Potty training 9-1-1!! Help!!

[TayxRue72110]

Hello Fellow YTers!

I am in DESPERATE need of some help! My little female, 4 months old, WILL NOT USE THE POTTY PAD unless she is baby-gated in the bathroom. We leave her and her brother in the bathroom while we are gone to work or sleeping so that our carpet won't get ruined, and I have first hand witnessed her use the potty pad in the bathroom while the gate is up, and we can tell that they have both used it while we are gone or sleeping, but for some reason, she WILL NOT use it after we let them out to play. She immediately runs somewhere and pee's and poo's. Is this stubbornness, or could this be a health issue? And how do I break her from this? PLEASE HELP! My fiance is at the point that he is ready to get rid of her, and I would be devestated as well as her brother would be if that happens!

Thanks!
-Taylor
Jaxx & Trixie

[lilkat3]

I have a 6 month old boy and the good days are outnumbering the bad days but I feel your "pain" even today my "Jack" was a struggle...stay positive it will come but I understand what you going thru.

Positive reinforcement, treats...they just want to be loved and remember they want to please their "alpha mate" they will get it....

[fourstubbs]

I keep some cheerios in the bathroom and everytime Scarlett goes, she gets a treat... This has helped a lot! Sometimes she will squat and only a drop comes out, I guess she wants a treat pretty bad! She is young too, 4 months today...when she goes, I make a big deal out of it! Now I need her to come to me when I call her. ...

[MY OSCAR]

HI I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 6 MONTH OLD 6 LB BOY.
REFUSES TO USE THE POTTY PADS.
WASHABLE OR DISPOSABLE.
THINKS THEY ARE TOYS.
PLUS ARE WHOLE HOUSE IS CARPETED, DOESN'T HELP.
THEN I TRIED THE GRASS POTTY PAD = NEW BED , LOL !
SO I ORDERED THIS, (MINUS THE GRASS) HOPING IT WORKS....
SO I AM NOT MUCH HELP TO YOU BUT I DO FEEL YOUR PAIN.
THIS IS THE WEBSITE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED.
THE FIRST ONE IS THE HOME PAGE.

..http://www.rascaldoglitterbox.com/



Rascal Dog Litter Box Purchase Now Page

[Roxiesmama]

I have one of those Rascal Dog Litter Boxes sitting in my basement collecting dust, seeing as Roxie refused to use it. She hated the feel of the artificial grass on her feet, and when I did get her on there a few times (using a treat as a lure), she did a little dance and quickly jumped off. I couldn't coax her to even stand on it for more than two seconds, let alone potty on it.

If you're not using the grass, what are you going to use?

Good luck!

[Joyce Adams]

Prissy uses her Pet Zoom, just a fake grass patch but I have it on the porch...she goes there the majority of the time but will go sometimes go elsewhere on the porch..I keep her only in the family room and just take her out on awakening, after eating and after playing. She is crated or in her playpen when I am unable to watch her at all times. She still does have her mistakes occasionally but they are getting less. I can only say be consistent with the training and hopefully our pups will get it...

[Joyce Adams]

Originally Posted by Roxiesmama

I have one of those Rascal Dog Litter Boxes sitting in my basement collecting dust, seeing as Roxie refused to use it. She hated the feel of the artificial grass on her feet, and when I did get her on there a few times (using a treat as a lure), she did a little dance and quickly jumped off. I couldn't coax her to even stand on it for more than two seconds, let alone potty on it.

If you're not using the grass, what are you going to use?

Good luck!

I think there is a doggie litter than you can buy to use instead of the grass patch.

[MY OSCAR]

Originally Posted by roxiesmama

i have one of those rascal dog litter boxes sitting in my basement collecting dust, seeing as roxie refused to use it. She hated the feel of the artificial grass on her feet, and when i did get her on there a few times (using a treat as a lure), she did a little dance and quickly jumped off. I couldn't coax her to even stand on it for more than two seconds, let alone potty on it.

If you're not using the grass, what are you going to use?

Good luck!

hi , well first i am going to try it with just the grate and i am going to put his little fire hydrant in the corner and spray the sterile fox urine on it.
I got "the big squirt" so to make sure he has plenty of room.
I am going to section off half of my living room and put
him in there. Since i do not work i will be here all day to work on it.
Praying that it works ..

[ProudPops]

Have you thought of crate training your dog instead of pad training? We ran into the same issues with our first Yorkie and it was really frustrating. We went to a professional dog trainer and booked an hour with her and she taught us how to crate train.

We never used puppy pads, and the dog would actually go in a litter box after awhile. We then trained her to go outside once we had a house.

It is a lot of repetition, patience, cleaning up accidents, repetition, repetition, repetition. It takes awhile but if I recall it took about a week to have both ours going outside and not in the house but it is constant work. And they are guaranteed to have accidents inside in the beginning. It is par for the course. Just don't get mad at them. It is your fault, not theirs.

I remember our trainer saying to celebrate how many hours you can go accident free inside. Then days. Then months. We trained two exactly the same way, and it is easy once you understand it.

Also, don't ever ever scold your dog for accidents unless you actually catch them in the act. Once a dog goes, they instantly forget what they did and if you start scolding them after the fact they just see you as a crazy person yelling at them for no reason. Never rub their face in it, spray them, hit them, touch them. They will not respond to that at all. Dogs are all about the moment.

We were even told to not let our dogs see us cleaning up accidents. I forget the reasoning but it all worked in the end as my 8 year old girl has not had an accident inside for years.

Crate training. Patience. Positive reinforcement. Repetition. It will all work in the end and you will be so excited. The reward to the human for success doing this is as great as it is for the dog.

You can get litter boxes for dogs if you want to go that direction. They are bigger and allow enough room for them to turn around and do their pre-pee and poop dance. lol

Seeing that trainer was probably the best thing we ever did for our dogs and us. It completely changed the way we approached potty training them. Just find one that will teach you how to crate train a dog, not pad train. If you want to crate train. Pad training would be the same principle but you would be training your dog to go on the pads, not outside or in a litter box.

Good luck and don't get frustrated. That dog knows nothing of your expectations and is looking to you for guidance and support.

P.S. Use a GOOD enzyme based chemical to clean up accidents. We used Natures Miracle. If a dog smells a hint of urine in your carpet or on the floor, they will be more prone to go there again. If you use vinegar, it sets it. If you use an ammonia based cleaner it will encourage them to pee there again. (urine smells like ammonia or has some in it or something like that)

[dawn27]

I'm not sure why you are just letting her run free after being locked in the bathroom. Pick her up and take her/them both out !!

You may want to start training her to go potty outside each time she is taken out of the bathroom. After every drink, meal, play time or nap!

Shes excited, plus (I assume) shes been in there for a while. If you want her to be totally in door potty free, day or night. Than you need to train her to do so. The most important thing is that she needs to be taken out doors to go potty before you allow her run of the house. The older she gets the longer she will be able to hold it, but until than you need to be on potty duty 24/7. It will take time, consistency and a lot of patience but she'll get there.

If for some reason you do not have access to a yard and there is not other option. Than I would put more potty pads in other areas of your home to give her more options. But I would defiantly start the training process before she gets into potty habits that can not be broken.

See if this helps", more tips on training on my site.
Training Tips - Dawn's Yorkies Ohio