Potty training frustration

[veguroev]

OK, I'm getting very frustrated.
We've had Jerome for a month and a week now. He will be 4 months old on the 8th.
I guess I'm not a good potty trainer or he is hard headed. I take him outside a lot, I mean a lot, sometimes I have stayed with him for more than 40 minutes outside when it is freaking hot and he does not pee or poop, but as soon as we go inside the house and I look somewhere else for a few seconds and there he is squadding and peeing on the carpet. Luckily, we have the carpet cleaner machine and my husband is the one that has been cleaning the carpet, but that is not the point. The point is that I want to train him to go outside to pee and poop. When I tell him NO after he pees in the house he thinks I'm playing and he starts jumping so I can catch him and runs around the house.
Last night I put him on the bed while I was folding clothes. ( I had the clothes on the bed. He was chewing and all of the sudden he gets up and starts peeing on the bed!!! The good thing is that we have that bed cover that stops liquids from going on the mattress. Of course after he pees inside the house I take him outside tell him NO and "bad dog" and he stays out for a few minutes and then comes inside, but I don't think he is getting it. My husband doesn't believe me that I take the dog out a lot, because he keeps seeing pee spots all over the house.
What am I doing wrong? Any advise is welcome.
I've thought about getting the bells.
I tried praising him with treats for a while and then he just wanted to go outside so he could get a treat and not do anything while out. My husband told me to give him the treats while he is outside and after he finishes peeing.
Please help me I get upset sometimes but I know is not Jeromes fault he is still a puppy and he needs to learn from me. I'm not doing a good job on potty training.

[Yorkie3]

I trained all four of mine to go on pee pads inside. Too many hawks outside. I didn't want the hassle of training my male, too frustrating, so he wears a belly band. So much easier and less frustrating. Some males are easy to train, others just don't get it. You'll get a lot of opinions on this, you just have to decide what you want to do. The only advice I can give on training to go outside is constant watch for signs to go, patience, lots of patience, be VERY consistant, and a whole lot of praise when they get it right. No yelling or punishing, they don't really understand it unless caught in the act and then only a firm NO and immediately take them outside. Good luck!!

[melaniemontalvo]

We had trouble with our male IKO as well. We used a litter box and he did fantasitic no more accidents and outside is just our fun time. I started with expensive dog litter from pet smart but moved to clumping cat litter. Has been so easy. Caught on quick!! If Iko can do it any dog can. We only know one command and thats sit.. He willl only do it for snacks. You have to clean the litter box daily of he will refuse to use it. High mantience little thing. good luck, melanie

[JeanieK]

Both of mine are trained to the pee pad, which I put in a box. Chachi, the male actually does better then Ollie does, and he is 6 weeks younger.

My advice would be to confine him to a small area, do not give him the run of the house. Take him out more often, if he does not go within the first few minutes, then evidenty he does not know what he is out there for.

When you catch him peeing, either inside or outside, say pee pee pee, so he associates the word with the action. then when you take him out and say pee, he will know what you want.

But most of all Patience patience patience. 5 weeks is not a very long time.

Different things work for different dogs, you just have to find what works for yours. We've all been through the frustration. You are not alone.

Buy I definitely would not allow him free run of the house. I keep mine confined to the kitchen or fenced in patio outside. I only allow them in on the carpet when I can watch their every move, and As soon as they strt to nose around, I take them outside.

There is also Weekend Bootcamp, where you keep the dog leashed to you at all times during the day and watch his every move, then you can keep an eye on him and learn his signals, and he can't wander away to pee.

Those are all just suggestions, try one and if that doesn't work try something else.

[Erin]

Originally Posted by veguroev

OK, I'm getting very frustrated.
We've had Jerome for a month and a week now. He will be 4 months old on the 8th.
I guess I'm not a good potty trainer or he is hard headed. I take him outside a lot, I mean a lot, sometimes I have stayed with him for more than 40 minutes outside when it is freaking hot and he does not pee or poop, but as soon as we go inside the house and I look somewhere else for a few seconds and there he is squadding and peeing on the carpet. Luckily, we have the carpet cleaner machine and my husband is the one that has been cleaning the carpet, but that is not the point. The point is that I want to train him to go outside to pee and poop. When I tell him NO after he pees in the house he thinks I'm playing and he starts jumping so I can catch him and runs around the house.
Last night I put him on the bed while I was folding clothes. ( I had the clothes on the bed. He was chewing and all of the sudden he gets up and starts peeing on the bed!!! The good thing is that we have that bed cover that stops liquids from going on the mattress. Of course after he pees inside the house I take him outside tell him NO and "bad dog" and he stays out for a few minutes and then comes inside, but I don't think he is getting it. My husband doesn't believe me that I take the dog out a lot, because he keeps seeing pee spots all over the house.
What am I doing wrong? Any advise is welcome.
I've thought about getting the bells.
I tried praising him with treats for a while and then he just wanted to go outside so he could get a treat and not do anything while out. My husband told me to give him the treats while he is outside and after he finishes peeing.
Please help me I get upset sometimes but I know is not Jeromes fault he is still a puppy and he needs to learn from me. I'm not doing a good job on potty training.

