Need house training advice...

gdog · Post by **gdog** » Thu May 04, 2006 10:55 pm

I have a 3 month old Pudelpointer. We have had her four weeks now and the progress is really slow in trying to get her house trained. We are using a crate and most of the time she will not go in her crate.

The problem is peeing. I'll take her outside...let her go....give her treat..happy dog. Come in the house and 5-10 mins later pee's. Take her out....she pee's outside...treat..happy dog (the treat deal is new for this week)

I can take her out time and again...and she still pee's in the house, some times right after she has just been out. She won't crap in the house..just pee's.

I am starting to limit her "free" time in the house. She is going to be spending more time in the crate to hopefully get control of the peeing.

Should there be any discipline to the dog if you catch them in the act of peeing in the house?

Going to keep vigilate with taking her out, but it doesnt seem to be clicking. My last dog (a lab) picked up the house training really quick, but this new little one really has a mind of her own.

Any thoughts/suggestions appreciated.

GSPaddict · Post by **GSPaddict** » Fri May 05, 2006 6:42 am

I think punishing the dog even if you catch him will slow you down since the dog won't know what you want. Maybe I had to pee in the living room and not in the kitchen?

You might want to try putting bells on your door handle and clicker train your dog to ring the bells. When he successfully rings the bell you bring him outside. He will soon learn how easy it can be to get out.

Other things to remember :

-Always use the same door and same spot outside
-Stay outside a while after the dog does his thing so he won't associate his peeing with going back inside.

I also think clicker training could help you solve this. If the dogs knows and loves clicker work, he will soon do anything outside to trigger the click and get his reward. Timing is important, click only the second he pees, he will then know exactly how to get his reward.

My 2 cents..
Pierre

gr_elliott · Post by **gr_elliott** » Fri May 05, 2006 7:47 am

In my limited experiance...I also have a 3 month old pup, I dont let huim have free roam of the house, ever. At night he sleeps in his crate in the our bedroom, during the day he is outside in a kennel. When I get home I excersise him and play with him, then he gets to come inside. I have him on a 6' lead the whole time he is in the house so he cant go far. I just grab a pig ear and let him chew on that all night.

Of course things are not as smooth as they sound. When my wifes cat is around he comes unglued and just wants to chase it all night, those are always interisting nights.

gdog · Post by **gdog** » Fri May 05, 2006 7:53 am

Thanks for the replies.

We don't let her roam freely over the whole house. Doors are closed and a few gates are up to restrict where she can go. Plus we are always with her or in the same room.

I don't think in my situation keeping her on a lead with do much, since she will just squat and pee quicker then you can react.

This morning I had her outside..stayed with her while she took care of business. Brought her in..fed her...let her out again to pee. Then 15 mins later took her out on a short walk.

Bring her back in....drinking some coffee...and bam...she pee's in the house.

Post by **ezzy333** » Fri May 05, 2006 8:15 am

Some puppies will do that . If you can rule out the possibility she has a bladder infection, she will get over it when she has better control of her bladder. Our last pup was a little the same way till she got to be almost 15 weeks, then it all came together.

Ezzy

gdog · Post by **gdog** » Fri May 05, 2006 9:16 am

Not sure about the bladder infection. She pee's quite a few times when I take her out. Not sure if that is just a puppy thing or not. Guess a trip to the Vet with a urine sample couldn't hurt to rule that out. Not seeing any other symptoms.

GSPaddict · Post by **GSPaddict** » Fri May 05, 2006 9:19 am

You also might get other answers from people who experienced the same as you and Ezzy. I think 3 months is not abnormal.

gdog · Post by **gdog** » Fri May 05, 2006 9:24 am

Again...thanks for the feedback.

I think I just need to be persistent and patient. She is making it through the night in her crate without peeing, so I think its a training issue and not a health issue.

Will keep plugging away....

calibra · Post by **calibra** » Fri May 05, 2006 10:01 am

Hi

I know how you feel. Girlfriend has a border collie puppie (red merle) and she's having the same problem.

