changing housbreaking techniques

[Hammeraven]

HI,

My 4 month old Silky terrier is really fustrating me. I purchased him when he was two months old and have been crate training him. For example, this morning I tool him out, He peed and pood and I praised him "good dog" so I let him in the house to run around a bit...(this happens every day by the way)
So its not even 5 minutes and he will stop and pee on the carpet...and here is the good part, when I go to grab him he runs like hell and I have to chase him down, and have to corner him to take him outside. In fact today while I was chaseing him down, he stopped to pee again!! It's not very much, like a quarter size...but still...So this has been going on every day for two months and he is not even close to being housebroken. He also pees in his kennel, (thank goodness he quit pooping in it!)
So, talking with a friend last night (who used to work at a vet office) she suggested trying puppy pads and that they really worked well.

So here are my questions...
1. Am I being to impatient, i figured at 4 months I should be able to see SOME results?
2. Am I doing something wrong with the crate training?
3. Do I try the puppy pads? Will that confuse my pup?

I am just going crazy! Please Help!!
Thanks

 

[zoe08]

I was just wondering how big your crate is? It should be just big enough for him to go in and turn around. You might need to block a little bit of it off, he shouldnt want to potty in there then.

Where did you purchase him from?

 

[Saje]

chasing him is making it into a game. Try keeping a leash on him when he is out of the crate in the house. Either tie it to your waist or somewhere where you can see him. It will take a lot longer to train him if he has free run of the house.

You don't want to teach your dog to pee inside. It will confuse him later when he is supposed to go outside. I don't think puppy pads are a good idea.

 

[Hammeraven]

I purchased him from a local breeder...

I did buy a smaller kennel because I thought it would solve the pee-pee problem but he still does...but not as much as he did when he was in the larger kennel.

 

[Hammeraven]

Ya, I came to the conclusion that I need keep him on a leash at all times!

 

[Saje]

If you got him from a backyard breeder or puppymill chances are he wasn't kept in very good conditions as a young pup. He may have learned to go in his crate/cage and it will make it a lot harder for you to housebreak him.

 

[bubbatd]

I personally feel newspapers and training pads confuse a pup after a week in their new home. Yes. I recommended newspapers when a pup first went home as they were paper trained .... ( we didn't have pee-pee pads then ) .... I'd say only 5 % used cages.... and those only when the pup was alone . All papers were usually gone by 10 weeks. I have questioned why small dogs have more problems being trained ! Are they pampered too much ??

 

[makenzie71]

Are you bringing him back inside from his morning excursions or are you letting him come to the door?

 

[Hammeraven]

Ya, I also read that silky terriers are diificult to housebreak...DOH!

Yes, when he is done he runs to the door, sometimes he does it before he does #2 and I make him stay out longer...he then will go.

 

[Saje]

This doesn't sound like you are going about it correctly. Why don't you scan the training forum for some more information. There's a lot of stuff there. It's a common question.

 

[makenzie71]

Maybe make him stay outside a little longer...

 

[Saje]

I don't think staying outside longer will help. You need to be going out there with him so you can teach him when he does it right. In and out is better than just out. If you just leave them outside they'll forget the purpose.

http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?p=216874#post216874

 

[makenzie71]

I didn't say to just leave him out...but making him hang around another 5~10 minutes can't be detrimental.

But, on the other hand, my dogs go outside for other reasons, too.

 

[Saje]

I'm just saying that if nothing is happening you should take him back inside and try again in a few minutes. Otherwise it becomes a walk vs potty time. Need to keep the focus!

 

[bubbatd]

I agree with Saje.... unless a dog is completely housebroken... you need to be out with them to praise with each " duty " ...I always used " squat " for the pups and " go pot " . I always could get them to go with those terms. When Chip's going somewhere with me and is anxious to get in the car.. I can say " go squat first " and he will.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

HI,

My 4 month old Silky terrier is really fustrating me. I purchased him when he was two months old and have been crate training him. For example, this morning I tool him out, He peed and pood and I praised him "good dog" so I let him in the house to run around a bit...(this happens every day by the way)
So its not even 5 minutes and he will stop and pee on the carpet...and here is the good part, when I go to grab him he runs like hell and I have to chase him down, and have to corner him to take him outside. In fact today while I was chaseing him down, he stopped to pee again!! It's not very much, like a quarter size...but still...So this has been going on every day for two months and he is not even close to being housebroken. He also pees in his kennel, (thank goodness he quit pooping in it!)
So, talking with a friend last night (who used to work at a vet office) she suggested trying puppy pads and that they really worked well.

So here are my questions...
1. Am I being to impatient, i figured at 4 months I should be able to see SOME results?
2. Am I doing something wrong with the crate training?
3. Do I try the puppy pads? Will that confuse my pup?

I am just going crazy! Please Help!!
Thanks

1) Yes. 4 months is still a BABY.

2) I don't know. You don't describe how you are using the crate to assist with housetraining.

3) No, I would not try the training pads at this time.

Your puppy is running from you because you are rushing him. PREVENT the problem. Take the puppy back in with the leash on, and play gently with him for a few minutes. If he consistently is making a mistake when you take him back in in the mornings, perhaps he needs a longer outing.

I would use FOOD REWARDS for all proper outdoor elimination, along with giving the actions a name. (Go pee pee, Go poop, or etc). Say this AS the puppy is eliminating, and immediately food reward the puppy along with your "good dog".

Your dog was likely showing your submissive urination when you caught him. He was overwhelmed and afraid, so he urinated to show you his submission.

I am interested in exactly when the puppy is wetting the crate, and when and exactly how long he stays in the crate, and where you are keeping the crate.

I know housetraining can be frustrating at times, but please remember that 4 months is just a baby. The dog does NOT do these things in order to frustrate you. He's just being a puppy. It's up to you to help him learn how to do things. In order for that to happen, you must try to understand your pup, learn what you can do to prevent issues, and have great patience and kindness in training him, even if it feels very frustrating at times.

 

[LoveKayla]

You may want to have him checked for a UTI, this could cause him to pee quite often with not much coming out. After you chase him and he pees is that because hes scared?

You can gently pick him up ans say "no" "outside", then go outside for a while. I he goes reward and praise. Thats all Ive even done with my dogs, just been consistent and patient, and they all learned very quickly.

As was already said, do not give much freedom right now or youll be finding surprises everywhere, and you wont be around to catch him in the act.