I Just Want to CRY!! I'm losing the battle!

[gram2k]

Unfortunately you are not alone and I am personally glad that you posted this, as we're also having a tough time with 5 month old Chloe. Just when we think she's got it, she'll stand right in front of you and pee! #2 is altogether a sneaky process as she sneaks and hides to do that, and usually in a seperate room from the pad? Obviously we have to become more diligent in watching her and even getting back on a schedule. Fortunately, my carpet was in need of replacement already and actually why we timed getting a puppy now. Although we discourage any "accidents" even on older carpet, I'm hoping the day comes soon that she's trained so that I can replace all of it! It's beginning to look a little too tattered!!!

I've been reading about placing her in the crate for long stretches of time, then letting her out, but I have not had much luck with this method as she feels confined in her crate and will begin crying and barking to get out. Seems others dogs like being crated. Am I doing something wrong?

Also, a so called "dog expert" on a show mentioned mixing 1 part mint alcohol to 2 parts water in a spray bottle and spraying it directly on the urine stain. It's supposed to break down the acids that cause the odor.

We will be traveling without her this summer and none of my pet sitters will take her unless she is potty trained ( I don't blame them! ) I need to get this under control before then!

[BellaBlue82]

Originally Posted by gram2k

Unfortunately you are not alone and I am personally glad that you posted this, as we're also having a tough time with 5 month old Chloe. Just when we think she's got it, she'll stand right in front of you and pee! #2 is altogether a sneaky process as she sneaks and hides to do that, and usually in a seperate room from the pad? Obviously we have to become more diligent in watching her and even getting back on a schedule. Fortunately, my carpet was in need of replacement already and actually why we timed getting a puppy now. Although we discourage any "accidents" even on older carpet, I'm hoping the day comes soon that she's trained so that I can replace all of it! It's beginning to look a little too tattered!!!

I've been reading about placing her in the crate for long stretches of time, then letting her out, but I have not had much luck with this method as she feels confined in her crate and will begin crying and barking to get out. Seems others dogs like being crated. Am I doing something wrong?

Also, a so called "dog expert" on a show mentioned mixing 1 part mint alcohol to 2 parts water in a spray bottle and spraying it directly on the urine stain. It's supposed to break down the acids that cause the odor.

We will be traveling without her this summer and none of my pet sitters will take her unless she is potty trained ( I don't blame them! ) I need to get this under control before then!

Lol that's so funny how different dogs are! My Sasha has no shame, if I'm not watching her like a hawk, she'll squat right in front of me and take a poo right in the kitchen! Thank God I have tile flooring in the entire downstairs of my house!

[QuickSilver]

Originally Posted by gram2k

Unfortunately you are not alone and I am personally glad that you posted this, as we're also having a tough time with 5 month old Chloe. Just when we think she's got it, she'll stand right in front of you and pee! #2 is altogether a sneaky process as she sneaks and hides to do that, and usually in a seperate room from the pad? Obviously we have to become more diligent in watching her and even getting back on a schedule. Fortunately, my carpet was in need of replacement already and actually why we timed getting a puppy now. Although we discourage any "accidents" even on older carpet, I'm hoping the day comes soon that she's trained so that I can replace all of it! It's beginning to look a little too tattered!!!

I've been reading about placing her in the crate for long stretches of time, then letting her out, but I have not had much luck with this method as she feels confined in her crate and will begin crying and barking to get out. Seems others dogs like being crated. Am I doing something wrong?

Also, a so called "dog expert" on a show mentioned mixing 1 part mint alcohol to 2 parts water in a spray bottle and spraying it directly on the urine stain. It's supposed to break down the acids that cause the odor.

We will be traveling without her this summer and none of my pet sitters will take her unless she is potty trained ( I don't blame them! ) I need to get this under control before then!

Getting them to like the crate is another step. That usually involves putting some bedding in, putting it in a part of the room where she feels safe, but can survey the action elsewhere, and leaving the door open so that it's a place she can retire.

