• We have a 3 mo puppy who is adorable. We have had her about 5 days and the potty training seemed to be progressing, but now we are having major problems with potty training. She never wants to go outside now & when I take her out she refuses to go potty even though I stayed out with her for as long as an hour. When she comes back in the first chance she gets she slips away & goes inside. She is constantly by my side otherwise I expected her to try to escape to the outside not to only want to be inside. She sleeps in her crate at night but is lose in the house during the day unless I go out or am too busy to keep her in constant eyesight. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. DD


  • Are you walking her or just sitting in your yard with her? Some won't use their own yard to potty. I would say, walk with her and keep tiny high quality treats so you can immediately reward when she pees or poops. At home, tie her leash around your waist and watch for her signals, take her out immediately. If she starts to potty inside, you can correct her on the spot (so to speak).


  • This is really going to sound "nasty" BUT, if you are too busy to keep an eye on her 24/7 if she is loose in the house then be prepared to have problems with housetraining.

    What was she used to at her breeders? If she is 3 months old, was she started with the breeder? Did they use newspapers, litter box, outdoors? Most puppies have many regressions in house training. It takes constant supervision… and time... to housetrain.. and it is NOT going to happen in 5 days. If you take her out as soon as she wakes up, I would be very surprised if she doesn't go.. that is the time to really praise and give her treats... When she realizes that treats and praise go hand in hand with potty outside, she will get the message.

    But again, if you are going to leave her loose in the house and not watch her... then be prepared for the results...


  • Potty training takes months to do… accidents happen along the way but they are primarily due to our (human) timing problems. Puppies have to pee after they play, after they sit down for a while, after they sleep, after they eat, ... or pretty much all the time. It's easy to forget to go back out, because it feels like you were just there! 10wks-4.5 months is very touch and go for puppies to eliminate where we want them too... and then of course they often forget all this when they start teething. When did potty training start ? 3 months is quite late if it just started, so you will need to be extra patient and vigilant. What did your breeder use to start housetraining ? Have you called him/her ? Have you been using lots of positive reinforcement training so she isn't anxious about relieving herself ?


  • You should walk her on a schedule, with treats in your pocket. Be it rain or snow or extremely early, take her out and walk her until she goes..then treat and praise..
    BUT you will have to do it.
    IMO, you need to limit her access to BE with you via a tether or babygates, and just plan to take her out ever 2 hrs until you know her signals.


  • @Schouiffy:

    Potty training takes months to do… accidents happen along the way but they are primarily due to our (human) timing problems. Puppies have to pee after they play, after they sit down for a while, after they sleep, after they eat, ... or pretty much all the time. It's easy to forget to go back out, because it feels like you were just there! 10wks-4.5 months is very touch and go for puppies to eliminate where we want them too... and then of course they often forget all this when they start teething. When did potty training start ? 3 months is quite late if it just started, so you will need to be extra patient and vigilant. What did your breeder use to start housetraining ? Have you called him/her ? Have you been using lots of positive reinforcement training so she isn't anxious about relieving herself ?

    Very well put… and I will add that when your puppy has an accident... take a rolled up newspaper and smack YOURSELF over the head 10 times... and repeat... I MUST NOT FORGET, I MUST NOT FORGET...


  • @tanza:

    Very well put… and I will add that when your puppy has an accident... take a rolled up newspaper and smack YOURSELF over the head 10 times... and repeat... I MUST NOT FORGET, I MUST NOT FORGET...

    BEST ADVICE OF THE DAY !!! lol
    love it!


  • I love the advice Tanza - but how true!

    I've found that puppies which leave me fully house trained (usually by their mothers) do often regress in new homes but soon re-learn. If she doesn't pee when she's put outside - take her for a little walk. Always have a word that you use when she does 'perform' when she does go and you'll find this serves you well all her life.


  • @Patty:

    I love the advice Tanza - but how true!

    I've found that puppies which leave me fully house trained (usually by their mothers) do often regress in new homes but soon re-learn. If she doesn't pee when she's put outside - take her for a little walk. Always have a word that you use when she does 'perform' when she does go and you'll find this serves you well all her life.

    And they regress when they are teething… totally... some more then others...

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