Hi all,
We have a 9 week old puppy and are having an absolute nightmare trying to toilet train him.
We are putting newspaper down but this is pretty much hit and miss as to whether or not he will do his business on it.
I let him out in the garden as much as poss but he still keeps leaving me... er... presents on the floor!
Another thing is he will not walk at all on the lead. I have just recently started taking him out but it is a battle everytime and I usually end up haviing to pick him up and take him home as we never get further than the end of the road... even out of the gate is a battle!
He will just lie down and even if I pull him he will not get up, just be dragged along the pavement (I obviously don't continue to do this!)
Any help and advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
pinkilady Sun 13/07/08 22:50
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are there any dog training classses you could sign up for later as you might have a handful there.
I am sure there will be expert advice on its way.
Have fun with your pup.
Sorry this was useless in terms of advice, I just love the pets section!!!1
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Question Author
ha ha, don't worry, it wasn't useless! : )
A dog training idea may be a good idea actually, though I am not sure they would teach a dog not to poop in the house??? Hmm, definately worth looking into though.
Thanks.
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Toilet training is almost constant to begin with, your puppy needs to be taken out in the garden every time he wakes up/finishes playing/finishes eating or drinking and in between times as well, basically every 2 hours, you have to stay with him in the garden until he performs so that you can praise him, that way he will know he has done right, don't scold him when you find a mess in the house, unless you actually see him do it, and then only say a very firm NO! under no circumstances smack him or rub his nose in it.
As regards to walking, in my opinion he is way too young to be going out on the road yet, lead walk him in the garden to get him used to being on a lead, and don't take him out for a walk until he is a few weeks older and if he hasn't had his 2nd injections then he definitely should not be leaving the garden, not until at least a week afterwards.
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Someone I know had this problem, she was advised not to wash the area where the dog had messed with bleach, as it has amonia in it, the same as what is in urine and they can still smell the scent which makes them think its ok to do it again, clean the mess up with washing powder, it works! also regular trips to the garden...dunno about the walking problem though, thats a tough one!
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Hi from a fellow puppy owner. For the toilet training I would say three things - patience, vigilence, consistency. Watch your puppy - just before he goes he will sniff the floor and circle round. If you can catch him when he starts to sniff, take him straight to the paper or outside - I would think one or other to start with rather than confuse him with both - then put him on the paper and give your command - mine is Go wee wees - keep saying this command over and over and if he obliges give him a little treat and lots of praise. Have a tub of puppy treats to hand. If you leave the soiled paper down that will smell strongly to him and remind him of what he is supposed to do there. Also if he manages to poo there I would leave it there just for a little while for the same reason. Don't know if experts would agree but I think it helps to remind them what they are supposed to do in that area.
Keep watching and be consistent. Take him to the paper often even if he doesn't go every time. It will take time but I'm sure your puppy will learn.
For the walking problem - try to remember your puppy does not understand what is going on and why he is on the lead. Put the lead on him and let him hold the end in his mouth and take himself for a walk. Do this indoors and let him have plenty of play with it. You could hold it lightly and give him lots of fuss and treats. He just needs to get used to it. Also what about a harness. We found when our 3 yr old dog was a puppy he was a lot better on a harness rather than a collar. I'm sure he doesn't need lots of walks as yet as he will get very tired if you go far.
I hope this helps. My little puppy has loads of accidents too but I do keep on putting her on the puppy pad and also take her down for a wee in the night if she becomes restless. So far she hasn't wet her bed which is encouraging.
Suzi x
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if he's nine weeks old, how long have you had him? He shouldn't be on pavements outside at all until his vaccinations are complete...he's a baby for goodness sake!! Start him on the collar in the house, when he is happy with that put a lead on him in the house or garden and keep him with you with a toy or food treat. Carry him out side to see the big world in your arms or take him in the car...in a small crate or have someone hold him while you drive, sit in carparks and get him out of the crate so he can see cars moving THEN when he has had all his vacs he will be ready to go out for TINY short walks on the lead with loads of praise and encouragement and NO PULLING ALONG
personally i wouldn't paper or pad train as i think it teaches them its okay to go in the house.
Here's a method of housetraining that works
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Animals-and-Nat ure/Question569379.html
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Hi Wolfgang, read that link which was very interesting and could also be of help to me with my 10 week old pup. The reason I am using puppy pads indoors is because she has not completed her jabs and due to the high population of foxes, badgers etc (we live next to a nature reserve) I was advised not to put my puppy on the ground outside until she has all her vaccinations. (Another week yet).
I was thinking of putting a pad outside once she can go out and letting her go on it before finally getting used to going outside.
Also thinking of the question author with perhaps the same problem.
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fair comment Suzi, except she is leaving him out in the garden and taking him out on walks so I don't think she has your circs....I am worried about this little dog tho!
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Question Author
Hi Suzi,
Thankyou for your helpful comments and advice. I am now sticking with the newspaper indoors as, like you said, I don't want to confuse the little chap.
This is our first dog and unfortunately the people who we got him off have not really offered us any kind of advice or help so I am having to learn from scratch.
he went on the paper today and I gave him LOADS of praise and made sure I had the treats ready!
With regards to the walking issue, I don't really take him far anyway, just up the road and back (it's a pretty short road too!)
I have left his collar on him today so he will hopefully get used to that a bit more. Have also had the lead on him when I took him out in the garden so hopefully that will ease him into it a bit more too.
Thanks again,
Pinki.
x
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Question Author
Hi Illyria54,
Thanks for your great advice also. I have decided to concentrate more on the newspaper as apposed to trying to get him to do his business outside as, like stated above, I think it maybe too confusing for him.