You can also use the dislike of the crate to your advantage with potty training: ONLY let her out when she goes. Try the crate for brief stretches of time, and ignore her when she cries. More time out of the crate just means you'll need to watch her more.

Also, a lot of dogs don't like being in the crate if they see everyone else moving around and having fun. You can try taking her out more and really tiring her out - play fetch with her for an hour, so when she's inside, she just wants to sleep.

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Hang in there! You've gotten a lot of good advice already. It will happen and one day she will "get it".

I would definitely try the expen thing. Try putting a shower liner underneath so if she does potty it can be wiped up so the carpet will not have the smell. I use Nature's Miracle. We also use potty pads, this has helped us tremendously as we have a sporadic schedule and sometimes we are late getting home. Pads are not for everyone but they do serve a purpose.

We use the phrase "do your stuff".

Good luck.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

Getting them to like the crate is another step. That usually involves putting some bedding in, putting it in a part of the room where she feels safe, but can survey the action elsewhere, and leaving the door open so that it's a place she can retire.

You can also use the dislike of the crate to your advantage with potty training: ONLY let her out when she goes. Try the crate for brief stretches of time, and ignore her when she cries. More time out of the crate just means you'll need to watch her more.

Also, a lot of dogs don't like being in the crate if they see everyone else moving around and having fun. You can try taking her out more and really tiring her out - play fetch with her for an hour, so when she's inside, she just wants to sleep.

How do you do that, and how long do you let them cry? Is there a time period where you say that's too much? I couldn't do it with my skin kids and I can't do it with Joey, he loves his crate, and goes in it on his own, but I can't stand to hear him cry if I close the door. I would like to get him use to it, especially if I have to leave him alone for an hour.

[QuickSilver]

Well, both dogs and kids can learn to cry if that gets them what they want. I don't know if there's any set time limit when you can tell if they're genuinely in distress. I think it's about getting to know them and knowing what they tolerate. Being in a crate is not inherently painful or scary, so I don't think there's anything wrong with letting them cry it out. They are most likely crying because it is unfamiliar or they are frustrated, which they can learn to live with.

I guess it depends on what you want to use the crate for. I eventually put mine away after I was confident on his potty training.

I assume you've done the standard drills to get him to like his crate more? Putting him in with a nice chew and closing the door for a few minutes, etc, so he associates a closed crate door with a special treat?

[rocky raccoon]

I feel spoiled. I used crate and paper training with Rocky. And it was a snap. He figured out that the paper in the bathroom was his place to go and only once in a great while, usually when he is mad at me does he poop right in the middle of the floor.

But, we have a new baby sister on the way. she will be 10 months old when she gets here, Hawaii quarantine.... I sure hoe I have the same luck, with little Lilly.

Are females harder to train than males? I think I've head that.

[rilysmom]

Originally Posted by rocky raccoon

I feel spoiled. I used crate and paper training with Rocky. And it was a snap. He figured out that the paper in the bathroom was his place to go and only once in a great while, usually when he is mad at me does he poop right in the middle of the floor.

But, we have a new baby sister on the way. she will be 10 months old when she gets here, Hawaii quarantine.... I sure hoe I have the same luck, with little Lilly.

Are females harder to train than males? I think I've head that.

From my experience, YES!

[HarleyHOO]

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

Keep fighting the good fight! I also had several moments where I thought Thor would never get it. I even started a thread titled "Untrainable?".

For me, the key was total, total vigilence. We had about two weeks where I really didn't do anything but watch him. As Nancy suggests, I put him in his crate every few hours, and when I took him out, I took him straight to his pad and said, "Potty." If he didn't go, I put him back in the crate for ~15 minutes, and then tried again. We had two marathon sessions where he stayed in his create for OVER 24 HOURS! But when he finally went, it seemed to click for him.

I also took about a month where he was only allowed in my living room (which pretty much meant that's where I always was too). Then I added half of my hallway. A week later with no accidents, the entire hallway. Another week, the bathroom. Etc. It felt like an eternity, but I think overall it was only about two months, and it's sooooooooo nice to take his training for granted now.

