[CerbiesMom]

To let you know when he has to go outside? My first dog learned to ring a windchime we have by the back door when he needs to go out, so I didn't really have to teach him. My new pup, Max, doesn't know that he needs to let me know. he's 3, and he's never lived indoors before, so I know that he's undergoing a very serious adjustment. I'm not expecting overnight success with him, as he's very timid and easily scares. He does want to please us, so we're happy about that. Currently we're taking him out every 2-3 hours. He holds it in the crate all night, and he's been doing so good that he's been staying out whenever we're home. However, since his neuter last Friday, he's taken to peeing in the house. Not marking, either. Just wondering if any of you guys had any tips.

[pamperedpups]

I would try hanging a bell on the door and teaching him to touch it with his nose, then release him outside as reinforcement.

[Jr. Dog Expert]

Hiya Cerbiesmom! Glad to see ya on DF.

Well I never really had to teach my dog to tell me he has to go outside, it kinda just happened. He licks the door when he wants to go.lol.

I would first suggest you let him get used to you guys.

Then potty train.

Later condition and teach him that the bell gets him outside, but first he needs to know that his business MUST be outside. Usually it takes no longer than 8 months, you just have to wait till the pooch has better control over his bladder.

[CerbiesMom]

He's 3 years old, so it's not a bladder control thing. It's just a new dog, new house thing. We have a bell on the door, but he won't touch it. We even put peanut butter on it. We just don't see any warnings like we did with our other doxie. Brigit has a potty dance, Max just stops and pees.

[pamperedpups]

Even if he won't touch the bell now you can still teach him to, it's just going to take a little time. I would charge a clicker, take the bell and dog to a quiet room and shape a touch by first c/t even a glance at the bell, then gradually upping the criteria until he is touching the bell to make it ring. Move the bell gradually until it is hanging on the appropriate door, then work on having the dog go to the bell to ring it from a distance. Reinforce touching the bell before going out to potty, and it won't be long before the behaviors mesh. Until then, I would keep Max crated between potty breaks and times that you can watch him closely.

[wvasko]

Originally Posted by CerbiesMom

He's 3 years old, so it's not a bladder control thing. It's just a new dog, new house thing. We have a bell on the door, but he won't touch it. We even put peanut butter on it. We just don't see any warnings like we did with our other doxie. Brigit has a potty dance, Max just stops and pees.

There are some dogs that will let you know all the time, other dogs never let you know. I think since neutering there could be a physical problem, he may have a bladder problem now and at the very least I would take him out hourly.

[wildbill]

One real good way is rig up a pet door. It's what I did with mine and she lets herself in and out.