When I first got Ella (at 12 weeks), she was peeing well on the pads but would not poop on the pad. I had to place two pee pads on the floor, one she peed on and she learned to poop on the other one. I treated her a lot when she pooped on the pad. After a month, she pooped consistently on the pad, but once in a while would pee on my rugs. That first month was hell BTW. It was tiring to watch her all the time. She's my first dog.
Peeing outside:
When she was about 4.5 months, I started training her to potty outside. But she would just hold it in until she got back inside. Once in a while she would pee outside, not on the grass, just the pavement. That was progress!!! Then one day she was squatting outside and squealed, like it hurt to pee. She tried to pee again inside on a pee pad and squealed again. After that she was scared of her pee pad, held her pee for a long time and would pee on my rugs. Went to the vet and she had what appeared to be UTI or maybe bladder infection (even though the tests were negative). She squealed a little when the vet poked her bladder area. I had to get a pee sample to confirm, so made her drink a lot of water. Maybe she drank too much water afterwards and she peed A LOT when we were outside. I think she just had to get comfortable with peeing outside and that helped a lot. Both on the pavement and the lawn. After that, she peed less and less inside when I'm home since I just take her out regularly (every couple of hours maybe?). And she pees on the pad in her pen when I'm at work.
Pooping outside
I started with weekday morning trainings with her. I knew she wakes up at 435ish in the morning so I would get up at 415 so I can catch potty time before she does it on the pad. When she pooped, I gave her lots of treats and got really excited. But I know consistency is key, so i took advantage of one long weekend. We did the morning thing, and after each meal, when she was sniffing around the house, I thought it was time for her to poop. So we would go to the backyard, no toys, just me standing there waiting for something to happen. She did poop eventually and I gave her lots of treats for pooping. After being consistent with that during the weekend, she has only pooped inside once (but that was my fault -- gave her too much carrots, oops).
Now at 6 months
I taught her how to use the bell by the door. She rings it when she 'wants' to go outside, whether to play or potty. She only pees on the pad when i get lazy. I keep her on a regular feeding schedule so she poops on schedule (not when I'm at work) -- I slipped one time and gave her green peas and carrots for breakfast and she pooped 6 times that day with just 2 meals. That won't happen again.
Peeing and pooing on command
Try to teach to pee and poo on command. It only works for Ella when she has something in her bladder, or has to poop. Theres a lot of youtube videos on how to do this. My Ella responds to "go pee" and "go poopoo". Had to teach her to pee on command because I had to take her with me on a road trip, and poop on command because she tends to eat her poop if she poops while I'm at work. |