Potty Training an older (8 month old) otherwise NOT trained puppy

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

This is Dexter's saving grace, he is a total love bug and his sister LOVES him to pieces. This morning he is in the proverbial dog house again. After being outside 3 times, morning at 8, before breakfast and 9 and then again at 10 he walked into the living room, lifted his leg and peed on a toy. UGH!

We are clearly not doing something correctly. We tried doing what worked wonderfully with Daisy, treating and taking out constantly (see above) and he just does not seem to be getting it totally. All the accidents happen on our days home. in his crate During the week he holds it for 4 hours, gets a potty break and then 4 hours later we are home and gets a potty break. He was heavily treated in the beginning, he has been with us since January 1st. We tapered the treating because, well he seemed to start to understand. I feel like we must be missing signals but I don't know what they are.

I may try potty bells, anyone have good experience with this? If so please let me know how you go about it.

Dexter is going to be 8 months old on the 23rd, he did not have training like we gave Daisy from the start so I think that has a lot to do with it.

Luckily, for the most part "solid matter" accidents are better under control, though they do happen if we aren't diligent.

Suggestions please, my carpet cleaner is getting a workout.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Oh Lisa! I thought Dexter was perfect. I can tell how much you love this boy to tolerate his "un-potty trainability". I'm glad that Karen help for you. She is such a great source of wisdom.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Bonnie, he is perfect in every other way.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't know what happened to my other response! 

Oh, Dexter, it's a good thing you are so sweet!

I was thinking maybe it was marking, since he's lifting his leg to pee on an object, and he's not neutered yet. But then I saw it also happens with poop, so probably not. 

Are you using an odor neutralizer like Nature's Miracle on the accidents?

When you actually catch him having an accident, do you verbally correct him?

What has worked best for me in the past is to catch them in the act, give a sharp verbal correction (not to scare or shame them but to startle/stop them and make it clear that they are doing something that definitely doesn't please you, something like "Eh Eh!") and then grab them and get them outside ASAP. If they finish outside, they are treated and praised to the moon. The message is "Indoor potty, bad! Outdoor potty, good!"

I hope that helps a little.

Ialso know that he didn't have a good start on his potty training. If I remember correctly, I think the previous owner stood in the doorway with Dexter outside on a Flexi-lead. :( 

Poor guy, I'm so glad he has you and Daisy now to help him learn what to do. 

Read more here: http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/trainingmindsets/forum/topics/pot...

Oh, Dexter, it's a good thing you are so sweet!

I was thinking maybe it was marking, since he's lifting his leg to pee on an object, and he's not neutered yet. But then I saw it also happens with poop, so probably not. 

Are you using an odor neutralizer like Nature's Miracle on the accidents?

When you actually catch him having an accident, do you verbally correct him?

What has worked best for me in the past is to catch them in the act, give a sharp verbal correction (not to scare or shame them but to startle/stop them and make it clear that they are doing something that definitely doesn't please you, something like "Eh Eh!") and then grab them and get them outside ASAP. If they finish outside, they are treated and praised to the moon. The message is "Indoor potty, bad! Outdoor potty, good!"

I hope that helps a little.

Ialso know that he didn't have a good start on his potty training. If I remember correctly, I think the previous owner stood in the doorway with Dexter outside on a Flexi-lead. :( 

Poor guy, I'm so glad he has you and Daisy now to help him learn what to do. 

[Adina P]

I think your other response was in the training group....cross posted.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Yep, forgot my way!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

He has all of us on his side, stinker.

I really think missed signals are what is going on although he should be able to hold it longer than an hour don't you think?

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

JMO, but I would start as if he is a brand new puppy.  Out every 1/2 hr-45, out after waking up, out after eating.  Lots of praise and lots of treats.  You may have to tether him to you if you are "done" with the clean-ups.  Ditto what Karen said on the enzyme cleaner!  Being he is older, he should catch on quickly and of course, have more bladder control.

 Potty bells work great.  Ours are hung on a back french door...the door we use the most to go outside.  Each time you exit the door with your pup, have him nose or paw at the bells.  We found nose is best, since you don't want them scratching the door with their nails. Enzo caught on incredibly fast....hopefully, your guy does too!

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Here are our potty bells: bought at Target!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

That is how we approached it from the beginning, he was doing well. I am thinking missed signals. Going back is so difficult, he is too cute to keep in a crate to much. Feel horrible putting him in there on weekends since he is in there 8 hours during the week with a potty break in between. :-(

[Christine & Shelby]

I trained my Shelby to use potty bells and they are wonderful - we take them when we travel and thus, I always know when she needs to go out.   This was my approach and it worked for a friend who I coached on training her dog. 

Hang the potty bells.   Every time you go out the door with the dog(s) (I mean EVERY SINGLE TIME) - ring the bells yourself and say "_______ out!"   I said Shelby Out.   It took my Shelby about a day or two to catch on.   Then the really important thing is once one of the dogs rings the bells - you must immediately go to the door say your phrase "______ out" and go outside with them to verify they do their business.   Now - our doodles are smart and will realize they can ring the bell to go outside to sniff, play, lounge, etc.  So - if you want it to work for potty training - you've got to let them out every single time. 

I am fortunate to have a good security fence, so I would let Shelby go out on her own once she was well trained and I knew she'd do her business without me having to watch and verify. 

Good luck... I love the potty bells :)   I actually use a stuffed animal type of potty bell like this one (5 years later the elastic is worn out so it is one long stretched out puppy with bells on the end):

http://www.amazon.com/Ethical-Gotta-Bells-Potty-Trainer/dp/B0018IKO...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I understand how the bells give the dog a way to let you know that he has to go, but I don't see how they teach the dog NOT to go in the house. I really feel that the very first step has to be the dog understanding that going potty indoors is not acceptable, and that he must do his business outside.. Once he grasps that, I'm sure the bells are helpful to prevent the accidents that occur when the dog needs to go and can't alert anyone to that fact. But in this case, Dexter isn't having accidents because nobody is letting him out fast enough; he doesn't seem to fully understand that that pottying indoors is not acceptable.  Dogs aren't born knowing that, lol. To them, going indoors is the same as going outdoors, until somebody teaches them otherwise. 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Good point.