[doodleheaven]

Good morning - hope everyone had a great weekend!!

Yesterday we finally had a day with no accidents in the house! Our puppy is 11 weeks old and we have had him for 1 1/2 weeks. He's had approx 3 accidents (pee or poop) each day until yesterday. The trick for us is to tether him or crate him when in the house. He doesn't need to be tethered to me but he is tethered in the same room. He will not go in the go in the house if tethered or crated but as soon as he has a tiny bit of freedom he takes advantage of it as we've learned.

We will continue as we are and hope for more success. My question is this: what is the next step and how do we start to give him more freedom from being leashed in the house? When do we know he is ready for less leash time? I was thinking of doubling the length of the leash first, but then what? I don't want him tethered in the house forever. I feel quite bad that he can't run around when we are home (but I do realize this is part of training).

Thanks everyone!

 

[Guest]

I blocked off the downstairs with baby gates for Maya. She usu prefers to lay right by me and so if she wasn't right there with me I'd listen for her (I have laminate flooring--I can hear her paws). If I didn't hear her for a few seconds off I would be to find her.

She hasn't had any accidents for over a month so I think she is completely housebroke now.

Good luck and Congrats on no accidents!

 

[River Rat]

Eleven weeks is young to expect him to be perfectly clean, but you know that. I've had dogs who figured it out instantly, and then there was Chouette, who seemed to take longer than usual. What appeared to make the difference was catching her in the act and descending on her with firm "No"s. Before that she knew it was good to go outdoors but maybe wasn't too clear on how un-good it was to go inside, and the immediate relief was so reinforcing! And usually I wouldn't realize she'd gone until I found the puddle, and then it was too late to say anything.

I would keep tethering him to you or to something else in the house. We had friends who kept their German shepherd crated most of the time until he was housebroken, although I'm not sure how they knew when that was! Probably the trick's going to be to establish a schedule and lengthen the time between visits outside, and then you can try a bit more freedom. I always took Chouette out right after she was released from the crate, had been playing hard (that usually seemed to trigger piddles) or had eaten a meal. And I also took her out every hour or so just to make sure.

Lots of luck, and this too shall pass!

Leslie

 

[DebBrown]

I also used baby gates. At first I always gated in the same room with me. Eventually I expanded to let him have access to the rooms he most often frequents - my office and the kitchen. These are rooms he had been "clean" in for a matter of days.

I found that new rooms required new potty training. :roll: You'll have to slowly expand his access but don't rush it. I'm sure he wants to be with you anyway so its not really a hardship on him to be kept close.

Oh... and congratulations on your accident free day!

Deb

 

[KGarro]

My best advice for housebreaking is to praise, praise, praise when he goes outside. Until Uma was 6 months or so my husband and I would seriusly go crazy when she peed or pood outside. She loved it and it was VERY effective for us.

 

[lmtoth2]

I agree w/giving more freedom slowly. We would use baby gates too and shut all the bedroom doors. We also sometimes would gate the upstairs off all together. Rule of thumb - if Dexter wasn't within our sight, he was likely off getting into trouble (i.e peeing somewhere he shouldn't). So I would consider 1) giving a bit more freedom and 2) watching him like a hawk

We didn't really trust Dexter until 6-7 months.

 

[Beardedlady]

We got Lucy when she was 11 weeks. We started with using gates so that she only had access to one room. If she had an accident inside (it's very important that you catch them in the act) I would give a firm NO! and immediately take her outside. I would also be sure to take her out at least once an hour and after hard play, a meal, or if she had been in her crate. It's time consuming at first to be so attentive but she was completely housebroken within about 3 weeks. When she did go outside I would always give her a treat and tons of praise and call it by name. She will now poop or pee on request which is helpful before a walk or if we have to go somewhere and I know she will be in her crate for a bit. She was gradually given more rooms to explore although she still does not have access to the upstairs. Too many things in kids rooms to tempt her! Best of luck. It will come (pardon the pun )