How To Re-Potty Train A 10 Month Old Doodle??

[Mishon]

Hi everyone, I have been reading through all of the discussions regarding potty training, and haven't really seemed to see anything similar to what I am looking for. I recently adopted my 10 month old goldendoodle from a family who said he was fully potty trained, but of course I have been cautious, and he has been having accidents on our carpeted living room floor, and I am not seeing the signs of him wanting to go out-- and we have been practically living outside, as I want him to get over this! He goes all night without an accident, but he just seems to sneak off at odd times and do this, is there a good way to break him of this habit? Or is this a case where I should re-crate train him? ALL advice is appreciated!!!

[Adina P]

Mishon,

In many ways, you will have to treat your 10 month old doodle just as if he were a puppy. It sounds like you're doing right thing by taking him out often. The only thing that's missing in your routine is crating or tethering.

Not all dogs gives signals before they have to go pee. None of mine do! The only time that my Rosco, for instance, does his little circle dance is before plopping down to take a nap.

So anytime that you cannot keep both eyes on your goldendoodle... He needs to be in a crate. Or you can tether him to you by putting his leash handle through your belt so that he is hooked up to you and can't wander around.

Have you cleaned the potty accident areas with an odor neutralizer like "nature's miracle"?

[Mishon]

LOL- yes I have cleaned the spots- the funny thing is with that he is randomly doing it in about every other area he can think about, so i made sure to get a good odor/stain removal with enzymes, I had wonder about the crate training, as he is quite large, and so wants to be with us ALL of the time, I thought he might think we were punishing him when and if I start that! But the advice is good, so I will have to be tough :) and give it it my best! I am hoping it refreshes Oliver's memory and just clicks with him, thanks for the response!!!

[Adina P]

Well...if you teach him to like his crate gradually..it will not seem like punishment nor that YOU are purposely making his life miserable =) Again the MOST important thing is that he is kept from sneaking off where you can't see him. If that means holding on to a leash or gating him into a room with you OR crating...any of those will work. My dog is quite large (27.5" tall to the shoulder AND 85 lbs) and he fits into a crate just fine. I have a friend with a HUGE great dane and he also has a crate.

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

Mishon,

Adina is so right - making sure you have an eye on your doodle is key. I don't know about your house/apt set-up, but we went out and purchased a couple of baby gates (which are easily removable, and swing on a hinge) to block off parts of the house so our doodle couldn't roam out of our site.

Done right, a crate becomes your doodle's "safe" place - his or her little den. Our doodle Penny is four years old and even though she has complete run of the house now, she still loves her crate as her place to "hang out." We put towels on the bottom and along the sides to make it cozy and snug, and she loves it. And she weighs 62 lbs!

Finally, remember that it takes a LONG time sometimes to potty train - most dog trainers will tell you it takes a full YEAR before the pup is trained.

Good luck!!

[Karen Gaffney]

From my observation many young dogs are trained in their own homes, but not in other peoples. It may be that your pup has had little experience in other spaces besides his previous home. He will probably train quickly once he gets clear boundaries where he is expected not to go. We got Cirrus at 5 months and he had not been trained. He learned super fast!

KG

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

When he goes in the house is it in the same places? My son's Doberman as an older pup like yours,would poop in the dining room in two places because didn't like to go out if the grass was too wet!! I know I cleaned the areas well because (I did it) as well as having a professional come. It was the exact places he used. Finally I got my brain working and put a chair over each of the spots and that was the end of his ever going in the house. This is probably not your guy's problem, but just in case......

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

The first thing to ask is what surface did the dog use to potty on before: grass, dirt, concrete. Dogs are more sensitive to the surface their feet are on that the actual inside - outside thing. If you have a different outside potty surface it is probably adding to the confusion. Also, I think it is probably harder to retrain a 10 month old as they don't have to go as often. This is going to sound riduculous, but if you could have another older dog come over and play outside with him until they have both peed several times, it might help you establish the idea. Dogs like to pee over another dog's pee, especially in their own yard. Additionally I would keep your puppy tied to you at all times, so he cannot sneak off. Take him outside every couple of hours to pee and give him five minutes. Tie him to you again and repeat. His sneaking off is a pretty good indicator that he is potty trained and he is marking your house as his. He would just pee in front of you if he had no idea about potty training. This has worked for me when we adopted an older dog once. Also my son just adopted two rescue dogs and it took only one day to teach them to go outside because that is where the already resident dog goes. We were visiting for the weekend so we took turns on potty patrol and it was done in one day, although we and then my son remained vigilant a little longer.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

We are away in Florida on a working vacation. Samantha is used to P&P on the grass at home. When we are at the office, which is everyday at home, she will only pee if it is an emergency on her part. She would rather wait for to go home or the park. But she can hold it if she wants to.
Now on vacation we are in an apartment. The first few days where very confusing for her. P&P on a leash- Oh, heck no. Her bladder had to be bursting for her to go. Then we found a dog park and we went so I could feel better about her kidneys. Everytime she P&P on a leash, out came the cookies as a reward. It is a little better but it still is a bit difficult. She likes grass and there isn't a whole lot of it here.
My suggestion is to keep himn tethered to you in the house, give tons of praise and treats when he goes outside, and do the same routine as you would do with a younger puppy - before and after play, nap, eating. Maybe that will help.
Good Luck!!

[Mishon]

Well, he came with a large crate (so I have been using it today-- when he isnt able to be "with" me (or I cant give him direct attention-- lol both eyes, and so far so good, I have taken him out and he goes, (like a very good boy) and always gets a treat!! Someone made a good comment about him sneaking off, as he must know better or be trained or he wouldn't sneak off- I didnt think of that! We do have other older dogs, but Oliver almost seems oblivious to them and what they do outdoors as he loves the snow and justs plays and plays! Although he knows the spots where he is supposed to go outdoors and doesn't have an issue with that.... it has only been a week since we have gotten him, and in seven days I think we have had 6 pee accidents ( I would much rather call them accidents than on purpose...lol) and always in the living room- but never twice in the same area.... so I will just keep working with him and hopefully for him to it will click! THANKS to all of you for your input and advice! We have an older dog and it has been a very long time since I have had to potty train a pup!

[Mishon]

I just wanted to let everybody know, I have been doing the kennel training and tethering poor Oliver to me ever since I posted this (And THANKS to everybody!!!) I have given Oliver a little more roaming in the house-- just to see what would happen --- and we have been "pee free" lol for two days! So maybe it just clicked with him and all he needed was a refresher! Although I am still monitoring his behavior when he walks away as I dont want to speak to soon! But I just thought I would give a little update!!!