Toilet Training

[kristin_e102]

Hey,

Probably a question that has several answers but I am tearing me hair out because it seems I cannot do anything right! My lab is 12 weeks old and we have had him for 4 weeks - I have been putting him outside every half hour to an hour as well as after sleeping, playing, eating etc.. However, he is not getting the picture that outside is best place to do business!! I will take him outside and sometimes he will go but other times he will come back inside and do it inside! He is crate trained although we have had some issues with that as well (which I have posted about and he is getting better)...

Please help! Im open to further suggestions about toilet training or just a general time frame that I am looking at!

Cheers,

Kristin

[squeak]

I'd suggest that you PM dogmad - she apparently has had a lot of success house training dogs of all ages.

[GSDhandler]

we found that by making the biggest fuss of koda when she went outside, and then just ignoring her when she had gone inseide then she assosicated being adored with toileting outside. also used toilet commands. she is still having the odd accident, maily with excitement, or the wet weather now, but a lot of progress.

[poochmad]

Hey,

Probably a question that has several answers but I am tearing me hair out because it seems I cannot do anything right! My lab is 12 weeks old and we have had him for 4 weeks - I have been putting him outside every half hour to an hour as well as after sleeping, playing, eating etc.. However, he is not getting the picture that outside is best place to do business!! I will take him outside and sometimes he will go but other times he will come back inside and do it inside! He is crate trained although we have had some issues with that as well (which I have posted about and he is getting better)...

Please help! Im open to further suggestions about toilet training or just a general time frame that I am looking at!

Cheers,

Kristin

How long do you stay outside? When he goes outside, as soon as he's doing his business say the word 'piddle' or 'wee'. (Just quietly so as not to disturb him.) Then straight after say, good boy! (Very excitedly and give him a treat.) If he goes inside, just ignore him and if you were able to get to him before he went too much, take him straight outside and do the above once he goes. If he's taking a while to go outside, I find walking up and down the grass area helps. Don't play with him when you are taking him outside to do his business - just be matter of fact with him.

We have an 11 week old pup and for the first week I was taking him outside every half hour; now he goes out every hour or so. However, he still goes outside immediately after playing (he does a poo - hard lesson to learn!) and after he wakes from sleeping. If you follow that rule of thumb and do the above consistently he will soon get the picture.

Good luck and let us know how he's getting on.

[GSDhandler]

i also found walking up and down the toilet area. though now she walks up and down before going. was a very cute pic though. sorry didnt see it first time.

hope its going well. and it takes time.

koda only got the hang of it at 13 weeks, but we were very thourough from day 1 at 8 weeks.

[Fevah]

As annoying as it is I've found its most effective if you stay outside with the pup UNTIL he/she goes. Yes, sometimes it means waiting up to 10-20 minutes but they do seem to get the idea. My dogs are inside dogs and they hate the cold (like me) and now that they've picked up on the fact that they wont get back inside until they do their business they are surprisingly quick about it.

[kristin_e102]

Thanks for all the advice.

The problem seems to only occur during the day time! We were having issues with crating but once I took all the bedding out he seems to be getting the message to cry and I will take him out and he goes staright away then comes back in (I do wait out there with him though).

But, during the day time I think he just prefers to go inside I do the whole 'good boy' and give him lots of praise but at the end of the day he isnt going outside because he wants to - its because I put him out there lol! I think I might start giving him treats because that has worked well when training with him but where do I keep the treats? I cant keep them inside because that will mean Ill have to run back in!

Thanks for the help!

Kristin