Rosie caught on within two weeks (not trying to brag - honest). It appears some dogs pick it up quicker than others.

GF is pulling her hair out.

If the dog is outside, it will come in an pooh and pee - work that one out?.

James

gdog · Post by **gdog** » Tue May 16, 2006 5:04 pm

Looks like she has a urinary trac infection. Have her on some antibiotics and will hopefully clear up quickly.

littleking · Post by **littleking** » Wed May 17, 2006 5:10 am

i had the same prob with my brittany... just takes time my friend. shes now 7months old and havent had an accident in quite some time

Post by **kninebirddog** » Wed May 17, 2006 9:39 am

She doesn't understand that peeing is not desired inside as you reward her for peeing she thinks if she pees she gets a treat

That is a big reason why i do not reward a dog for eliminating..
Crate then take out let the dog do its job no rewards rewards are more for the human then the dog
stop the rewards and when she begins to pee in the house quickly pick her up and take her out to the same spot outside no punishment but it will take alot of continuos repetition of this to give the pup the message...and do not reward her

GSPaddict · Post by **GSPaddict** » Wed May 17, 2006 9:49 am

I have to disagree.

Praising or treating the puppy when he eliminates outside will teach him that he should do it when you ask. Since he is eager to please, peeing will be another way to please you (and get a treat!) like when you ask for a sit or lie down. Eventually he will stop doing it inside, not because he his inside but because you didn't ask for it.

Of course I may be wrong, but I saw it working really fast.

Post by **ezzy333** » Wed May 17, 2006 10:01 am

I agree wholeheartedly with Knine. Treats normally make the presenter feel good but the pup is just happy to get attention. A pat on the head or a verbal "Good Girl" will do just as well for the pup and a stern "Bad Dog" will work as well.

I'm not saying treats can never be used to help train but it would be a rare occasion.

Ezzy

GSPaddict · Post by **GSPaddict** » Wed May 17, 2006 10:10 am

I disagree with this too. Hehe you'll start to hate me.

I think a piece of liver or hotdog is far more interesting for a dog than a "good boy". The dog will work a lot harder if he can have a treat and please you in the same time.

Post by **ezzy333** » Wed May 17, 2006 11:43 am

I agree. And the treat I use is the joy of spending time in the field with me, finding a bird, getting to retrieve it occasionally, and the pat and hug it gets when it performs the way I expect. And the wonderful part is the greatest treat a hunting dog can have is to get to hunt. And the greatest treat of a pet is getting to spend time with you doing what it likes to do.

In other words make the dog find it's own treats by performing well. That way I don't have to remember to put a treat in my pocket and the dog won't be disappointed when it retrieves to hand and I don't have a treat for it.

Ezzy

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Thu May 18, 2006 4:36 pm

For my pups to go outside they have to get down the long hallway
and through my bedroom to the back lawn.
This is not a good situation, so I get problems.

What I do is purchase a can or two of foaming carpet shampoo.
A roll of paper towels, and a sponge.

As soon as puppy awakes, outside to toilet. Good puppy.
As soon as puppy has eated ...same.
Every hour unless pup is asleep ...same.
If pup playing vigorously .... every half hour.

I also put paper down in areas that I think might get hit and encourage the pup to use these areas. Clean up soiled paper but leave 1 little bit to attract the puppy back.
As soon as the puppy is old enough to run down the hall and out the door to toilet, and is understanding that this is what is wanted then I remove the paper.

Important is to soak up the puppy pee, then squirt with kitchen cleaner on vinyl or wood to remove scent or use the carpet shampoo. On the carpet I put newspaper over any damp spots left after cleaning to help soak up the moisture.

I leave the outside door open as much as I can so the pup can get out when it needs to. Expect accidents right up to 6 months and with slow pups maybe now and then even up to 8 months, though if the pup can get outside at these ages and does not then It is scolded. If it can't get outside then it is my fault.