Thor was about two years old when I got him, and he'd previously been allowed to roam free in his owner's office building, so he had tons of experience going indoors. And even he got it. Your dog can too!

Whatever your method, it boils down to vigilence. If you cannot watch her with BOTH eyes, she must be in her restricted area (crate/xpen). If she's sneaking off to pee, that's a sign that she needs to be watched more closely / has too much freedom. As I said, the extreme, don't-let-them-out-of-your-sight-for-even-one-second attention lasted for several weeks, and then I could relax a little more, while still keeping most of my apartment off limits.

Agreed.... I did something very similar with Harley... she was completely house broke by the age of 6 months, I think...she just turned a year old and always goes to the door and whines when she needs to be let out. You can do it...just be persistent with what you want. Good luck!

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

Well, both dogs and kids can learn to cry if that gets them what they want. I don't know if there's any set time limit when you can tell if they're genuinely in distress. I think it's about getting to know them and knowing what they tolerate. Being in a crate is not inherently painful or scary, so I don't think there's anything wrong with letting them cry it out. They are most likely crying because it is unfamiliar or they are frustrated, which they can learn to live with.

I guess it depends on what you want to use the crate for. I eventually put mine away after I was confident on his potty training.

I assume you've done the standard drills to get him to like his crate more? Putting him in with a nice chew and closing the door for a few minutes, etc, so he associates a closed crate door with a special treat?

Yes, I've done the treat thing, and like I said, he doesn't mind going in there, it just having the door closed. He's house broken, I don't use the crate for that, it's just I think they seem safer in the crate if I'd have to leave for an hour, I know some people whose dogs love their crates and gladly go into them. Part of the problem I'm sure was we used a wire crate that had a tray bottom with bedding on the tray, and he got his paw stuck between the tray and the wire once, so after that it took a long time before he'd even go back into the crate, and then I could never close the door. I have a new soft sided crate that he also goes into on his own, but I haven't tried to close the door, I want a plan in mind before I try it.

[spiritwings1202]

Pixie is 7 months old and fully pad trained. This is what I did.........
When I brought her home I had an ex-pen set up in the living room and I had it set up the elongated way. I put a plastic runner underneath for accidents. I put her bed in the far end of the crate food and water in the middle and at the end of the crate I put her pee pad.

I would let her out of her pen to play for about an hour and put her back in her pen and tell her to go pee pee. when she would go I would say good girl and get all excited and let her out to play. Then repeat in another hr. If she didn't go I did not let her out until she peed, or if I wanted to play with her I would watch her like a hawk and if she sniffed I would pick her up and put her in her pen and tell her to do pee pee.
I also gated off the living room and that was the only room she had full run of. When she was playing I would always leave the gate open in case she wanted to go in and pee.

At night I had a crate with her bed in it and some food and water. I kept it by my bed so I could hear her if she had to go, she would whine. I would pick her up and bring her to her pen and shut the door and tell her to go pee pee. Sometimes she would take her dilly dally time. I would wait until she went, and at night I would give her a cheerio so she would go sooner. Then back in her crate till morning. First thing in the morning I would pick her up and bring her right to her pad.

She started having a few accident behind my husbands recliner so I said ok I will fix you and I put a pad tray there and she started using it.

Don't get discouraged I think it is really persistence. I was home a lot too which I think made a huge difference in the success.

Eventually she started going in her pen or on the other pad when she had to pee. when she gained my trust I started letting her have more run of the house. The poop took a little longer, but she eventually did that as well. If I started to see her squat to poop on the floor I would pick her up and put her on her pad.

