there is probably a medical issue, unless?

#2 -- Are you using a product like Nature's Miracle to  neutralize any and every place he has ever peed in the house?  If you aren't you will continue to have this problem.  You need to be sure you are using it and that you are soaking the areas of the carpet where he goes.  You need to remove the smell.

Pee accidents can be signs of so many different illnesses, UTI being the most common.  I think a Vet visit is in order.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

14 weeks is still very young ....but , a UTI is not out of the question. If it were me, I would have this checked.
Also..he may be a pup who goes more than once in an outing. Keep him out longer, after the initial pee. Enzo was a " double pee'er".... Would go, right after we got I to the house. I found keeping her out longer and giving her the chance to go again, did the trick. I would also start getting him out at a shorter time span. If your going out every 45 minutes, cut it to every 1/2 hr.
Cleaning: after accidents, are you cleaning the spot with an enzyme cleaner? Pups are great at returning to the last spot they pee'd on. Not all cleaners are created equal, and even tho you think you cleaned well, the scent may still be apparent to your pup. A good enzyme cleaner will take care of that.
House breaking is indeed frustrating to even the most seasoned puppy owner. In a few months from now...norm being 5-6 months...this will all be a memory! ;)

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

Bruin has been a triple pee'er. He peed a little, walked around, peed some more and then. The big run around finale and peed again LOL. I could guarantee if I didn't let him go three times we would have an accident. He just turned 20 weeks and hasn't had an accident in at least a month. Hang in there it will get better. I would still go to the vet just in case.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

LOL...we have single pee'ers, a double pee'er and a triple pee'er...do I hear a quad ' pee'er????
;)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I must have been spoiled ... 5 accidents a day being typical at this age,  just seems like a lot to me particularly when you spend so much time outside.