OK Your husband's advice about the treats is right on. You don't give the treat for coming back in the house - you go outside with him and shove it in his mouth the second he is done peeing!

Second, DON'T take your eyes off him for a second. If you need to (which of course you do) confine him in a crate or ex-pen. He prefers to pee on the carpet and you are letting him by allowing him access to it!

Bells work great once he knows that he needs to go out. At 4 months I would argue that he does NOT know he needs to go until 5 seconds before. Your job is seeing those signs and making sure he is in the right place at the right time so you can reward him!

And for goodness sake - don't put him on the bed until he can hold it. It just sets him up for failure - how is he supposed to let you know he needs to go out? Make sure he is EMPTY before you give him any freedom and monitor all freedom you give him. Try crate training. And if 40 mins isn't enough - then stay out there an hour. You only need to do that 2 or 3 times until he figures out that peeing in the grass = chicken! And use good treats - make it worth it!!!!!

Good luck. Loki wasn't 100% until he was about a year old. The bells worked very well. He also had some medical issues, but I think 8-10 months is a reasonable expectation. 4months is definately too young to expect 100% from him - but it's never too early to expect 100% from you

[JeanieK]

Very good advice.

I'm glad to know that other's were not 100% until a year old. mine two are doing well, but still have accidents, and I still don't trust them anywhere but the kitchen.

[RLC12345678]

I know some people disagree with this, but this has REALLY worked for me with both of my yorkies both whom I trained to potty outside. When you see him going potty inside, pop him on the but with an empty paper towel roll, tell him NO, and take him outside. Then, if he finishes up outside (or whenever he goes potty outside at all) have a treat with you to give him right then. Then praise, praise, praise. Be VERY consistent. He is still really young so DON'T give up! It sounds like you are doing well so far. I promise you that he won't think you are playing if you pop him on the butt with the paper towel roll. This DOES NOT hurt them at all...it just makes a loud sound and scares them a little. I even pop my two with it if they are chewing on something they aren't supposed to (then give them the proper chew toy) or do anything else bad. Now all I have to do is show them the paper towel roll and they know they've acted up.

I will be the first one to admit that some people probably disagree with this method. But, it does not hurt the dogs and it is something that has worked wonders for us.

[ginnysanchez]

I discovered that Google has to go first thing in the mornign when he wakes up, then again about 20-40 minutes after he eats. So I watch him like a hawk after mealtimes and if I catch him sniffing the floor anywhere but by his pad I pick him up and put him on his pad. I also praised him and gave him a treat immediately after he went. Telling him "bad!" after you see he had an accident doesn't really do anything, because he won't get the connection between the puddle on the floor and you're saying "bad dog," especially if it's been a few minutes after the accident. Dogs, I think, have a much shorter attention span that small children; so everything has to be immediate in order for the dog to see cause and effect--"if I go on this pad (or outside), I get a treat!"

[lexi'smom]

We had a really hard time with lexi and potty training as well, you can search my posts and all the ones I put up bc i was so upset we couldn't potty trainer her. We tried everything, potty pads, going outside every 1/2 hr(i set a timer), treats, crate training, going to training classes, multiple vet visits....we tried it all. Then one day, like a act of mercy from god we say SHE GOT IT, we don't know y but all of a sudden a light went on and she got it. Just be patient, everyone has there own method, and i am sure they all work BUT potty training is definately a team effort. You and your furbaby have to work together to get it right, I don't have any great advice other then just keep at it; your baby will get it. Potty training might take a little longer then some but your baby will get it. Lexi didn't get it till she was about 7/8 months, who knows y. Just be patient, that is so easy for me to say since i am not the one trying to potty train but your baby will get it, just give it time. Best of luck.

[JeanieK]

Originally Posted by lexi'smom

We had a really hard time with lexi and potty training as well, you can search my posts and all the ones I put up bc i was so upset we couldn't potty trainer her. We tried everything, potty pads, going outside every 1/2 hr(i set a timer), treats, crate training, going to training classes, multiple vet visits....we tried it all. Then one day, like a act of mercy from god we say SHE GOT IT, we don't know y but all of a sudden a light went on and she got it. Just be patient, everyone has there own method, and i am sure they all work BUT potty training is definately a team effort. You and your furbaby have to work together to get it right, I don't have any great advice other then just keep at it; your baby will get it. Potty training might take a little longer then some but your baby will get it. Lexi didn't get it till she was about 7/8 months, who knows y. Just be patient, that is so easy for me to say since i am not the one trying to potty train but your baby will get it, just give it time. Best of luck.

Very good advice. You have to find what works for the two of you. But rest assured they do not want to displease you, if they don't potty outside it's because they just don't get it. So don't get discourageed, it just takes time and diligence, and patience .

