New Puppy (Kya) 7 weeks old... need help

[CState14]

OK, so we've had her for four days only now, and she's beautiful, but I need help on the potty training part. We have her crated and we use the "Potty Pads" next to her crate. She goes sometimes on them and sometimes elsewhere on the kitchen floor (we won't let her in any other rooms yet). When she does the "potty" elsewhere we just tell her NO and have her look at it, smell it, etc., then we bring her to the potty pad. Anyone know if I'm doing this right, wrong, suggestions??

Thanks
Kevin

[BLowry]

Morning! Sadie is 2 1/2 years old...she still isn't totally house broken... [my fault] anyway, I have had several dogs in my lifetime...crate training is the best...It was difficult with Sadie, when I first got her I was working..my Mom and Dad did doggy day care for me...so going back and forth I think confused her. I will be getting a new puppy in a couple of weeks. I plan on blocking her in the kitchen..{with food, water, toys and a dog litter box} I am hoping once the new pup is litter trained Sadie will go in there too...A dog will usually go where another has gone. Have you tried bring her outside after eating? I will do this with Sadie...I will walk her around the yard and his gets things moving....I would NEVER stick an animals nose in poop! This will only encourage them to eat it !! Then you will have another issue to deal with. Don't yell at her either..If you see her going pick her up and put her on the pee pee pad, or outside, if she finishes where you put her PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE!! Give her a little treat, something she wouldn't normally get and tell her how good she is.

[bradyem]

I know a lot of people have luck with crate training. However, I was not one of those people. Rockie (who is now 7 mos) use the crate as his dumping ground and while I started with one to big--I immediately purchased one small enough for only to stand and turn around in and it didn't help--he then pooped and peed on himself and what a mess I had. What worked for me was to make sure I was feeding him at certain times (and picking up his food dish so that he couldn't freely eat on his own) and then watching and taking him outside when I noticed the signs---and then treats and praise for eliminating. During the day when I was gone I used puppy pads in the kitchen where I gaited him and tried to get home before he would need to go (I was lucky to work close enough that I could run home when he was little--on my lunch hour that is). Soon he got old enough where he should be able to hold it longer and I removed the puppy pads. If he had an accident I just would say "No potty in the house" and then take him outside and tell him "go potty". Of couse I was also telling him everytime I attempted or knew he had to go "go potty" and he learned to link that command with eliminating. He still has some issues with pooping right by the door but I have had success along with putting in a doggy door which was a huge help and he took to that very quickly as well. I don't know if that helps at all--good luck--yours is so little; it does take time and a lot of patience. I never rubbed pee or poop in his nose--.

[Oscar's Mummy]

I had an ex-pen setup with a pee pad in it for Oscar. When I first brought him home, I would periodically pick him up and put him in his pen with the pad (actually put him on the pad) - walk away and leave him there for a couple minutes. When I returned if he had done his business, I would gush over him and tell him what a good boy he was (some use treats, but he responded really well to my high-pitched, happy voice). He would wiggle his bum and wag his tail and knew he had done something right. I didn't wait for him to start peeing on my carpet - I made sure to take him in there every hour or so. He did really well with this - caught on very quickly. Soon, you start to notice the 'signs' that the puppy needs to go (Oscar doesn't bark, so I have had to be really 'in tune' with him and his body language). Now, I just leave the door to the pen open and Oscar trots off in there, does his business, and comes back out...

It's really just like training anything else - reward them for doing the right behavior, and don't scold them unless you actually catch them in the act. If you do see your puppy about to squat, clap your hands once really loud to startle them and they'll stop peeing - then pick them up and take them to their pad. It sounds like you're doing ok with the training - it just takes time - and an understanding that when they gotta go, they gotta go - puppies can't hold it.

[LuvMySissy]

Welcome to YT Kevin. 7 weeks is still very young, so don't expect too much just yet. If you are going to pee pad train, then just as you would take them outside often, place her on the pee pad often and repeat "potty" or whatever other phrase you wish to use. Praise her when she does, perhaps give a little treat. It will take time for her to understand the pee pads are where she is supposed to go. Keep the soiled pee pad in place so the scent stays and she will understand this is where she is supposed to go.