I never scold him when he does a poop in the house, I just clean it up and that's that. However, if I catch him doing it then I do firmly say no and pick him up and run him over to the newspaper.
I am sure we'll get there in time! : )
Thanks again.
Pinki.
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Question Author
Woofgang,
er... 'thanks' for your comments, although I wasn't asking for critisism, more help and advice which is what I assumed this site was for??!!!
Firstly, we have had him for a week and were told by the breeders that we COULD take him outside for walks! How the hell am I supposed to know any different if this is my first pup?!
With regards to the walking, I was hardly saying that I took him for mile-long hikes, I was saying that I have taken him to the end of the road and back.... and not a very long road at that!
Also, with regards to your comment to Suzi about me 'LEAVING HIM OUT IN THE GARDEN' and 'taking him for WALKS' I was just wondering WHICH THREAD YOU ARE ACTUALLY READING as I don't seem to recall saying that I left him out in the garden at all?
I TAKE HIM OUT on a regular basis and stay out there right by his side! I appreciate the fact that he is a a very young puppy and therefore I would never just let him out in the garden to get on with it himself!
As for the WALKS, again?????????!!!! If you read my post PROPERLY then you will realise I said I take him to the end of the road and back! Seeing as how my front door is only about 5 houses down I don't really think that would class as taking him for WALKS would it?!
Oh and another thing, to say you are 'worried about this little dog' is absolutely ridiculous!!
I can assure you WOOFGANG that this dog has all the love and attention any dog could possibly want! He is well cared for and I am mearly trying to do my best.
Like I say, I was told by the breeders that it was (and I quote) 'absolutely fine to take him out when we got him home'. Surely I cannot be blamed for believing what a breeder has told me? I assumed that they were the ones in the know?! Clealry not though and now that I am aware of all this information I will not be taking the dog out at all until he is a bit older.
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I remember toilet training Pickles - its hard work!!
Sounds like you are doing things right - its just patience and eventually he will get the hang of it.
I took Pickles to puppy training as soon as she had had all her injections and it was great for socialising and walking on the lead as well as meeting other puppy owners.
You will get there in the end - I spent hours early morning and late at night in my dressing gown in the garden!!
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Hi pinklady
I sympathsise completely. My pup is now 15 weeks and I cant believe how long its taken to get him house trained! We did everything right but its taken almost two months. I think when there so little its hard for them to hold it so even once they learn where to go they cant always make it in time!
Good luck
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Question Author
Thanks to Sally and Sammc, both comments are greatly appreciated! : )
Pinki.
x
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pinkilady I misread "lets" for "leaves" and for that I apologise. I am still concerned however that you don't seem to have done any research before getting your pup. I say this because you appear to have had poor advice from the breeder and taken it without question...I am also a bit worried that the breeder didn't pick up that you are new to having a pup and point you in the right direction for education.
I honestly didn't intend to insult you but I did intend to get my point over clearly! Pups are fragile little people and its easy to give them and yourselves lifelong problems by mishandling their care when they are babies.....and TBH I care more about the welfare of the pup than I do about the feelings of the owner!
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Hi pinkilady
We should keep on comparing notes. My puppy who is called Pebbles is still absolutely hopeless - misses probably 50% of the time but we will keep on persevering. Let me know how you get on too.
Don't get upset about the apparent criticism. Its clear they only want to help but its hard when you are trying to do everything right.
Suzi xx
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Question Author
Hi Suzi,
Yes that would be great to compare, it's useful to have someone who knows exactly what I'm battling with!
he has done really well today actually, just a couple of accidents but mostly on the paper.
I have now cornered a bit of the garden off for him as apposed to letting him just go anywhere. It is just a small area outside the bag door now with chippings. Will ease him further in once he has had his second injections which is on Monday.
Hows pebbles getting on today??
x
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Question Author
Hi Woofgang,
I apologise if I seemed a little irate in my last message but this was because I felt asthough you were insulting me and having a go at me. Maybe you were but I just felt asthough I had done nothing wrong and that my actions with regards to 'walking' the dog were down to poor information given to me by the so-called breeder.
I now know that I was clearly wrong to assume that these people knew what they were talking about and, just because they are breeders, doesn't mean they know best or will give me the correct information.
I was told by them that I could take the pup out as soon as I got him home. I didn't do this as I felt he was way to small to be putting a lead on him but now I obviously realise that he is still too young for this.
I also did not know that he shouldn't be going out until after his second jabs... again, something i was mislead about by the 'breeder'.
He is booked in for his 2nd jabs on Monday and I will now be keeping him safely indoors as much as possible.
I am still taking him out in the mornings, during the day and late at night for his toileting but have secured an area of the garden off so he can't go too far... though I am still stood next to him at all times.
It's real bad (not to mention worrying for all the other pups they had) that the breeders don't seem to really give a damn about the welfare of their dogs, if they did then surely they would have given me proper guidance and information.
I was informed by the vet today that generally pups are kept with their mothers until they are 12-13 weeks old. I got mine when he was 8 weeks old as I was told by the breeders that this is when he would be 'ready'. This has really worried me all day and, although I have tried to contact them, they have not returned my calls.
I am thinking of reporting them to the website where they advertised the dogs and advertise themselves as breeders too.
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I wouldnt worry to much about your little one, I brought Sonic home at 8 weeks and hes doing brilliant. I do agree though that its worying the breeder provided so little assistance.
Sonic has his first swim yeaterday he loved it, keep us informed as to how your fella gets on
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