goldenpaws Posted September 22, 2005 Share Posted September 22, 2005 Hi everyone, I've got a 10-week old goldie pup (she came home at 8 weeks) and we've been consistently toilet training her those whole two weeks. She's getting better but still makes frustratingly regular mistakes (going in the wrong spots). Some days she'll walk herself straight to the right spot in the laundry and go and we'll think "Yes, she's getting it!" only to have her go in the hallway 30 minutes later. We clean up her newspaper (and just leave some soiled paper on the bottom so she recognise the smell). Just thinking back to other dogs I've had, they seemed to pick it up faster than this- am I being unrealistic about expecting her to be "perfect" by now or is she being a bit slow about picking it up? I've had dogs all my life and successfully TT'd them all, so I was quite confident I knew what I was doing, but I'm open to suggestions. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnoFyre Posted September 23, 2005 Share Posted September 23, 2005 I too have a 10 week old bitch that I am attempting to toilet train and thought I would bump this thread as I to would like to know if I am doing the right thing or just expecting to much to soon as I havn't had a puppy for over 15 yrs. She can hold overnight without any problems (I take her out at about 11pm) and as soon as the first person in the house wakes (about 5am) in the morning, they know that she has to be taken outside to relieve herself before anything else is done. She is taken outside after waking from naps during the day and after eating & generally is ok. We don't have an area in the house where she can toilet as I prefer that she go outside and I don't want her to get confused. She spends half her time outside the house with our other dog & the rest inside. Generally I find that she is ok with "most" of her toilet habits, but at least once a day she will come inside after playing outside for hours and wee as soon as my back is turned. Any advice would be helpful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mana Posted September 23, 2005 Share Posted September 23, 2005 (edited) I'm afraid that I'd expect it to take a while yet! I have 2x five-and-a-half-month-old pups who still sometimes toilet inside if the fancy takes them. This is of course largely due to "gaps" in our vigilance, particularly with having two pups of the same age plus currently two other adult dogs in the house (who are completely housebroken), and floor surfaces (slate) that mean it's not such a disaster when it happens (they will piddle when taken out, and know the word "piddle", but still have no hesitation to pee inside (and very occasionally, poo)). However they will not toilet in their bedding, crates, or in the car. Also the living area of our house is large and open plan, broken up by furniture - so lots of little "nooks" that are secluded piddling places! Also I think it's not been helped by the fact that the house where they spent the first few months with me had almost identical surfaces both inside and out - tiles / pavers - and the door was nearly always open, hence little distinction between what's inside and what's out. They get far less reliable when we go back to that house. I guess none of this is really what you were asking about - but point being it can vary immensely. I've never had a pup take this long before - and still not seem to have any concept she's doing the wrong thing. It's getting to the point where I think we'll have to tell them off on the rare occasions we catch them in the act, because trying to startle them has absolutely no effect - Ruby will finish her pee then wander over to sniff you as if to say "what's all the fuss about?" I'm not sure how it can be sped up other than increasing your vigilance? For us that's simply not possible - we cannot be watching them both all the time. Another question then, to add to this trio of posts... when reinforcing toileting outside has not been effective, how do you go about discouraging inside toileting without making the dog anxious or likely to hide from you when she needs to go? Edited September 23, 2005 by Mana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenpaws Posted September 23, 2005 Author Share Posted September 23, 2005 Thanks for your replies. It's reassuring to know that it doesn't go 100% smoothly for everyone else! I was talking about it with Mum this morning and we're starting to wonder whether there's another issue confusing things, because she goes in the right spot perfectly sometimes and then at other times chooses not to use the newspaper and go elsewhere - so, we're thinking, is there some REASON that sometimes she won't use the newspaper? I have a perfectly house-trained middle-aged terrier as well who holds on perfectly fine during the day - but I'm wondering if he has started using the paper as well for some reason and so if he's been there, she won't use it? Anyway, she's growing so quickly that she's going to be spending days outside from now on, but I'd really like to master this!! "Be consistent and persistant" is my motto with TT, so we'll keep at it. I'm sure I'm doing it right, I was just getting a bit worried about the time it's taking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted September 23, 2005 Share Posted September 23, 2005 I only have experience with dogs 9 months and over and we get them sorted to an 80% level within 48 hours and then by the end of the week they're sorted. I guess the problem with a pupp is that they have obsticles to overcome such as closed dogs, stairs etc that they may not fully understand. I pretty much think if a dog isn't house training properly you either have a medical problem or the dog doesn't under 100% what it's meant to do so you need to go back and start from scratch with taking them out heaps, praising etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted September 23, 2005 Share Posted September 23, 2005 (edited) . Edited May 7, 2009 by cavNrott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mana Posted September 23, 2005 Share Posted September 23, 2005 (edited) 10 weeks old is a baby puppy who has very little control over her bladder. They don't really gain control until about 14-15 weeks of age.I would suggest taking her outside every hour or so and praise enthusiastically when she obliges. When pups are older, and you're praising like crazy when they piddle / poo outside, but still only making very gradual improvement... Is it ever safe to tell them off for going inside? At the moment I think I'm going to have to start picking Ruby up and taking her outside mid-piddle if necessary - she doesn't stop for anything else - it's just that I so rarely catch her in the act - I just find the puddle afterwards. Edited September 23, 2005 by Mana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O-Ren Posted September 23, 2005 Share Posted September 23, 2005 I have a bc x pup male that is only about 4-6wks maximum... when should i start trying to train him to go when i tell him...i.e put him outside to wee??? whilst he is young i was considering puttin him in a indoor litter tray- and train him to crawl into that?? what are your thoughts? should i start now? its tough because you cant tell with boys- they just stand there, and next you know your foot is soaked when u stand in it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mana Posted September 23, 2005 Share Posted September 23, 2005 (edited) Though mine will still go inside if left to it, they will readily run outside for a pee when called to piddlepiddlepiddlepup - and have done so since they were about 5-6 weeks. It was a pretty amazing sight, at the carer's house, seeing three different litters of pups all charging outside and squatting! Unfortunately though we've got the "piddling-outside-on-command-is-good" down pat, we just don't have the "hey - but inside aint so good..." bit as polished... ;) So I was right? you found a pup after the parvo horrors? eta - any suggestions Erny? I see you there... Edited September 23, 2005 by Mana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted September 23, 2005 Share Posted September 23, 2005 As a general rule of thumb, toilet training takes approximately 2 weeks (give or take - naturally every pup is an individual and it can vary). This is on the basis, however, that you are consistently vigilent and doing all the things necessary. If you admit to yourself that you haven't been consistently vigilent and haven't quite done all things necessary, then expect it to take longer than it otherwise might. A pup isn't deemed housetrained until there have been no accidents over a span of four weeks (again, I'm generalising - if you got to the 28th day, it doesn't mean you shouldn't keep your eye out on your pup's moves when inside, it just means that you can probably begin, bit by bit, to relax and start to trust your pup in this regard more and more each day). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted September 23, 2005 Share Posted September 23, 2005 (edited) . Edited May 7, 2009 by cavNrott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O-Ren Posted September 23, 2005 Share Posted September 23, 2005 was at our local markets buying new bags for the dog beds... and found a bc x pup ;) lady had 8 dogs and 3 litters of average of 4-6 pups (omigod) apparantly unplanned. he is border collie cross stumpy tail cattle dog he looks like a fluffy border collie with a 2inch tail looks like an inverted panda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mana Posted September 23, 2005 Share Posted September 23, 2005 As a general rule of thumb, toilet training takes approximately 2 weeks (give or take - naturally every pup is an individual and it can vary). This is on the basis, however, that you are consistently vigilent and doing all the things necessary. If you admit to yourself that you haven't been consistently vigilent and haven't quite done all things necessary, then expect it to take longer than it otherwise might. Oh dear. Two weeks? ;) I didn't think we'd been that inconsistent... Going for a piddle outing right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mana Posted September 23, 2005 Share Posted September 23, 2005 He sounds gorgeos O-ren... So young... But I have to go and try to make up for bad piddle-conditioning now... ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O-Ren Posted September 23, 2005 Share Posted September 23, 2005 hopefully some photos soon mana *wink wink Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted September 23, 2005 Share Posted September 23, 2005 (edited) . Edited May 7, 2009 by cavNrott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted September 23, 2005 Share Posted September 23, 2005 I think this time frame would depend a lot on the age of the pup to begin with. A 10 week old pup has more bladder control than O-rens 4-6 week old. I agree - it varies, as I said, but it is around that period of time, give or take some. The age of the pup, the breed of the pup and the pup as an individual are all factors that contribute to variation in time span. I think, however, the largest contributor towards toilet training taking longer rather than less time, is our own inconsistencies. Hey - I know we're not perfect and we have so many other things to attend to. So long as we acknowledge our own imperfections and accept that these will elongate the process and make toilet training all the more difficult. (And, of course, so long as we don't take that out on the pup.) But if you keep working at it, Mana, you'll get there. One other factor to store in the back of your mind is the possibility of medical/health issues (eg bladder infections). Unlikely, though it is ..... I wouldn't suggest you rush out to the Vet at this point ..... just keep it in your mind if your best most vigilent training is not improving matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mana Posted September 23, 2005 Share Posted September 23, 2005 (edited) Both pups have had low grade vaginitis with occasional flare-ups - both went on antibiotics a fortnight ago and though it didn't completely remove the discharge immediately it seems to have largely dried up now. They will be desexed in a couple of weeks' time and hopefully the vet will give them a good going over then - one needs xrays etc at the same time, so I think she'll take the opportunity to check everything out. They are getting better - I've probably only mopped or collected mistakes oh, 4 times this week? Better than it was at the house with pavers outside, anyway. ;) We'll get there... Just never had pups before - always rescues who came largely housetrained! Edited September 23, 2005 by Mana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n_topaz Posted September 24, 2005 Share Posted September 24, 2005 I have a 9 and half week old goldie bitch pup, she's been at home for 2 weeks. She spent most of her time outside at breeders, from what I know, on concrete and grassed areas. I decided before I got her that "busy busy" were gonna be the key words, as my aunty had used that command for her guide dog pup she trained. Whenever I am home, the door off the rumpus room (where I spend most of my time) is ALWAYS open, so she comes and goes as she pleases. She is still taken out for "busy busy" (thru the open door) after naps, eating, playing session or if any sign of 'sniffing' occurs . Sometimes I might find a puddle on the tiles in the kitchen, but would only be once a day, if that. She was doing really well with doing "busy" on newspaper at night (had free run of house) til she got a tummy bug and had diarrhea for couple of days (all better now). So she was blocked from accessing carpeted areas since then (rumpus room is large mat on entire floor). I'm not an early bird, so earliest anyone is up in this house is 7:30ish and I usually find a "busy" on newspaper but thats understandable I feel for nearly 8 hrs. She is left inside when I have to go out (longest so far would be 4-5hrs) and 95% of the time she hasn't done anything when I get back, though there is paper down for her. She is taken straight out to her "busy" spot when I get home. The last time I had a pup was about 17yrs ago and I was a young teenager then, so can't remember how we trained that pup, but I've been surprised how easy it's been with this pup. I worked in child care for 12 yrs previously, and believe me, kids are harder and take longer with more 'accidents' LOL Nikki. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannakathleen Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 I have a 13 week old chihuhua pup that im trying to teach to go on newspaper in the laundry. I've had her for four weeks now, but I'd say she's still only goes in the right place 60% of the time. She is my first ever puppy, so I know that its most likely my fault she hasn't learned properly yet. But I have read all the posts on here about toilet training and done my best to follow all the advice. In fact I've read not only all the advice here, but on a million other dog training sites too. Whenever she goes on the newspaper she gets lots of praise and whenever she goes on the carpet I have either picked her up and taken her to the newspaper, or ignored her and just cleaned it up. I take her to the laundry after meals and sleeps and plays. It can be a bit frustrating reading about all the people who get their dogs trained in a few days. I've been doing my best but she just doesn't seem to be learning as fast as I'd like. But like some of you have been saying, I guess it just varies with each dog, and each owner! I'll keep doing my best and hopefully she'll learn eventually, before all my carpet is ruined Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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