Puppy housebreaking problems?
Posted on February 28th, 2010 by admin
Okay, I have read A LOT of information about housebreaking, but I have a problem that has me stumped. I’ve had my boxer puppy for 9 days. I am doing everything I’ve read: take her out often, don’t play with her when I take her out, use verbal commands; when I catch her about to go in the house, take her outside; etc.
So here’s the problem. At least once a day (sometimes more), I take her out to pee and she doesn’t. Sometimes I catch her in the act, take her out, and she doesn’t finish. Sometimes we stay out for 5 minutes, sometimes for an hour. Then we go back in the house, and she pees. The weird thing is, when she does this, she doesn’t give any warning, no sniffing or circling, she just squats and pees. The worst of it is, last night, after being outside for AN HOUR, we came back in and I was watching her really closely because I KNEW what was going to happen. Nothing. Then the phone rings, and when I go to answer it BOOOM! What do I do with this? I’m at wits end!
I’m sorry, but I’m laughing. There’s nothing you can do. It’s just part of having a very young puppy. It happens. Sounds like you’re doing a great job, but these things are going to happen. You just have to persevere – the first 2 – 3 weeks are always the worst with a young puppy, when you get past them, you’ll look back at this and laugh, too.
The only thing I can suggest is when you take her out and she won’t pee, take her back in the house and take her right back out again after 5 minutes or so. It’s a pain, I know, but what can you do? Praise her like crazy as soon as she does go. She will catch on, believe me and when the light bulb goes on, it’ll seem like it’s all of a sudden.
The other thing might be to pop her in her crate for a few minutes when you can’t watch her so she CAN’T have an accident. If she can’t make a mistake, that makes housetraining a bit easier.
Just hang in there – it’s going to get easier!
February 28th, 2010 at 7:57 am
I’m sorry, but I’m laughing. There’s nothing you can do. It’s just part of having a very young puppy. It happens. Sounds like you’re doing a great job, but these things are going to happen. You just have to persevere – the first 2 – 3 weeks are always the worst with a young puppy, when you get past them, you’ll look back at this and laugh, too.
The only thing I can suggest is when you take her out and she won’t pee, take her back in the house and take her right back out again after 5 minutes or so. It’s a pain, I know, but what can you do? Praise her like crazy as soon as she does go. She will catch on, believe me and when the light bulb goes on, it’ll seem like it’s all of a sudden.
The other thing might be to pop her in her crate for a few minutes when you can’t watch her so she CAN’T have an accident. If she can’t make a mistake, that makes housetraining a bit easier.
Just hang in there – it’s going to get easier!
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February 28th, 2010 at 8:39 am
Ah, boxer.
Boxers are not the easiest doggies in the world to housetrain. =)
First off: Clean any spot she’s fouled with a -strong- smelling non-toxic anti-bacterial spray. I love the cucumber melon stuff I found and the great dane girl I just got two days ago HATES it (two days and we’re already about 1/4th potty trained. This puppy is brilliant). It’ll disgust her and it’ll make your house smell nicer (in your opinion).
Second: Take any poo that’s still ‘wet’, still pretty fresh, and toss it out in the area you want her to go in. Gross as it sounds, for a young puppy, I suggest near the front door. You can always move the spot as they get older, but usually as soon as they’re outside in the grass, they want to -go-. So pit a bit of poo here and there and let her sniff it.
Third: Give her an hour between eating and drinking and going out. Perk up and ask her ‘d’you wanna go out?’ in your happy puppy! voice.
It takes time. And it depends on her age. My little one is 8 weeks, and she’s barely giving a sign right now. It’s really hit or miss, and it takes a while. But you’ll get it! =) Just stick with it. It sounds like she’s coming along.
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February 28th, 2010 at 8:55 am
OK you need to restrict the area of your home she is allowed in. Dogs don’t like to mess up thier area. So if you keep her restricted to a small area and take her outside the moment you let her out of the area she will learn than outside is where she is to be doing her buisiness. That is how I trained my puppies when they were young, plus it’s worked for every other puppy anyone has gotten in my family or my friends. I also suggest a dog crate for the night when you are asleep.
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February 28th, 2010 at 9:06 am
i don’t know but maybe she is just not familiar with the sounds inside the house yet and is still a little afraid .if you give out to her when she does this she is clever enough to know if she does sniff you will give out but that’s all part of the training process if you let her wonder all over the house she can become confused you need to confine her to 1 room near the backdoor feed her in this room and let her sleep there dogs don’t like wetting these areas .then try leaving her outside by herself for an hour or even two don’t panic she has to get used to her new surroundings it takes time and dedication but she will get there good luck.
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February 28th, 2010 at 9:56 am
hiya, ive had 7 boxers in total and all have been cage/crate trained. Some say this is cruel but it helps with housebreaking and also the stress that boxers have when left alone, which can lead them to destroy things. I had a suitable size cage to house the dog, start by feeding the puppy in it with the door open, until she gets used to it. Then feed her with the door closed, and when she has finished give lots of praise and take straight outside, as puppies tend to pee straight after feeding. Then try putting a treat in the cage and closing the door for a few minutes, leave the room for a few minutes and return, even though she may whine and scratch at the door, she will realise that you will be coming back. Do this a few times and the make it longer – 5 mins, give lots of praise, this takes a few weeks until you could put her in a go to the shop perhaps. I also find that when you do go out for longer than 15 mins, i put an old t-shirt that i have worn so that they have the sense that your there. You will find that housebreaking actually works quicker this way as they dont like to soil ‘their house’ . I have an entire dog that had not been in his cage for 5 years and i had to put him in when i had a puppy bitch that came into season, and he went in no problem. You will also find that when trained they will go in there on their own accord, as they class it as ‘their space’
good luck
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