How often do they go?

howbout

We are working on housetraining our new 7 month old pup we got from the shelter. We take her out often, and ALWAYS when she shows any sign of having to go (whining, pacing, after a meal, etc.). However, often when you think she SHOULD need to go, she doesn't. Today she peed in the morning, about 6:30, pooped about 7:15 a.m., then did not go again until just about 6:30 P.M. when she peed. I had her outside quite a bit today, at one point I was just sitting on the grass reading and she was laying next to me relaxing. She did NOT go. So it isn't like she was anxious or distracted or anything, she simply did not go. But she HAS had accidents, in fact just YESTERDAY morning she would not go first thing when I took her out and then within 15 minutes peed on the floor inside so I know she DID need to go...so when she is inside and cannot be totally supervised she is crated. Which I really do not like to do. Although she does not seem to mind it much. In any case, I am wondering how long she really CAN go without relieving herself and if I am overestimating how many times she should be going? Because if I am, perhaps she doesn't need to be in her crate as much? Can someone advise me please? Thanks!

Renoman

My rule of thumb is this, and I can't say it will work for you but.....

First thing in the morning ... right out the door
Immediately after eating...right out the door
Immediately out of the crate...right out the door
After playing hard....right out the door
As soon as they wake from a nap...right out the door
Right before bed...right out the door
When in doubt...right out the door

Always out the same door to the same spot and as soon as you see them start to go use a phrase or command like 'go to the bathroom' (whatever you chose)

No playtime or fun until they go. You may need to be outside for a good 1/2 hour to 45 minutes before you have success, but when you do..praise, lots of it....

Your pup is 7 months so may be better able to control bodily functions but I would still establish a routine. It makes training so much easier.

howbout

I do all that, what I am wondering is if she does NOT go at those times, which she is NOT doing, do I still need to crate her when we come back in? Is it normal for her NOT to go then?

shyjack

How long are you staying out with her? In the morning mine pee's first thing, then like clock work will need to poop in about 10min. If I dont time it right its on the deck....It sounds like youve got an Idea of the AM schedule down to the minute.
Try staying outside for no longer than 5min. thats my rule of course and some say longer. If she hasnt gone in that amount of time chances are she doesnt need to go.

Renoman

Only you can say what's normal for her by watching her habits. She's older so she may not need to go out as often.

You didn't say how long you've had her. Is she still on the shelter schedule? She may need time to adjust to a new routine.

You can give her more free time out of the crate, there's no harm in that, but until you figure out her timing, just watch her like a hawk, as I'm sure you do.

I do agree that you may need to stay outside with her longer. I'd say that 15 to 20 min is not unreasonable. If you bring her in and she starts acting like she needs to go... then maybe longer outside is necessary.

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howbout

A shyjack said, I am staying out maybe 5-10 minutes MOST times, other times maybe a little longer. No longer than 15 minutes unless we are outside for something else (playing or training - we put in and underground fence so I am training her with that). If she lays down or starts to play I figure she doesn't really have to go. Right now she has been chewing happily on her hoof in her crate since she went out and peed. She was out for a while then - maybe 20 minutes - with my kids. I guess I am just going to have to do what you say - watch her and get to know her habits (which I DO seem to be getting better at but...) and trust that ONE day I will get it down so there won't be ANY accidents....

Renoman

You may not believe it now, but there will come a day when you are accident free!!! Sounds like you're doing the right things.. just keep doing them.

howbout

Thanks! I figure it's the same as potty training my kids...just takes time, patience, and a belief that it WILL happen!

briteday

If you are not already doing so I would feed her only 2x/day, don't leave food out all day. Normally dogs will drink more with their meals and therefore, you should be able to see a predictable pattern of elimination, both kinds, within a week.

Remember that if she came from a shelter she is used to eliminating in her kennel cage. So she may even choose to eliminate in her crate. Again, if you can, I would vote for making a safe zone for her in the kitchen or such, instead of crating her a lot of the time. If your kitchen floor is easily cleanable and a few accidents won't hurt it, I would put a baby gate or get an ex-pen set up so she has a place to be without being in her crate.

Depending on the length of time she was in the shelter the house training could be a bit of a chore. I don't know many shelters that walk their dogs regularly. So she may have some issues resolving the elimination thing. And a previous owner may have been harsh with her regarding accidents or something so she may have other issues too.

Please be patient with your pound puppy. We see so many dogs returned where I volunteer, usually for a lack of patience and false expectations. try to remember that this dog could have been in a home that we would consider our worst nightmare and give her the benefit of the doubt. Feed quality food on a schedule, write down any eliminations she has for a week (inside or out), and you should see a predictable pattern of when she is most likely to be successful outside.

RufusRockz

I've been wondering about my 5 month beagle pup and housetraining. She's been excellent the last couple of days with no accidents but today peed in the kitchen when I had my back turned for a second to answer the phone! She hasn't pooped in the house for months.
I can never work out how long she can hold it for, whether she is just forgetting she's not allowed inside or whether she really can't hold. It's really disappointing but I'm determined to continue and be patient!

bluesbarby

When I first started housetraining Riley my trainer suggested I keep a journal. I listed feed times, when he drank water and when he eliminated, along with playtimes, training etc. After a few days I could see a pattern and since I had to write everything down I really did watch him like a hawk. Every dog does it differently. When I take Riley out it takes him awhile before he does his business. Now that he's trained to ring a bell and let me know when he wants to go out he does it immediately.

