[gizmo2007]

Hi everyone! I just registered with DogForums.com tonight in hopes to meet new friends and perhaps some wise advice about housetraining my new puppy.

I welcomed my new puppy (Lhasa Apso) into my home two weeks ago! He is now 3 months old. The first couple of days were difficult. I was worried that he would eliminate all over the house, so I was overly cautious and took him outside to potty serveral times (every 30 minutes). During our visits outside, he would take at least 30 minutes, if not more to go #1 or #2. I would praise so loudly he would get so excited, he would think I wanted to play. After just a few days, he caught on and started eliminating right away because I started giving him treats right after he eliminated; however I was giving him his treats as soon as we got inside.

I've read that I should give him his potty treat outside instead of inside so he can associate outside potty with his treat. So I've started giving him his treats outside now.

My problem is this. Because I am so worried that he will eliminate in the house, I am constantly taking him outside. When we go outside he always goes #1, but very little. I give him his treat, and then we go back inside. He starts sniffing immediately again, so I take him outside again thinking that he has to go #2 now. Instead he pee's again, but very little again. I am beginning to think that he is only eliminating portions at a time. Then 10 minutes later, he will eliminate in the house, even though he just went #1 twice outside. He does not hold his pee very long. It seems as though he goes #1 almost every 15 mintues. When it's bedtime, I put him in his crate. At night it seems as though he knows he has to hold his pee because he will hold it for at least 6-7 hours. First thing in the morning I take him outside to go potty and he will go #1 for a very long time. I am confused why he will hold it at night, but cannot hold it during the day. Am I taking him outside too much? I am I giving him the idea, that he doesn't have to hold his pee during the day, but understands that at night he has to hold it?

So I started to think, well he's not eliminating at night because he is in his crate and we all know that puppy's do not like to eliminate where they sleep. Well, he proved me wrong. During the day he will eliminate in his crate if I leave him alone in there for 30 minutes, but at night that is not the case.

Someone PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me what I am doing wrong or provide me with some advice!!!

[poppiesandboppies]

He probably got used to the idea that it's good to go wees every half hour and he wants to do it more cos he kept getting attention and praise every time he does a little. When puppies are little they only really needed to go once every hour at the most and once they reach three months it can be reduced to first thing in the morning, after meals and naps and before bedtime. What I would do is make sure you make it clear to him that it's bad going inside, tell him off in a low stern voice right when you catch up eliminating inside and then take him out to where he's supposed to have done it straight away. That way hopefully he'll realise that it's not about going and getting rewarded, it's about going outside.

[Gates1026]

Originally Posted by gizmo2007

Hi everyone! I just registered with DogForums.com tonight in hopes to meet new friends and perhaps some wise advice about housetraining my new puppy.

Welcome!

I welcomed my new puppy (Lhasa Apso) into my home two weeks ago! He is now 3 months old. The first couple of days were difficult. I was worried that he would eliminate all over the house, so I was overly cautious and took him outside to potty serveral times (every 30 minutes).

A 3 month old puppy is still very young. Just make sure that your expectations are inline with reality. It sounds like you are doing all of the right things, but just remember that at this age and being a smaller dog that he will tend to go whenever he feels the urge. They really dont gain that fine control over those muscles until a little later. Your best bet is to keep him on a schedule and watch him like a hawk, and it sounds like you are already doing that.

During our visits outside, he would take at least 30 minutes, if not more to go #1 or #2. I would praise so loudly he would get so excited, he would think I wanted to play. After just a few days, he caught on and started eliminating right away because I started giving him treats right after he eliminated; however I was giving him his treats as soon as we got inside.

Changing to giving the treats right after he eliminates was right on the money. You need your timing to be really good, give that treat and praise the instant he finishes. The first month or so of house training was really frustrating for me with both of my dogs. Getting through the "everything is a distraction" can be tough, but just stick with it and it will get better. Eventually they learn that going outside is fun and they will go much quicker.

My problem is this. Because I am so worried that he will eliminate in the house, I am constantly taking him outside. When we go outside he always goes #1, but very little. I give him his treat, and then we go back inside.

That is fantastic, you taking him outside very regularly and him going is a great sign that he is starting to get the hang of it. If you are truely worried about him going inside, you may want to consider confining him to a room that has tile or hard floors that are easy to clean up. When they are that young, they truely go it seems like every 30 minutes. As they grow they will be able to hold it for longer and longer stretches of time.

The sniffing thing can be tough. I cant tell you how many times my pups would sniff and I would rush them outside, only to stand there for 20 minutes and get nothing. Then the next time you dont do anything they have an accident. I have always used a schedule to take them out on. As they get older and have longer stretches of time with no accideents, the time between visits outside gets longer.

