Any Potty Training Advice

[Deegan's mom]

Hi all,

I need some help. We are trying to potty train Deegan but I think I am doing it wrong because after two weeks he still just goes where ever he wants, even after he's been outside for the last 1/2 hour.

I have 9-5 job, and my boyfriend works midnights. So Deegan usually sleeps in the bedroom with me in his bed at night, next to mine. He usually pees on the carpet and then decides to wake me up during the night. Then I do put him outside and wait to see if he does anything. Sometimes he does, sometimes he doesn't. Then I go inside to clean his mess, and head back to bed.

When I wake up in the morning I put him out to see if he pees. Maybe he will, maybe not. I then bring him in and feed him and let him eat as I am getting ready for work until my boyfriend comes home. Then he goes into the laundry room (with papers on the floor) so that he can play, eat or sleep as he wants through the day while Julien sleeps until he is let outside. But when he is outside he usually gets so distracted with everything that he doesn't pee, then once inside - he pees!

If we go anywhere for a couple hours we will put him in his crate. I just feel bad putting him in his crate all night and then again while I am at work and Julien is sleeping. Isn't that too much time in the crate? And if he's not eating all day while in the crate won't his sugar levels drop?
If anyone has any suggestions that they could offer I would really appreciate it, as Julien takes alot of pride in our home and he is getting fed up with Deegan peeing in the house all the time. We know he's a baby, but I think "we" are the ones that need the help in order to help the pup learn. :Puppy:

And for the rest of the time we try to put him out whenever we see him sniffing or at least every 1-2 hours.
What does everyone else do?

[bld2751]

I have two that are still in the process of being potty trained. Hercules is 10 months and Athena is 5 1/2 months. We put both of them in their crate at night, when we are at work, and whenever else we leave. If you are ok with crating your pup, then I would suggest putting him in there at night when you are sleeping. I'm assuming he's still pretty young. If so, set your alarm half way through the night and try taking him out. Since his bladder isn't fully developed yet, he will need to relieve himself before you wake up. As he gets older, he will be able to hold it througout the night. But give him time. It seems to me that he is having an accident in the middle of the night because he can't quite hold it that long enough yet.

Also, I think you should try taking him out a little more often. Every 1 to 2 hours is probably not enough if he is young. I probably take my two out every half hour or whenever they go near the door.

As for the distractions outside, maybe try to keep him on a leash close to you and try not to let him play too much. Also, try taking him to the same place to relieve himself each time. That way he will associate this place with where he is supposed to go potty. Also, try not to play outside with him when it's potty time. There should be a difference between potty time and play time. After he potties praise him tons and tons and then take him in.

Hope some of this helps some.

Good luck and hang in there. I promise it gets easier!!

[Deegan's mom]

Thanks for the quick reply. I will start setting my alarm and letting him out more often. Plus, my boyfriend is going to fence off a designated potty area for him too.
But do you think that I should keep him in his crate all day too if he's in it all night, or just keep leaving him in the laundry room for the day so he can play and eat and sleep when he wants?

[Bella0722]

Deegan's Mom,

My yorkie is now almost 12 weeks young(General Patton). Tomorrow will be two weeks since I've had him. For the most part he is piddle trained, though I think he gets confused b/c I have four piddle stations throughout the house. I crate him at night, like you, while asleep. In the middle of the night, when I need to go to the restroom, I take him out of the crate and bring him in my bathroom, where I have a piddle station. I reward him by letting him stay in bed with me for the rest of the night now that he's peed. That has worked for me. He's never had an accident at night. In the morning, when I see him going towards the end of the bed is my cue he needs to go and then I take him to my bathroom. Then I reward by spending 1:1 time playing in bed, then we eat. My issue is more that he gets distracted when he sees my other dog, my Smooth Fox Terrier. When he had an accident in the first few days after I got him, I moved the piddle station to where he just had peed. He since has done his business on the new station. When I leave to go to work, I leave him in the basement, that is air conditioned, in his playpen. I always feel guilty, but many of us have to work, so I create an environment for him that he will feel safe and comfortable. Of course, he misses me as I miss him.

You may want to consider a playpen, where he has a small fleece bed to sleep in, his water and food bowl, some toys, and a piddle pad. The playpen is large enough(and you can even buy some additional panels) for him to move around, sleep etc.

Also, I would only reinforce good behavior, and like bld2751 praise him lots when he's mastered it. I wouldn't try to take him out every 1-2 hours b/c you are reinforcing that he's got to often. I know his bladder is small because he's a puppy, but I'd keep an eye out ten to fifteen minutes after he drinks water or eats.

I am by no means an expert. I am still learning myself. But this has worked most of the time. I'd like it to work all the time, but I need to be patient myself. After all, he is a puppy who has only been with us for less than two weeks, and he like us, is adjusting to so many things.

Hope this was helpful. Let us know how it's working out for you.

~Bella, General Patton, & Maria~

[bld2751]

Originally Posted by Deegan's mom

Thanks for the quick reply. I will start setting my alarm and letting him out more often. Plus, my boyfriend is going to fence off a designated potty area for him too.
But do you think that I should keep him in his crate all day too if he's in it all night, or just keep leaving him in the laundry room for the day so he can play and eat and sleep when he wants?

We keep our dogs in the crate at night and during the day. Of course at first they had accidents in the crate. They are left in there for about 8 hours during the day. But Athena only has an accident every now and then (like if I'm 1/2 hour late because of traffic). Hercules, on the other hand, has not had an accident in his crate in months. It's all about how old they are and how developed their bladders are I believe.

How is he doing in the laundry room? If he's doing ok in there, then maybe keep doing that. If you think he might need more structure, then maybe try crating him.

I also remembered that you asked about if his sugar levels would drop from not eating while in the crate. Have you ever had issues with this?? I never have with either dog and I don't believe that crating them has ever had a negative impact on their sugar levels or anything like that.

[Stitches29]

First thing, get your carpets professionally cleaned. As long as his scent is there, then he will continue to pp on them. Take him out on a LEASH ONLY. Continually repeat the word PP or Potty. As soon as he does it, pick him up, give him praise and go inside. Give him a PP treat when inside. Even call it a PP treat. He will soon associate the treat and PP. Have him sleep in his crate in you bedroom at night. Get up and take him outside during the night every two hours. No talking to him, or PP treat at night. Anytime he completely refuses to PP or Potty, put him in a confined puppy proof room, or an exercise pen. Do Not let him have run of the house until completely house trained. If you can watch his every move, then he can be in the same room you are in, but no farther than that. During the day, I would place him in the puppy proof room or exercise pen. Puppies can not hold it all day. They won't be able to do that until their bladder muscles have grown stronger. The only way that can happen, is with a little age. I have to brag a lot on Maggie. She is 4 months old and completely house trained. She even rings a bell on our back door when she needs to go out. It was pure HELL for two months of no sleep, but I did it and now everybody is much happier. Oh, one more thing. Do not yell or punish a Yorkie. That usually has a reverse effect on your training.