Toilet Training Troubles

[GoldenGirl85]

I have a 15 week old Golden, from day 1 she has been very good about going outside, she has only had a few accidents inside and they were mainly because I didnt let her out soon enough.

My problem is in the morning, she is crate trained and is happy to sleep in her crate all night, but when I let her out in the morning she isnt interested in going to "do wees" for some reason I cant get her to associate "go do wees" with doing a wee, and in the morning, for some reason (unknown why, Ive had her since she was 8 weeks) she thinks she is in trouble and starts submissive weeing when I take them outside for toilets (this is usually at about 5am so its not late at all)

Any ideas on how I can get her to learn what the command means, and how I can convince her that in the morning, she wont get breakfast until she empties her bladder. I cant get her to go out on the grass and squat, she will sit at the door and leak (they sleep in the garage) or she will sit on the patio area and leak, but when I convince her to come onto the lawn she will lower herself in a submissive pose but she wont empty her bladder...Im at a loss, I dont have time on most mornings to sit and wait because I work really early most days, but even on the weekend when I do have time if I try to sit and wait she will run inside and sit at the door and leak

Im aware that she doesnt realise she is doing it, she has never been punished for doing it, Im hoping she will grow out of it (she does it sometimes when she is excited too) what Im trying to do is teach her when to empty her bladder, because if its empty then it wont leak will it? lol

[Swiss Girl]

I wonder if your feeling a bit tired and grumpy when you get up in the morning (I know I wake up that way at 5am), and your pup is sensing this and getting unsettled. I can only suggest you try to be really possitive and upbeat and relaxed when letting them out, then trying running to the lawn with some toys and just play until something happens. Then use you cue word and lots of yummy treats.

If your pup still seems stressed you could also throw a handful of tiny treats around the lawn to keep her mind off what is happening and more onto seeking.

When I trained my pups I used to take them out every hour for a pee break, the more often you catch them going, the more treats and the quicker they learn your cue word. So perhaps try to increase your potty break frequency, even if your dog squats and only does a few drops that is still cause for celebrations. Just make sure to keep saying the word every time she squats and always have treats on you, she will learn eventually.

[GoldenGirl85]

Ive adjusted to waking up at 5am fairly well, for me a sleep in in 6am, I start work by 7 or 8 most days so Im up that early just to get the dogs organised and myself organised before I have to leave...sometimes Im travelling an hour for work, sometimes I travel for 5 mins, it changes on a weekly basis

I think some of it might have to do with my work, because I do shift work the earliest start I have is 5.30am, meaning Im leaving the house at 4.50, because Ive just moved to Brisbane Im terrified of cane toads, and reluctant to let them out especially if its dark unless Ive had a chance to check the yard out first...on those days Im waking at 4 and leave them sleeping until not long before I leave, on those days I literally put her food down, open the back door, and leave. I dont do that shift often, but Ive done 4 in the last 2 weeks, and I think thats affected her.

For this week Im starting at 7, so plenty of time to spend with her before I leave, so hopefully ill see improvement...

[Lauren Golden]

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Edited March 14, 2010 by Lauren Golden

[GoldenGirl85]

Hi Everyone,

My husband and I have been on the waiting listing for a Golden Retriever puppy for a little while, and we found out on Friday that there was a cancellation and we could have a little girl pup sooner than expected. We are getting her at 10 weeks old. We had to ask the breeder to old onto her for an extra two weeks as we are going on holiday.

She is coming on a plane from Sydney to Adelaide on the 8th of April. We are so thrilled, we can't wait to meet Maggie!

Awww good luck with her!! Goldens are so much fun

Lexi was about the same size as my JRT Tess when I got her, now at 15 weeks old Tess can nearly walk straight under her belly...boy do they grow fast lol

[Cazwah]

Hey Goldengirl, don't know if I can offer much advice, but I have learnt with my 17week old dachie Chestnut that any change in routine will confuse him thoroughly! More than I first thought too, so maybe the change in your routine is just confusing your little pup a bit? For example changing the location of his outdoor toilet (a mere 2m away) has caused endless confusion, now he goes straight to the spot where it used to be even though he avoided that spot previously!! The submissive weeing I've got no idea I'm sorry, if you're at puppy school perhaps you could ask your trainer? As for the connecting the 'go pee' with the dog actually peeing, I have had mixed success. I have done just what Swiss girl did with attaching the cue as it's happening and lots of rewards after, and still I don't have it on solid command (travelled with him recently and never have I wished more that he would pee when I asked! Still, from the dog's point of view I guess it is a bit of a random thing to request :D ). However sometimes he will get it, I'll say 'outside outside- go pee!' and I see him stop and start to sniff and then pee where I asked.. so I guess it's got to be the right time for the dog too. Best of luck, hope things start to improve for you both.

[GoldenGirl85]

Well success today, I went out with a couple of treats and clicker, she was still a bit submissive at first but the first time she squatted I clicked and got all excited saying "yay Lexi go wees" then I rolled a ball for her, then she squatted another two times which both resulted in rewards, Im not sure which one was the successful one, but no leaking!!

Lexi is coming on a long trip with me in a couple of weeks, so it will be good if she at least sort of know what the command means for that lol

[Swiss Girl]

Great, she may just be a little sensitive, but it will improve as she gets older. All I can say is if you can get up at 4am and not be grumpy, congratulations. My dog would take one look at me and run for it

my dogs all learnt the cue word in a week (not saying they didn't have accidents). You mentioned treats, are you giving something really nice such as polony? The better the treat, the quicker the learn with some dogs. I always have special treats when trying to teach something inportant, for everything else they get liver treats.

[GoldenGirl85]

Success again today, did the same thing with the clicker and treats, Im just hoping when I start to faze out the clicker she will still go...after all she squats a few times now and I dont know if she has learned that squat means treat, or if she is doing lots of little wees

Her treats are these chicken and liver chunky things, I think the brand is Natures Own...Ive cut them into tiny bite sized pieces

4am is a completely different story to 5am...one of the reasons why I leave them sleeping until not long before I leave lol