My husband and i just got a new puppy, and he's 13 weeks old. We've had him for one week and he keeps peeing and pooping on the floor, and eating the kids clothes. The eating of clothes is no problem, but the main issue is the peeing and pooping. Our house is laid out so that everything is upstairs - the kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, living room. On ground level, there are only bedrooms and bathrooms. We have a baby gate to stop the kids from falling down the stairs. The puppy will pee and poo on the floor, and it knows it shouldnt, but it cant get downstairs on its own because of the baby gate. I'll put it out on the balcony (which is very large) and it refuses to do anything out there. Being pregnant, its hard for me to walk up and down the stairs every 20 minutes to take the puppy out to pee and poo.
what should i do? (and no, getting rid of it is not an option).
Anonymous2010-11-25T04:40:26Z
Favorite Answer
i definitely agree that the dog needs to be taken out at least every hour.
i had to potty train my Yorkie (yorkies are notoriously impossible to house train) and it took me about 4 months after getting her until there were no more accidents.
the important thing is that you take him out OFTEN so that you have a chance to praise him when he does go outside. this will help him recognize that this is where he needs to go. get your husband to help when he is home. it's his dog too!
DON'T get puppy pads and start using them, this only confuses him and will make it harder for him to understand that she needs to go outside exclusively. also putting him on the porch is a bad habit, after awhile the feces and urine will soak into the wood and STINK! it's very expensive to re-deck your deck and you should stop this immediately.
Kennel training is your best bet. he needs to get used to sleeping in a Kennel, this will be heart breaking to hear at first, but don't give in and don't give up. don't take him out if he is crying, this will only teach him that you are a sucker :P (witch we are all suckers for those little puppy eyes and wines) but you must be strong and don't give in. once he is sleeping over night in the kennel it will be much easier on you, and you need to do this! do it now! or after thanksgiving when the stores open back up. go to petsmart in the morning and take advantage of their sales to get a wire kennel, they are more expensive, but easier to clean and they are collapsable for travel and storage.
also, while you are at petsmart (or petco) ask about potty training seminars, they cost about $20 and you will get one on one time with a professional trainer who will be more than happy to answer any questions and make suggestions.
as for the chewing, i had the same problem with my puppy. what you need to do is satisfy his chewing need with something that is not like anything else in your house. example:
if you give him plush toys to chew on he will probably continue chewing on clothes and eventually your couch!
if you don't have a lot of leather for him to destroy in your home, i would suggest rawhide, this will satisfy his need, keep her busy, and save you money!
i would also suggest getting him pork rawhide, it is softer and easier on his tiny little puppy teeth.
DO NOT buy her Nylabone products! these can break down into rice sized non-digestible pieces that pose harm to your dog, children, and vacuum! i speak from personal experience!
Canyon Creek Ranch, Waggin Trail, and Kong products are highly recommended!
you might look up the effects of artificial preservatives like BHA on small breed dogs, this will help you make a more informed decision on what is right for her and your growing family.
I agree with first answer - it is their instinct to potty on dirt or grass. At first, it may take often trips to get the point across, but as he gets older his bladder will get bigger, and dogs like routines. He will get used to being taken outside 4 times a day or so, and be sure to take him out a few moments after he eats or drinks. He probably refuses to potty out on the balcony because it is too similar to indoors, i.e. it has a floor and walls, and as you said, he knows he shouldn't potty indoors. Have you tried training pads or paper? It may be hard going up and down the stairs, but every 20 minutes is a bit too much. Every hour for a few days or a week is ok, and puppies grow fast. You can start backing it to every two hours for a couple of weeks and then every four hours and so on until you figure out what his tolerance and timing is. Training a dog to do anything is all about repetition, and some breeds pick up training with less repetition than others.
I have a LOT of experience when it comes to potty-training puppies so please believe me when I say that the only way to get the dog potty-trained is to take the dog outside at least once an hour, if not every 1/2 hr - 45 min. Yes, it is a major thorn in your side, but your only alternative is one of those expensive indoor puppy potty patches. For one, there is no guarantee the puppy will use it exclusively, and secondly, that is not something you want a baby or toddler to have access to. If not you, then someone else in your household will have to do the potty-training while you are busy w/ your children. Our 17 week old blk lab is pretty much potty-trained, but I guarantee you that if I didn't take him outside when he whines or barks, he'd be doing his business on the floor. Puppies bladders aren't fully developed and they can't "hold it" until they get a little older.
ps...our pup woke me up at 2:30 this morning to pee & poo; i've been awake since! no, i don't like it, but what i don't like even more is my carpets being ruined and cleaning up the mess.