[ldenise]

I know it feels like you are not making any progress, but.. you have to watch every move they make. take notice how he acts just before he pottys. when you see him act this way, pick him up and take him out the door. when he pottys get excited and give him a treat right then and there.
if he has already went potty, don't make a big deal of it. pick him up and take him out side to let him know that is where you want him to go. he is still young and don't understand what you want him to do.
when Ahia was a puppy I used this method and it took her a while but she will not potty in the house at all now. even during the hurricane when we couldn't go out for a couple of days. I had to take them out the garage door under a bush.
I took notice each time of day that she pooped. around that same time each day was when i took her for a walk. when she pooped I said "good girl! you went potty!" and rewarded with the treat. pretty soon you don't need the treat.
don't yell .. dont' hit... it will only set him back. IMO
good luck.

[veguroev]

Thank you ladies for all your great advice. Me and Jerome are still working on the potty training. I bought lots of delicious treats and the doggie door bells should be in the mail today.
I guess I didn't think about how young Jerome is and that it takes them a little while to get it. When I had Oscar, I didn't have so much trouble potty training him. Chiquito, my Chihuahua, he was already potty trained when we got him and what I like about him is that Jerome is learinig from Chiquito, I took him for a walk the other day and after Jerome saw Chiki lifting his leg to pee he did the exact same thing, he looked sooo cute imitating his big brother! .

[Laur]

Like others have said, patience is key.

Diamond is finally getting it after being 6 months old. Believe me, after three months of having her, I was going nuts since I would do the same thing you are doing and the MINUTE we would get inside, she would pee/poop, despite how long we were outside.

The most important things are watching your dogs every moves. I notice when I am playing with Diamond, she will go off by herself to one side of the room. This is when she usually has to go. Whenever they get distracted, take them outside RIGHT away. At least this is what she does.

Usually when I throw her toy she will fetch it and bring it back but when she doesn't and she just goes off on her own, that's the red flag

Make sure you are saying the same thing when you take the dog outside. I always say "go potty" but it's up to you. Just be consistent with what you say, you don't want to confuse the dog. I also pick Diamond up and I don't put her down until we are on the grass, this way she doesn't have time to sniff 80 million other things, and she can focus on peeing/pooping.

Of course, praising them when they go is another thing. Be sure to praise them immediately after going but not while they are going. I tend to take treats out and give them to her when she is done.

I personally would rather have her do her business outside as opposed to inside whether it be in the litter box or what have you. That way, your not stuck with cleaning the litter box out and it's so easy to just take a doggy bag outside with you. It can be a pain when it's raining or storming but I try to keep Diamond under the umbrella if she HAS to go when it's raining.

Good Luck!!!!!!

[northview5]

Originally Posted by RLC12345678

I know some people disagree with this, but this has REALLY worked for me with both of my yorkies both whom I trained to potty outside. When you see him going potty inside, pop him on the but with an empty paper towel roll, tell him NO, and take him outside. Then, if he finishes up outside (or whenever he goes potty outside at all) have a treat with you to give him right then. Then praise, praise, praise. Be VERY consistent. He is still really young so DON'T give up! It sounds like you are doing well so far. I promise you that he won't think you are playing if you pop him on the butt with the paper towel roll. This DOES NOT hurt them at all...it just makes a loud sound and scares them a little. I even pop my two with it if they are chewing on something they aren't supposed to (then give them the proper chew toy) or do anything else bad. Now all I have to do is show them the paper towel roll and they know they've acted up.

I will be the first one to admit that some people probably disagree with this method. But, it does not hurt the dogs and it is something that has worked wonders for us.

LOL! Can't believe you 'fessed up on this forum!!! We're not afriad to pop ours on the bottom either! We just wait until they are a bit older and KNOW that they're doing wrong. We could tell when they were flat out defying us. When they are real young we don't spank at all 'cause they get so scared and they don't know better anyway. We want to wait 'till their personality is set and they are confident and secure. Once they get to be older though, we will spank if they are caught in the act. I think that is what made Pepper finally realize, "OK enough's enough! It's not worth peeing in the house anymore!" ....Hope we don't get banned from the forum!!! LOL!

[RLC12345678]

Originally Posted by northview5

LOL! Can't believe you 'fessed up on this forum!!! We're not afriad to pop ours on the bottom either! We just wait until they are a bit older and KNOW that they're doing wrong. We could tell when they were flat out defying us. When they are real young we don't spank at all 'cause they get so scared and they don't know better anyway. We want to wait 'till their personality is set and they are confident and secure. Once they get to be older though, we will spank if they are caught in the act. I think that is what made Pepper finally realize, "OK enough's enough! It's not worth peeing in the house anymore!" ....Hope we don't get banned from the forum!!! LOL!

HEHE I hope I don't get banned, either! I agree...I don't spank if they are really young and honestly just don't know any better. But if they are doing something wrong, like going potty in the house, and I say NO and they still don't listen, then the paper towel roll comes out. That is when they listen! I only do it if a stern NO does not work.