One step forward, FIVE steps backward???

[abbie's mom]

AARRRRRRGGGHHHH!!! I am so angry right now, I'm afraid to touch Abbie. I've been so proud of her with going potty on the paper MOST of the time. But, now she's pooing on my furniture!???? We've had two episodes, and I clean up with white vinegar. The odoban gives me migraines.

So frustrating....

[Chelsey]

Awww it will come right....
I know how you feel, for the past 2 days i have caught Chanel peeing where she pleases it does my head in because she knows where to go. She has been very hard to potty train and yet so on the ball with other things, she learns very quickly, but the potty is just not her favourite topic!
Chelsey was a breeze to potty train, you would think Chanel would at least copy that from her lol

[JeanieK]

It is so hard to figure out what is going through their minds. Maybe they are like kids and they just get busy and forget. I will see Ollie run for the paper one time to pee and the next time she'll squat right where she is. I don't think with these small dogs that the training ever ends completely. It comes and goes.

[lisatodd]

how old is abby??

[FirstYorkie]

Personally, I wouldn't let Abbie have access to the furniture until she was more trustworthy!

[abbie's mom]

Hi everyone,

Abbie was born Dec 1, '05. She's 4months.

We have tried to stay right on her, putting her on the paper when she misses, and reinforcing "on the paper, Abbie. Go potty on the paper". And when she hits the paper, we have Potty Party! "YaaaaaaaaaaaY! we pottied on the paper!" (lots of praise and hugs). But, today I just lost it. Normally, she goes from crate to paper in the morning. But today she goes right into the den, and poos on the sofa! My knee-jerk reaction was to snatch her up, yell "NO! Abbie", swat her little bum with a rolled up newspaper (one sheet, very flimsy - more for noise than anything), and deposit her in crate for time out (more for her safety than punishment, if ya know what I mean!) Later, when I opened the crate door, she wouldn't come out. I just let her stay until she was ready to come out; but, she wouldn't come to me for a couple of hours.

I have no idea what would trigger this behavior. The sofa doesn't smell any different than it did before, and nothing traumatic has happened in our home, recently.

As far as not letting her near the furniture until she's better trained; that's not an option, here. I don't know how we'd keep her from the furniture if she's a part of the family, and I don't like putting dogs in playpens.

[LuvtheCooper]

I know where you are coming from!!! Cooper potty trained fairly easily, more so peeing than pooing, but still we will go for a week or two and he has no accidents and then 1 day it will be like he forgot everything. Luckily it will just be 1 bad day out of 7 or 10. I think they are still just immature and will have those days and we just have to love them even so and remember that tomorrow will be better. Luckily in our house if one of us gets irritated on Cooper's "bad days" the other reminds how good he "usually" is. Take heart it WILL get better and then we will be fondly remembering those "puppy days" and won't be remembering any of the bad, but only the good.

[SnowWa]

It isn't easy.

My claim to fame is getting off my butt and religiously remembering to take my little guy (7 months old) outside every hour and a half to two hours. He readily pees outside and not in the house when I do this. And - he has always been good about not peeing all night.

But if I don't get him out - he'll just pee wherever he wants....no big deal to him!

So - you know who's trained in this house -- me! ... not him.

I will say though that since he's older - he can hold it a lot longer. He's confined to the kitchen when I'm at work with a potty pad - and often he doesn't pee at all the whole 6 or 7 hours I'm gone. So --------- I know he can do this.

I put belly bands on my him a lot in the house (even when I'm taking him out every hour or so. This way, I know if he has pee'd - and also, if he does have an accident between trips, he covered.

My older, bigger dog isn't well trained either - but, I just let him out on his own every couple hours, and this keeps him from peeing in the house. He's a shy Bichon and the most he ever does to let me know he wants out is - walk past the door or sit by the door for a minute or two. It's easy to miss this!

This is part of the price we pay to have these wonderful, adorable little dogs. And - it's worth it, but it is a pain the behind.

Guess we just have to keep working at it!!!!!!


Carol Jean

[Oscar's Mom]

Oh guys...don't know what to tell you but be very persistent. When Oscar was little, I took him out constantly...like every 20 minutes during the day for the first few months. When he was able to hold it, it got easier. Now he will go to the door and bark...every time! If I don't let him out right away, he just will not give up on me...he is relentless. I know his schedule and you can tell time by his pooping schedule. He poops at like 7 in the morning and 7 at night...it is like this every day!!! It is all about a routine around here and that works very well for us. Best of luck with your babies...they will get it in the long run...I hope!

[abbie's mom]

Thanks, everyone for the encouragement - and, for sharing your potty woes and tips with me! Well, the common thread that seems to run through success is persistent outside training. What I haven't mentioned is that this is going to be almost impossible for me. *sigh* My daughter is multi-challenged, and has seizures every day; so I can't very well leave her alone to take Abbie outside every half hour. I'm afraid to just leave Miss Abbie outside alone, even though we have a large fenced-in backyard. There are so many ways a little puppy can get into trouble! And, then, I wonder: "what if a hawk comes along and snatches her?"

Well, I guess one just does the best we can. I will endeavor to get her out as much as possible, and assuredly report back with her progress!

Debbie - you are most blessed in your Oscar, m'dear!

Originally Posted by SnowWa

..the most he ever does to let me know he wants out is - walk past the door or sit by the door for a minute or two. It's easy to miss this!

LOL I have one of those, too, Carol Jean! My senior mixed, "Mozart" thinks we should be telepathic, I guess. He's getting better now about letting us know by actually whining, or scratching at the door; but, for years, he'd just go to the door, and sit. It's kinda hard to wake someone by sitting at a door!

[Oscar's Mom]

Ada, so sorry about your daughter...how about a litter box? I have seen some on here that have great success with litter boxes...but I guess like potty pads, they have to get that idea in those little heads...she will get it.

[abbie's mom]

Thank-you for your thoughts, Debbie; but, our Hannah is happy, despite the hurdles she must face.

Now, about the 'P' problem. In all fairness, I want to share that we've had NO incidents in the past two days! Of course, THIS day's not over, yet! LOL She's hit the paper with both Pee and Poo, and I was gone for most of today, which usually upsets her even with other people in the house.

So...three cheers for abbie!