You can also use a crate to confine him and stretch the amount of time he holds it.

At night it seems as though he knows he has to hold his pee because he will hold it for at least 6-7 hours. First thing in the morning I take him outside to go potty and he will go #1 for a very long time. I am confused why he will hold it at night, but cannot hold it during the day. Am I taking him outside too much? I am I giving him the idea, that he doesn't have to hold his pee during the day, but understands that at night he has to hold it?

So I started to think, well he's not eliminating at night because he is in his crate and we all know that puppy's do not like to eliminate where they sleep. Well, he proved me wrong. During the day he will eliminate in his crate if I leave him alone in there for 30 minutes, but at night that is not the case.

One thing to remember is that how often they have to go depends on first the amount of water intake and second the level of activity. A sleeping puppy may not have to go for several hours at a time if their water was taken up 2 hours before bedtime. A puppy who is ripping around the house at full speed is a much different story.......they may truely go every 15 minutes until they settle down.

I would recommend just sticking with what you are doing. It sounds like he is getting the hang of it. Much of what happens with potty training happens with age. Good luck!

[hattrickinc]

its a puppy... mistakes are going to happen... alot... relax, nothing a little cleaning power cant solve.. In my opinion, I think its better to house train him first, THEN outdoor train him..

[Gates1026]

Originally Posted by hattrickinc

its a puppy... mistakes are going to happen... alot... relax, nothing a little cleaning power cant solve.. In my opinion, I think its better to house train him first, THEN outdoor train him..

I wouldnt disagree with that at all, mistakes will happen at this age. The more you minimize those mistakes, the faster the learning process will go.

Do you mean to paper or potty pad train first, then work on outdoor? If that is indeed what you mean, my experience with my first puppy would lead me to disagree. We tried to pad train her for about 2 or 3 weeks while she was very young, then make the switch to outdoors. I think delayed us by around a month. You are teaching them at first that it is OK to go inside (and even reinforcing it), then at a later point you are telling them it is not OK to go inside and discouraging it. That can be confusing.

[gizmo2007]

I did not want to start Gizmo on paper pad training for that exact reason. I did not want to teach him that it was okay to go indoors, which is why I started immediately outdoors with him. It started off rough because he wasn't sure yet why we were going outside so often, but after me praising him so much after he went potty he caught on quickly. He continues to go potty outside, but he will still go indoors as well. He will do it right in front of me too! I just dont think he knows how to tell me he wants to go outside yet. Plus, he sniffs the house constantly!!! Which makes me think he ALWAYS has to go potty, in result, I take him outside way too often.

[Gates1026]

Originally Posted by gizmo2007

Which makes me think he ALWAYS has to go potty, in result, I take him outside way too often.

I am not sure if that is possible Truthfully, potty training a very young pup of a small breed is a challenge. The key is to remain consistent with your potty trips outside and praise/treats. They do catch on as they get older.

[briteday]

First be sure that you have seen a vet and that there is nothing physically wrong with the dog like a urinary infection.

Then I would keep meals to three scheduled times per day (after 6 months you can do twice per day) and take up the water bowl two hours before bedtime. Keep play, exercise, walking to regular times as they tend to stimulate elimination. So as you keep to regular schedule with everything else, eventually elimination froms a very evident pattern as well.

Rule of thumb...pups can usually hold it the number of hours = to age in months...3 months, 2-3 hours. If he is holding it thru the night that's great. During the day you will need to take him out first thing when awake, after breakfast, after a morning walk or play session (dog should be getting 30-60 minutes per day of stimulation, can be broken up into a few sessions), after midday meal, theyusually nap in the afternoon so after the nap, after dinner, mid-evening or after more play/walk, before bed.

When you are home keep the dog in a gated hard surface area that is easy to clean or tether him to you with a leash so he can't wander off. Accidents are inevitable so stock up on some enzyme cleaner at teh pet store (Natures Miracle and Simple Solution are two sold in my area). Even if the accident is on hard floor still use the cleaner as bacteria attracted to the urine leaves a residual odor that dogs will return to. I think you're just needing to loosen up a bit and realize that there will be pee on your floors. It happens. The idea is to minimize the accidents.

Keep treats in your pocket or in a zip baggy somewhere near the potty spot so they are handy IMMEDIATELY after doing business. You're right, the dog needs to associate the treat with the action. However, it sounds like your dog may be a bit manipulative in peeing to get treats. I would risk an accident indoors and try to hold him to about every two hours (and just a tidbit of a treat, break pieces off) unless he has just woke up, finished playing, or eating. Try to establish a bit of a schedule even now.

[gizmo2007]

I really do appreciate all the advice you all have provided me with! Thanks for all the help! I will keep all posted. I am sure I will run into more questions! Thanks again!