Forgot potty training basics???

LoveLilly · 11-20-2006, 10:20 AM

So my little Papillon Lilly is about 5 1/2 months old and has been doing well with her potty training. She holds it well overnight and in her play pen during the day. Our big obstacle was getting her to tell us when she is running free in the rooms with us. Although it appeared that she was getting better about going to the door and standing or at least pacing near it....but never barks. Although I was happing with her just understanding to go to the door. Anyway, there have not been accidents in the house in gosh maybe 5 weeks and the 1 or 2 before that were my fault as I missed her cues. Anyway, she is always running free in the same rooms we are in. Anyway, Saturday, my husband was watching t.v. and she went around the corner into the bathroom and pooped!!!! He found it after the fact. Then for the rest of the day and Sunday she was absolutely fine. Sometimes walked to the door and other times needing coaxing with a treat. Well, this morning, he turned his back to set up her playpen and literally moments later she pooped on the carpet and he caught her in the act. So said NO NO and immediately went outside. Whats the deal??? Its not like she did not have us there to tell us like usual. She just adamently did not walk to the door and did it wherever she wanted! Nothing has changed in her routine or diet. She is not sick, her stool was normal. I am just so disappointed and heartbroken as I thought we were really doing very well. Any thoughts and why & how do I fix this???? Its such a crazy random thing it sounds crazy to go back to potty training basics. Help

Curbside Prophet · 11-20-2006, 11:01 AM

I am sure you are doing very well, and you can't let accidents ruin your faith in your dog. That kinda of negative energy can translate into more accidents if your dog becomes nervous about doing her business. I would suggest tightening up your schedule, training, and observations. If you feed your dog on a regular schedule, and her diet is consistent, her business schedule should be mapped out for you. And I would suggest walking her around those times when she goes #2. I would not rely on her telling you when she needs to go because she may go to the door for other reasons...like to sniff, or roam, or to track a cat...who knows all the interests dogs have? But, if your walks are regular, and she's given a time to eliminate, especially for #2, I think any problems will be minimized, Good luck!

blackgavotte · 11-20-2006, 11:09 AM

You HAVE done very well, but remember she is still very young. I would suggest if you don't have her supervised every minute she is loose, at 5 1/2 months I wouldn't count on her being reliable. She is like a child, they get distracted and forget. I'd be using the ex pen more rather than loose time if you are not watching like a hawk.

Many dogs never bark to go out, and often the signals from them are so subtle, I never depended on a dog telling me she had to go, I made sure they were taken out very often, especially during puppyhood. I wouldn't be letting a 5 1/2 month old loose for more than about 2-2 1/2 hours maximum at a time before getting her out again. Don't wait for her signals quite this young.

LoveLilly · 11-20-2006, 11:13 AM

I am confused. You say not to rely on her to tell me when she has to go. Isn't that part of the training? Shouldn't she learn to tell me to go? She has been doing better with it thus far until these 2 incidents. Also, there are times she does not want to poop on her schedule and doesn't have an accident.

Curbside Prophet · 11-20-2006, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoveLilly

I am confused. You say not to rely on her to tell me when she has to go. Isn't that part of the training? Shouldn't she learn to tell me to go? She has been doing better with it thus far until these 2 incidents. Also, there are times she does not want to poop on her schedule and doesn't have an accident.

Knowing my dog Elsa, she goes to the door for many more reasons than to eliminate, that it can not be considered a reliable indicator for taking care of her business. The only way I can be certain is by keeping her on a strict daily schedule. I've had Elsa for over a year and I can't remember a time when she didn't eliminate on schedule. Yes, there are times when she may take a little longer than normal...we may need to visit a few more and different grassy areas along our walk before she finds the right spot, but it's always been on schedule. My dog ain't your dog...this is true. All I'm trying to suggest is, look at your schedule and evaluate if it is regular. If you're not consistent with her walks, or feeding times, find ways to make it more regular. Little things can make a big difference while your pup is developing control. At 5-1/2 months I think you dog is doing great. Keep up the hard work. And if my advice helps, great! If it doesn't, fine, I'm sure you'll both get it resolved soon. Good luck!

blackgavotte · 11-20-2006, 01:58 PM

Yes, just to clarify the signals you hope to get from her. Many, many dogs never really " tell " their owner, at least not in the way we would all love them to do, that they need to go out. Some will bark and paw at the door, or whatever, God bless their little hearts, the little gems, but many more don't do that, ever. In truth, many times it is the owner's awareness and willingness to watch the clock, that is the most important factor in dogs being clean in the house.

Some dogs do give signals, but they can be subtle. Some get a little worried look to them, some will just come to you once or twice ( if you're lucky ) and look at you, some will pant a bit if they are becoming uncomfortable, some will turn in circles or start to sniff around, but you have to be really aware of the individual dog's signals, and you have to go with that and let the dog out at that point.

Don't let this latest issue worry you too much. You have done so well, but I suspect you have been assuming that now she will tell you when she has to go. Its not that easy, at least not too often. My puppies often would do very well until about 5 or 6 months old, then many of them would make mistakes, however when I analyzed it, I usually had to admit that I had gotten over confident with them, they really weren't as fully housetrained as I had wanted to believe they were.

LoveLilly · 11-20-2006, 02:23 PM

Thanks! I think I got a little to confident. She is just the most wonderful little pup in the world....

workingdog · 11-20-2006, 03:35 PM

let me frist say please dont take this wrong. I mean no disrespect but in an earlier post you had mentioned that you now allow your pup to sleep with you at night(i'm sure that was you) if not sorry. I think that your pup is to young to trust that much.You may think that your pup stays in bed with you all night but all it takes is letting them get away with it a few times and you are back at square one.I would really rethink the being out of the crate at night.

LoveLilly · 11-20-2006, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by workingdog

let me frist say please dont take this wrong. I mean no disrespect but in an earlier post you had mentioned that you now allow your pup to sleep with you at night(i'm sure that was you) if not sorry. I think that your pup is to young to trust that much.You may think that your pup stays in bed with you all night but all it takes is letting them get away with it a few times and you are back at square one.I would really rethink the being out of the crate at night.

I'm not taking your inquiry wrong, but need to ask why Lilly sleeping in our bed is related to her 2 poop accidents. They had nothing to do with her in bed. Yes, she began sleeping with us last week and never leaves the bed. Does not say she won't, but a baby gate blocks the doorway out of our room and the room is Lilly proof. I'm just curious why you feel there is a correlation?

workingdog · 11-20-2006, 04:45 PM

well i'm a pretty light sleeper but my dog can get off the bed at night and i dont know it tell the next morning, but since you said you know that your dog stays there all night and it can't get out of the bedroom and you have seen no pee or poop in there, i guess it has nothing to do with it.

pinkpuppy360 · 11-23-2006, 04:35 PM

As someone said before, she is still a puppy and is not reliable. Just keep watching her and try to spray the spots she goes poo-poo in. If you say that she is a playpen during the day, they sell those pads that you put in there and they do there business on that instead of your carpet