RufusRockz

Very interesting! I think I might start noting down when my pup eats/drinks/eliminates. She peed again in the house tonight! I wonder if it might also be because it's raining and she hates going outside in the rain.

Renoman

You hit it exactly right!!! Puppies are just like babies. They're not born knowing what we want them to know. We have to teach and provide the guidance necessary for them to learn what we want from them. The fact that they are creatures of habit makes it so easy. We provide the routine and they fall into it.

It will happen. repeat this mantra daily. It will happen..... it will happen.....

howbout

LOL! The thing about Brandy is that she is SO undoglike...I CAN'T simply feed her two times a day because she is a grazer - at least for now. I don't know WHY - I would think having come from a shelter she would wolf down her food (having competed with another dog for it) but she doesn't. She eats a little here, a little there...I gave her a daily serving this morning and it STILL is not fully eaten (at almost 8 p.m.). AND she will eat and drink and not have to poop or pee, she will play madly, not have to poop or pee....I WAS keeping a journal but there simply is no rhyme or reason to it. In time there may be, but for now there simply isn't. So for now I keep taking her out at the typical times and when she seems to indicate (by whining or pacing) that she needs to go out. I continue to crate her when I am going to be out for long periods (like three hours), but other than that, we are still in the learning curve. Today she had no accidents at all despite having gone only in the morning, then not going again (and only pee) until about 3:30 p.m. She was in her crate from about 9-12 when I was at my son's school, then out for a bit, then back in when I had to pick up my daughter (a short period - from about 1:15-1:35). Otherwise she has been out of the crate and hasn't had an accident. Hopefully she is learning outside is the place to go, and hopefully soon we will establish some kind of pattern but for now there is pretty much none...

briteday

You can stop the grazing problem by scheduled feeding. Just figure out how much she should have in a day, split it into two meals, put a meal down for 15-20 minutes, take the bowl up. Don't worry if she doesn't eat the first couple of times. She will get the message eventually. A healthy dog will not starve itself. And you will have a more predictable elimination pattern.

At the shelter where I volunteer the dogs are given a large bowl of food mid-morning. Sometimes they spill it all over the kennel, sometimes another dog in the same kennel eats it all, and sometimes the dogs just don't get enough exercise in a small space to require much food.

Most dogs require about 30-60 minutes per day of good hard exercise. Your back yard doesn't count unless someone is playing frisbee or fetch with the dog. Otherwise she needs a brisk walk or two, hiking, jogging, or running in a safe area every day. She will be both physically and mentally healthier when she has new and different places to see, smell, and enjoy.

howbout

O.k. - that is what I WAS doing but worried about her eating so stopped doing it. Guess I will return to that routine tomorrow.

And briteday I think it was you that mentioned something about being worried about us returning her to the shelter? If so you can lay those fears to rest! I did a lot of volunteer work at the humane society back when I lived up north, that is why I was dead set on adopting a dog from a shelter. I would NEVER adopt an animal then return it. I realize that we (the humans and the canine ) have work to do but I also know we WILL all work it out. And honestly, she is SUCH a good dog, and so much less work than we actually thought she would be. She is very bright and catches on very quickly.

Anyway - part of the problem is me learning how to do things - which inievitably (as evidenced here!) leads to me doing it one way (usually the right way) then changing it because I am not sure it IS the right way, then posting about it, learning it WAS the right way, then going back to it....sigh...probably so confusing for her....

LAST question...if she doesn't finish a meal - like her morning meal...should I save that food for the dinner meal and just add the dinner amount to it?????

sweetheartjess

That's what I do.
I hear your potty training woes. Argh!! lol

howbout

LOL! So far she is doing SO well, hasn't had an accident since the odd one on Monday...but I still don't understand how she can go SO long without needing to pee or poop! She still doesn't eat much but she does drink a decent amount (not a lot, but not a little) so...But she is also whining when she needs to go out. Last night my husband took her out and she went a little. The kids were already in bed...my son got out of bed and told us she was whining and he thought maybe she had to go (she was in his room at the time). So out she went again and sure enough she peed a LOT this time. So at least she is communicating with us which is WONDERFUL! I am hoping she is learning that that is all she needs to do - let us know she needs to go and we will take her out...

Renoman

She still might be adjusting to the new routine. If you think she should be going out an peeing more at any particular time, like bedtime, stay out there with her until she goes. Don't know what her schedule was at the shelter, but she may be slow to change her way of thinking. Does that make sense?

She's been checked out by the vet right? No health issues? No reason to worry about these things? It just may be her. Some dogs develop faster than others and can wait longer to go. Just like some kids potty train faster than others, or don't have to go as often as others.

It will happen..... It will happen......

howbout

Absolutely. She DOES go at bedtime like clockwork. It's just that she goes SO long during the day without peeing, it's so weird! But I guess it's like my daughter who sleeps all night long without waking to pee, and when she does wake STILL doesn't need to pee while my son often wakes to pee and when he gets up goes straight to the bathroom...to each his own????

Yes, I took her there the day after we adopted her to have her checked out. She is in great shape. I guess maybe it is like I said above and you echo here about not having to go as often as others...but it throws ME! I just keep thinking - gee, she must HAVE to go, what is going on???? Maybe she just has an enormous bladder Actually - thinking about it, maybe from being in the shelter she didn't like soiling in her pen and learned to hold it for long periods....I noticed today that although I had her out of her crate at all times that I was home she didn't have one accident. Yet when we took her out she peed A LOT so I knew she really had to go. But she didn't sneak off to go in the house...so I know she is getting it, and also, that she is holding it...maybe I just need to stop worrying!!!

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