OT: Puppy house training help!!!!!

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- Charlotte Hippen
  
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posted
17 years ago

Fri, Nov 24, 2006 2:46 PM

I am having still having trouble house training my new QI. He's now nearly

6 mo. old (next week). He does well with peeing outside and is down to rare accidents if I'm not paying attention with regards to that. The problem is he doesn't do very well with his 'dirty business' outside. He will go right away in the morning if you give him just a little extra time outside. During the day however, he goes where he is when he feels the need. If he's outside he'll find a spot and go which is great, but if he's in the house he'll do the same just fine a spot and go. He's not that easy to catch before he goes either because he just walks to a spot and then goes no 'searching' like he does outside so I have no idea that is what he's about to do. He just looks like he does every other time he walks though the house until he starts to go and then you can't get him distracted to stop while you redirect him outside like I've been told to do. I would really like to let the little guy have more freedom in the house, but until he is totally house trained he's going to be limited in his house access. Right now he spends most of his time in the kitchen with 'spells' of freedom in a small portion of the rest of the house.

Any advise?? Thanks!!!

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- Patti S
  
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posted
17 years ago

Fri, Nov 24, 2006 4:57 PM

Hi Charlotte........ Oh.... house breaking a puppy is a true test of patience - thank goodness I'm past that stage. There are lots of websites that offer info on house training, as well as books at the library. As Taria pointed out, you must be SUPER diligent about taking him out, and feed him at the same time every day. The moment you see him "sniffing", take him outside. And you'll have to learn to "read" his signals. I have two young dogs. One is very subtle when he needs to go out. He comes up and lays his head in my lap and wags his tail. The other, is subtle as a train wreck.... he goes and jumps at the door and cries - lol. My vet told me, when they're young, feed them twice a day and let them eat for 15 minutes, then pick up the food dish and put it away until the next time. This will help get them on a "schedule".

The best of luck to you and your baby.... he'll figure it out eventually. Just take him out more than you think he needs to.

Patti in Seattle

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- Charlotte Hippen
  
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posted
17 years ago

Fri, Nov 24, 2006 6:16 PM

Thanks Patti. We pretty much do what you suggested. He goes out frequently, is feed 2 times a day and has it taken away after 30 min if he hasn't finished. In the beginning he would have tale signs he needed to go (sniffing and circles on the floor alot like he does outside) now however he seems to skip that part and just go right to doing his business while inside. He is one of the subtle ones though. When he needs to empty his bladder, he goes to the door and paces by it a couple of times and looks it. If you don't happen to see him doing it you wouldn't notice (would be nice if he were more obvious maybe even vocal, but at least it is a sign). I guess I'll just have to watch him closer for other signs, perhaps I'm just not noticing them because they are so subtle.

Luckily this is about the only problem we are having with him. He does like to grab the kids' toys if they get left on the floor during his free roam, but the kids are starting to learn to keep them picked up, and he is sloooowly starting to learn that they are not his therefore he is to leave them be. He has also learned to leave the laundry be when I accidentally drop some thing while moving things around. Now any kind of paper product (ie paper towels, kleenex) are just irresistible to him for some reason!!!