HELP Puppy house training

[sansian]

Hi there

I just need some advice on house training a Jack Russell puppy. She is now 12 weeks old and still messes in the house quite often. Usually first thing in the morning.

Generally she will sleep through the night no problems and then as soon as our alarm goes off she is up before us and peeing on the carpet. WE have taken to putting her outside first thing in the morning and last thing at night before going to bed.

When i do put her out in the morning she doesnt want to do her business, so i thought mustn't need to go. I bring her back inside and five minutes later she is going in the house.

Is she now to old to house train? I am worried she has developed a set behavioural pattern which might be hard to break. Someone did say to me that puppies won't really start responding to training before 12 weeks, is this correct??

Sorry for all the questions in my first post.

Thanks

Ian

 

[Saje]

She's not at all too old to house train! You're just getting started and can expect months of work ahead of you. Such are the joys of having a puppy!

First of all you need to set a schedule and learn when she needs to go. She should go outside immediately after waking up (in the morning or after a nap) and after she eats. Take her to the same spot in the yard and tell her to "go potty" or whatever phrase you want her to learn. If she goes give her lots of praise. Give her lots of time to figure it out. Don't just take her outside and then bring her right back in. When maverick was a puppy he'd take about 10 minutes of running around before he'd poop.

Keep her with you when you are in the house so that you can always see her and learn her signals that she needs to go. These could be whining, sniffing the floor, circling a spot... You'll figure it out. Immediately take her outside. You can keep her with you buy tying a leash around your waist.

She should go outside at least every hour until she starts to learn to hold her bladder. She will not be able to hold her bladder all day until she is at least 6 months old - probably longer. If you work all day you should expect to find messes when you come home. To make the clean up easier keep her in a puppy proof room where you can easily clean up the floor (bathroom/kitchen/laundry room...) and give her lots of toys. Stuffed Kongs and puzzle toys will amuse her. You can also give her an old phonebook or newspapers for her to rip up.

Don't scold her when she messes in the house. That will only teach her that it is wrong to do that near you. She won't understand that it's wrong to do that in the house. You'll only teach her to hide it from you and it will slow down the process as well as take longer for her to trust you.

As she grows older you won't have to take her out as often. The theory is that they can hold their pee for roughly one hour per month of age. She is two months so may be able to hold it for two hours but every dog is different and it's best for you to take her out more often until she gets the idea. The more you take her outside the more she'll realize that she will always have an opportunity to go.

You could also crate train which involves teaching her that her crate is a safe place and her home. The idea is that she won't mess in her home but again, every dog is different. If she came from a shelter or other place where she lived in a kennel she will be used to pottying in her home and won't get the idea as quickly. If you want more info on crate training let us know.

Hope that helps! Good luck.

 

[poodlesmom]

Welcome to Chazhound as well as the joys of puppyhood!

Your pup is just a baby and you will find that they generally will need to go after sleeping, eating and play sessions. I would start restricting her movements at night by either crating her or confining her in a puppy-safe room such as the bathroom where there are no carpets. When you get up in the morning take her out until she goes. Housebreaking starts as soon as the puppy joins the household and to be honest it usually takes quite some time before they are consistently not having accidents. Patience, consistency & loads of praise will bring the wanted results.

Also, make sure you use a cleanser that is specifically for removing puppy accidents.

Others will surely be posting some other suggestions to help you out too.

 

[beagle_lovergirl]

First of all, it sounds like she doesn't sleep in a crate? A crate could really help in housetraining and is also a kind of den for the dog. It also sounds like she's only 12 weeks old and only goes twice a day?She could only hold her bladder for 3 hours or so so if you don't want any accidents, you should take her out every 3 hours, 15 minutes after meals, and directly after naps. Sorry if I misunderstood you or sound to rough, but this is just my opinion and I don't mean to be rough at all.

 

[sansian]

Thanks for all your advice. I feel much better as i thought i was doing a really bad job of it. I think a little more time and patience is required, and I am sure Lucy will be doing fine, she is actually quite an intelligent dog.

Once again thanks for the advice.

 

[juliefurry]

Your pup is DEFINETELY not too old to be housebroken. Puppies don't begin to have any kind of real bladder control until atleast 3 months. My puppy is a little over three months and she has a little control over herself but if it takes me a little too long to get to the door she will go by the door a little bit and then finish outside. I would definetely use a crate for your puppy, we just started giving our two older dogs run of our room while we were sleeping. Hannah still sleeps in a crate at night for a few more months. Also, if possible take her out as much as you can. I take our dogs out every half hour when I am home. Good luck with your puppy and keep everyone posted on your puppies progress!

 

[bubbatd]

I go back to your first post ....when the alarm goes off you get up with her and take her out ! Since she holds it all night, the alarm is her signal to get up and go.... no snooze time for you.... up and at 'em !!

 

[sansian]

Thanks again for all the advice.

I think the little so and so is deliberatly not going outside just to annoy me. Forgot to reset my alarm for a decent hour this morning and consequently it went off at 6am (too early for a Sunday). Dutifully i took her outside in the freezing cold (was about 8 degrees celcius) and waited and waited, she walked around for about 20 minutes and then when sat by the door. I kept putting her back on the grass, but she was interested, sniffed around a bit and that was all. Let her back in, and what did she do 20 minutes after getting back, she messed on the floor.

Very frustrating, but it can only get better.

 

[Saje]

When she does that take her inside and then immediately outside. Sometimes the cold air to warm air will help them go.

 

[Fran27]

I think if she doesn't go, take her out again 15 minutes later. It's annoying but the only way she will eventually pee outside.

I'm having the same problem with my new puppy, so I can relate.