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Erin · 06-24-2009, 07:22 AM

Both of mine are trained to go outside. Loki is 4 and Sammy is 3.

Loki was trained by 10 months, but he also had medical issues that made him have to pee every 20 minutes. (If he didn't have that he would have been trained sooner, he'll do anything for a cookie) He is now on medication that makes it more like every 45 minutes

He has not pooped in the house since he was like 5 months old. He rarely if EVER pees on the floor. Like maybe every 6 months. If he does, it's by the door and it's because he drank too much and no one let him out (water goes right through him) It's always our fault and always just an accident. He was neutered at 6 months, doesn't lift, and he marks outside but NEVER inside.

Sammy was 10 months old when we got her, not house trained, and we got her trained in about 6 months. She still poops on the floor like twice a month if she has to go and no one lets her out (Loki on the other hand will throw a barking, whining FIT in front of the door before even considering pooping on the floor.) We just go out with her and MAKE SURE she goes twice a day. Our "problem times" are first thing in the morning (she does not re-enter the house without pooping outside) and we keep our door closed at night since if she does go, she does it downstairs. If it's been a few hours after dinner and she has not gone, she is not allowed on a different level of the house than one of us. If no one is upstairs she is not allowed upstairs alone until she goes. It really just takes a lot of communication between us. We just keep each other informed of the poop-status each day LOL

We never used pads, and I say the key to our success was crate training and taking them outside on LEASHES so we were there to reward them immediately when they went. WALKS were crucial when we were in a hurry and needed them to go quickly before we left the house - They always poop on walks and pee no less than 6 times

They were also taken out on a schedule. With Loki I had to set a timer, literally. Sam was easier because she only had to pee 1/2 as often as Loki, so as long as she went out every time he did, she was empty most of the time. Now they are trained to ring a bell when they need to go out so we are no longer on a schedule and just do on-demand potty breaks

I only make them go out if I'm leaving the house or before bed. Oh and you have to WATCH them go. Going out with them, or in my case mostly standing in the door holding the leash, cuts down on the fooling around outside. They know the difference between a potty break and a walk. Walks are for sniffing and marking and chasing bugs. Potty breaks are outside.grass.pee.inside.treat

They were crated when we couldn't monitor them, like when showering or cooking dinner or when we were not home. They used to have free roam of the house when we were not home, but we put in a wood floor that would be completely ruined if one of them did have an accident while we were gone and could not clean it right away, so they are either left in the bedroom to sleep or in their crate, together, which is huge (like if crates come in 5 sizes, it's size 4) and has big fluffy pillows and their favorite blanket in there. Loki loves the crate and immediately plops himself in the back (his fav spot) to take a nap. Sammy screams and fights to get out the whole time you are home, but shuts up the minute we leave the house so we know it's all an act and not separation anxiety. She is not scared of the crate, since it is one of her favorite places to take a nap during the day - as long you don't close it! She just prefers to be with us so if at all possible they go with us in the car.

So anyway, it was a full time job but it's so much easier to live with them now

And yes, we live near Chicago so they go outside in wind, rain, snow, ice, etc. The worst is the rain because they don't like the wet grass. Snow is no big deal. Wind is bad. They will go out in any weather as long as I encourage them. They are out there for 30 seconds tops in bad weather. I think we only had like 2 days last winter where I had to put coats and boots on them. Otherwise they run out in their t-shirts or hoodies and they are fine

06-24-2009, 07:22 AM	#11
Erin Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 3,306	Both of mine are trained to go outside. Loki is 4 and Sammy is 3. Loki was trained by 10 months, but he also had medical issues that made him have to pee every 20 minutes. (If he didn't have that he would have been trained sooner, he'll do anything for a cookie) He is now on medication that makes it more like every 45 minutes He has not pooped in the house since he was like 5 months old. He rarely if EVER pees on the floor. Like maybe every 6 months. If he does, it's by the door and it's because he drank too much and no one let him out (water goes right through him) It's always our fault and always just an accident. He was neutered at 6 months, doesn't lift, and he marks outside but NEVER inside. Sammy was 10 months old when we got her, not house trained, and we got her trained in about 6 months. She still poops on the floor like twice a month if she has to go and no one lets her out (Loki on the other hand will throw a barking, whining FIT in front of the door before even considering pooping on the floor.) We just go out with her and MAKE SURE she goes twice a day. Our "problem times" are first thing in the morning (she does not re-enter the house without pooping outside) and we keep our door closed at night since if she does go, she does it downstairs. If it's been a few hours after dinner and she has not gone, she is not allowed on a different level of the house than one of us. If no one is upstairs she is not allowed upstairs alone until she goes. It really just takes a lot of communication between us. We just keep each other informed of the poop-status each day LOL We never used pads, and I say the key to our success was crate training and taking them outside on LEASHES so we were there to reward them immediately when they went. WALKS were crucial when we were in a hurry and needed them to go quickly before we left the house - They always poop on walks and pee no less than 6 times They were also taken out on a schedule. With Loki I had to set a timer, literally. Sam was easier because she only had to pee 1/2 as often as Loki, so as long as she went out every time he did, she was empty most of the time. Now they are trained to ring a bell when they need to go out so we are no longer on a schedule and just do on-demand potty breaks I only make them go out if I'm leaving the house or before bed. Oh and you have to WATCH them go. Going out with them, or in my case mostly standing in the door holding the leash, cuts down on the fooling around outside. They know the difference between a potty break and a walk. Walks are for sniffing and marking and chasing bugs. Potty breaks are outside.grass.pee.inside.treat They were crated when we couldn't monitor them, like when showering or cooking dinner or when we were not home. They used to have free roam of the house when we were not home, but we put in a wood floor that would be completely ruined if one of them did have an accident while we were gone and could not clean it right away, so they are either left in the bedroom to sleep or in their crate, together, which is huge (like if crates come in 5 sizes, it's size 4) and has big fluffy pillows and their favorite blanket in there. Loki loves the crate and immediately plops himself in the back (his fav spot) to take a nap. Sammy screams and fights to get out the whole time you are home, but shuts up the minute we leave the house so we know it's all an act and not separation anxiety. She is not scared of the crate, since it is one of her favorite places to take a nap during the day - as long you don't close it! She just prefers to be with us so if at all possible they go with us in the car. So anyway, it was a full time job but it's so much easier to live with them now And yes, we live near Chicago so they go outside in wind, rain, snow, ice, etc. The worst is the rain because they don't like the wet grass. Snow is no big deal. Wind is bad. They will go out in any weather as long as I encourage them. They are out there for 30 seconds tops in bad weather. I think we only had like 2 days last winter where I had to put coats and boots on them. Otherwise they run out in their t-shirts or hoodies and they are fine Last edited by Erin; 06-24-2009 at 07:26 AM.