Potty training failure:(. I don't know what else to do, please help.

[Justin]

Potty training failure :(. I'm having the hardest time house training our puppy. I take her out all the time, and I don't leave water out all the time. She is on Royal Canin urinary health dog food to prevent infections. I'm at a loss. She pees on the sofa and the rug. My house smells like pee ALL the time. It's like I can't ever keep it clean before there is another accident. I have never seen her do it, so that's weird to me. Please help! Any suggestions or advice? Belle turns 6 months tomorrow and begins puppy school next week.

[Justin]

I think you are right about taking her back to the vet.   She was just there to get her stitches out from her spay about 3 weeks ago, but I don't think he did a uti check.  She had a uti and crystals before, thats why she is on RX Royal Canin for urinary health. Her food is pretty expensive and she has to have a RX for me to get it.

You are also correct in that I have to be more observant and diligent about watching her ALL the time.  I probably trust her way too much. It's so hard to keep her tethered to me or crated while our 7 yr old golden is running around unsupervised.

She also CHEWS EVERYTHING.  I'm feel like I'm not being the best puppy dad.

[SoSa]

You're doing just fine. Just read through some of my discussions. I've been at my wits end many times. You're not alone. Many of us are going through the same issues. I was just telling my neighbor that our puppy was doing well with potty training and since I said that, he's had three accidents, including one today. Thankfully, today's accident was on the hardwood and not on the carpet. And he's tethered all of the time, even when he has accidents. It happens. We just do our best to get him outside when he needs to go. It can really be exhausting going out ALL OF THE TIME. So it's usually when we take our sweet time getting him out that he'll pee in the house, usually on the carpet. I get down on my hands and knees with the enzymatic cleaner, I can swear I still smell pee. Ace was also a chewer. Thankfully he has calmed that down a lot, but not without a lot of frustration and correction from us. We've been close to giving up many times, but you'll see things do improve and I can say that while still facing challenges with Ace. :-) I bet you're a great puppy dad.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I completely understand how difficult it is to have to crate a puppy when your older dog is uncrated. That actually was my downfall with potty training Oscar when he was little. He and Lucy, 3 years older, LOVED playing and that really was all they did when Oscar was out of his crate. Problem was he'd run into the family room real fast and take a squat and run back and often I didn't even know he'd done it until I found the puddle hours later. It wasn't until I got a dose of 'tough love' from one of the members here that I finally got with the program. I was forever complaining about how hard it was to potty train Oscar in comparison to Lucy. Guess the member got tired of me complaining :) Anyway, after that he really made a turnaround in his training and it was just a matter of days before he figured it out. That was when he was 4-1/2 months old. When he was out and allowed to play with Lucy, I was right there sitting next to them so I could watch him like a hawk. If I was called away for any reason Oscar went straight into his crate. It wasn't easy keeping them separated, and in all honesty, I often put Lucy into her crate (which sits next to his) at the same time, just so Oscar wouldn't be distressed about her being out (she loves her crate, thankfully). It was all necessary to go to that next level. Good luck!

[Alisha T.]

Hi there, I have a 7 month old mini Goldendoodle and can totally relate to the potty training frustration.  I am curious about the UTI issue as well.  From what I understand with both people and pets it's always important to get a professional diagnosis and if the results aren't clear get a second opinion and never self medicate.  Now with all of the UTI discussion put to the side I will give you the advice my brother gave me with the house training. First and maybe most important is you need a crate.  I know your dog might not like and there is going to be a whole lot of barking/whining in the beginning but this is by far the first step to success and not using one is only an option if you literally put your puppy in a baby sling and wear it around everywhere you go.  If you have a normal life that is not realistic so the crate is a must have.  Second, if you feel bad leaving the puppy in there so much of the time (like I did) then do like I have had to do and put her on a leash and literally tie the thing to you.  Every half an hour or so take her outside and give her the chance to go so she gets not only every possible chance and also gets the idea that we don't poop where we live,ie inside the house!  She still will spend fair amounts of time in the crate because it just isn't possible for her to always be at your side and no matter what, even when you have been doing really well and she is going every time you take her out do not trust her for even one minute alone.  It only takes one accident to set you back because you really have to get it set into her mind that the only place to go is outside.  Taking her out frequently, as I said every 30 minutes, will give you the peace of mind knowing that she has in fact emptied her bladder.  I would do this night and day for 30 days and then give her ten or so minutes of free time in the house but only when you are right with her to catch her in the act should she go back to her former ways. I had a cold recently and although I had finally got her to the point of being 100 percent going outside with no accidents it only took one day of letting the kids keep track of her and not myself that she had a couple of accidents due to them not watching her and following her cues as to when she needs to go.  I still even though I am putting more and more trust in her when we are home alone I still take her out frequently even if she maybe doesn't even need to go.  Peeing outside also is rewarded with a treat and since she loves the treats she will force herself to pee I am sure when we go out just to get it. I don't let her graze eat and water is put up at 7pm.  And really if your puppy is peeing on the couch and you aren't sitting on the couch with her then she isn't being closely supervised.  I know this seems like a lot of work but once my brother told me what to do and I stuck with it I realized all this in and out and keeping me at my side is far less work than cleaning up pee all day long.  As far as dribbling when she gets excited ours still does that and what I am going to start doing is taking her out to go (even if she just went recently before) when I know something is going to excite her for example having someone come over.  As far as diet goes everyone has their own opinion but what is working for us using the RAW diet.  I get the one that is in the fridge at Petsmart but there are other types as well that are worth looking into.  Again, everyone will have their own opinion but I think reading up on pet nutrition is the best first step.  Don't be frustrated, yours isn't a lost cause I promise!

[Ona & Buster]

My baby is 18 months now but was potty trained at 5 months completely. He had the run of the house but was never allowed on the furniture and if there was an accident we put him in the crate for about 10 mins then took him out. After a few times he began to ask to go out and has done so ever since. I too used Royal Canine but never any specialty version.
Do you crate her at all?

[Justin]

She is crated every night for bed, but I don't crate her during the day.  I used to leave her in the bathroom with the baby gate up and she has never pottied in there. I thought she would be alright downstairs at night when we are home, but I guess not.  In addition to her peeing all the time, SHE CHEWS EVERYTHING. This puppy has chewed every baseboard corner, stair corner, chair leg, etc.  I use "no chew" spray, and it helps for the moment.  She has plenty of chew toys, but she would rather destroy the house i guess.  I love her, and I know it's "growing pains" but I am on the verge of puppy boarding school for a few weeks.  Any suggestions for the chewing?