It has been over a month or so since we have not had an accident. When she gets excited bc someone comes over I have to say Pixie go pee pee. She is like.........oh yeah and runs to her pad like a lil kid running to the bathroom! lol

If you need any more help just pm me I will try the best I can to give you advice. Hang in there it will happen........ just don't give up!!~Joyce

[QuickSilver]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Yes, I've done the treat thing, and like I said, he doesn't mind going in there, it just having the door closed. He's house broken, I don't use the crate for that, it's just I think they seem safer in the crate if I'd have to leave for an hour, I know some people whose dogs love their crates and gladly go into them. Part of the problem I'm sure was we used a wire crate that had a tray bottom with bedding on the tray, and he got his paw stuck between the tray and the wire once, so after that it took a long time before he'd even go back into the crate, and then I could never close the door. I have a new soft sided crate that he also goes into on his own, but I haven't tried to close the door, I want a plan in mind before I try it.

How about closing the door, and THEN giving him the treat? Sticking it in through the side? Something really good that he doesn't get under any other circs. Then you can sit by the crate while he eats it, and then let him out again. Etc.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

How about closing the door, and THEN giving him the treat? Sticking it in through the side? Something really good that he doesn't get under any other circs. Then you can sit by the crate while he eats it, and then let him out again. Etc.

Never thought of that! Thanks. He's very food oriented.

[Maddie23]

My Maddie is two. I have a large fenced yard and found that there was too much distraction. I purchased a small x-pen and we started actually picking her up inside and carrying her to the pen, placing her in the pen to pee and poop. This served multiple purposes. Her scent was really strong in the small area so she would pretty much go right away. One of us always takes her out so we know for sure if she goes or not. There are also no distractions so she pretty much knows to take care of her business if she wants out. We often let her out to run around the yard after she has taken care of business, so sometimes that is a treat as well. If I have time, I sometimes would just let her run around the yard, but even then, watched her like a hawk and would praise her whenever I saw her squat. She will pee and poop first thing in the a.m. and right after eating supper and about every 4 hours in between. When I know it is poop time, I just keep her in the x-pen, tell her good girl after she pees, then say go poopie and then ignore her until she does. Sometimes I think we use to not give her enough time and she would come in the house and then poop!

With the shape of my house, the bells would not work since there are parts of the house you wouldn't be able to hear them. I started getting Maddie to bark before we walked outside. I did this by "barking" at her , I know, I'm nuts, until she would bark back at me. When she barked, I would say good girl, lets go potty and did this EVERY time. Now, when she needs to go out, she will bark and let us know. However, I don't rely on this alone. If it's been 4 hours I will take her out to pee even if she isn't barking. If she doesn't go, I take her every 15 min or so after that until she does go. I do crate her if we are going to be gone from the house for more than 4 hours so she doesn't have the chance to have an accident.

BTW, she is 7 lbs and I came up with the 4 hour time by actually writing down the times she went potty until I could figure out her schedule. Just like a baby!

[Bet]

Originally Posted by Maximo

I understand your frustration. Hang in there and don't give up.

Try going outside with Pixie and force her to stay outside until she pees or poops. It might take awhile -- I'm an impatient person, so I know how aggravating it is to wait, especially in bad weather. Walking can speed up the process, especially for poops.

When Pixie does things correctly, praise her profusely immediately. Maybe give her a treat. Keep up the praise for correct potties her entire life. I believe praise is key to continued success.

Try to keep a schedule of regular potty outings -- in other words, go at regular intervals about the same time each day. Of course, if you sense she needs to go out at a different time, take her outside immediately. At 7 months, Yorkies need frequent outings.

To get the smell out of the carpet and discourage her from returning to the same place, use an enzyme cleaner. I also highly recommend investing in a decent carpet steam cleaner. I bought a Hoover for under $200 at Walmart, and many people have suggested the Rug Doctor available at Kohl's. I use Woolite Oxy for Pets in my machine.

Good luck! Hope some of these suggestions will help you.

We just got a 2 year old female from a breeder. She wasn't house trained but she was crate trained. She has only had a few accidents but they were starting to happen more frequently. Anyway, that is what I did - I took her out and didn't let her back in until she at the very least piddled. I have my fingers crossed - she seems to have gotten the message. I do praise her when she piddles or poops outside.