For us, it was easier to train outside. Pee pads were used 1/2 the time at best. Much more success with going outside, but her "signals" are not obvious and you always need to pay attention. At one year (next week) we are about 90% outside trained.

Good luck with your new baby. Please post photos soon.

[RMKC]

Hi there and welcome Yt ! Your baby is so very young to be away from her Mommy, and at that age she really cant hold it yet with her tiny Bladder. Crate or Pad or outside, whichever you decide...patience and lots of it... i practically do a song and dance and praise when Poli goes on pad or outside, he is not quiet 12 weeks old, and he has the run of the house. Still do that with Rosi, and she is 16 mo. but i could never get her to go on pads, strictly outside. Good Luck !

[Pipersmommy]

What I did with Piper was confined her to the kitchen area for about 2 weeks. I put the pad down & she would go in another part of the kitchen. So I moved the pad to where she wanted to go, slowly moving it back to where I wanted her to go & it worked. She has open access to the house after 4 weeks. She goes 90% on the pads. I have 1 in the kitchen & 2 in a childs tent on the lanai. The other 10% usually when I'm watching her closely she goes in a spot in our living room. So I put a pad down there temporarily. It's been working.

[Pipersmommy]

Originally Posted by Pipersmommy

What I did with Piper was confined her to the kitchen area for about 2 weeks. I put the pad down & she would go in another part of the kitchen. So I moved the pad to where she wanted to go, slowly moving it back to where I wanted her to go & it worked. She has open access to the house after 4 weeks. She goes 90% on the pads. I have 1 in the kitchen & 2 in a childs tent on the lanai. The other 10% usually when I'm watching her closely she goes in a spot in our living room. So I put a pad down there temporarily. It's been working.

I meant when I'm NOT watching her closely

[Yorkiesforever]

I too think they she is a little young to get your hopes up but being consistant will definately be to your advantage. I too crate train, and it has been sucesseful for me. I have 6 week old puppy and they go on the pad sometimes and other times not..... Good Luck to you.

[Kona]

Just keep up the praising and bringing her to the pad every 30 minutes or so. I'm still working on it with my 13week old, but it's getting better.

[4Dogs]

Welcome to YT! My initial reaction to your post was that 7 weeks was so very young but then I realized that my two rescue pups weren't much older when they settled in here. I decided to crate train the girls - which was a big thing for me because it's been a long time since I had any puppies in the house! All of the dogs I've rescued in the last 20+ years have been 8-9 months and older. Think I must have been in middle school the last time I had a puppy!

Any how - I've been very successful with crate training the girls and have become a believer that its the way to go. Key things - make sure you have a little crate (one for pups under 10 pounds) or at least one that allows you to shorten it to the appropriate small size. In the day I kept the crates inside the x-pen I set up in my familyroom (wood floor) and allowed the puppies to walk in/out of the crates. I didn't use pads - only outdoor training as I have the large dogs and it was just easier for me. I found the only way to get this to work was to take the pups out every 20 minutes that they were awake and immediately after eating/drinking.

If I messed up and they had an accident - I just cleaned it up quietly and didn't make a deal out of it with them. When we went outside I DID make a big deal (and continue to do so with them) and praised them endlessly when they did "go potty". I also gave them a little treat while they were finishing up squatting. Now my little buggers are so cleaver they run and sit right next to the fridge until I give them a little treat when we come in - even from just playing outside!

My girls are 19 weeks old and haven't had an accident in a couple of weeks now. Not sure if that's because they get it - or just that we continue to take them out diligently (after they wake up, finishing playing, eating, drinking etc..) They sleep through the night in their crates next to my bed beautifully.

Hang in there. Your pup is young- I recommend an x-pen with the crate and pad inside. Praise her/give her a treat when she uses the pad and ignore the misses.

Can we see a picture of your little one?

J