Potty training a puppy can be tricky. No rhyme or reason why sometimes they get it and sometimes they don't. I chalk it up to maturity. By putting your puppy on a strict schedule, she'll come around. Give her breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the same time everyday. Play with her for an hour and let her eliminate in the proper spot, but then put her back in her crate until the next meal. After reading, "How to House Train Your Dog in Seven Days," this was Sydney's schedule, and it worked:
7 a.m. potty, breakfast, play, potty, play
9 a.m. crate
12 p.m. lunch, play, potty, play
1:15 p.m. crate
5 p.m. dinner, play, potty, play
6:15 p.m. crate
8 p.m. last drink of water for the evening, play, potty, play
9 p.m. crate
11:30 p.m. last time to potty for the evening.
I could almost set my watch by when she had to potty and what kind of potty she had to do. When Sydney regressed, which happens, I went back to the strict schedule until she go it. Don't give your puppy free roam of the house. As she improves, then give her a bit more access under close supervision. When you can't watch her, gate her off in a small area with wee wee pads or use an exercise pen. |