Housebreaking frustrations...

[LauraEyes2]

Vinny my golden retriever will be 14 weeks old tomorrow and it just doesn't seem to be getting any better in terms of his housebreaking. I hate to say it but it's really getting frustrating. I'm still taking him out every 1/2 hour and i'm still not catching every accident. He plays and just pees as he pleases when he's out and running around. If he has an accident i yell NO at him and take him out right away and praise him. He just doesn't seem to be getting the point of it.

The frustrating part is that i KNOW he is able to hold it. When I go to work I leave him in his crate, and usually run home at lunchtime to let him out--which means he has about 4 hrs or so in the crate at any given time and generally does not have accidents in the crate. Last week actually, I got tied up in a meeting over lunch and was unable to run home, and he actually didn't have an accident for his 9 hrs in the crate. Does anyone know why he can't control himself when he's out of his crate? Is it laziness? Is it behavioral? What can i do to train him out of this?

 

[poodlesmom]

He just hasn't figured out yet that he's not supposed to go inside. One of the best ways is when you are home put him on his leash & keep him with you. That way he can't sneak off & you'll be able to keep a close eye on him for the telltale signs and rush him outside. When he does go outside, praise, praise, praise!

Also make sure you clean the spots where he has had accidents with a product made specifically for that. Normal household cleaners don't get rid of all of the odor - we can't smell it but the pups still can.

 

[yoko]

when i was trying to train yoshi if i thought she was going to go pee and she was starting to squat i'd yell no really loud and right then i'd pick her up... peeing or not and run her outside... i mean yeah it got everywhere but she picked up on it really fast

 

[Fran27]

Keep doing what you are doing, say no and take him outside when he pees inside, but there's no use praising them when outside if he doesn't pee after you take him out, in my opinion. He needs to associate the praising with him peeing outside, not with just being outside.

I would agree that he just doesn't know he is supposed to go outside yet. It takes some time. My golden retriever was housebroken at 5 months.

 

[bubbatd]

How old was your pup when you got him?? It could be that he's so glad to have you home, he just forgets. I agree as to the leash attachment to you. He has to learn to hold it. Obvious he know while you're gone, but every 1/2 hour out is too often at his age,

 

[Rubylove]

He's just a baby - Ruby still wees inside every now and again and she's five months old. Human babies don't learn till they're over 2, closer to 3 years old so puppies aren't any different (although obviously it's not going to take him THAT long...lol!)

He'll still be making mistakes up to six months, and unfortunately, that's just one of the responsibilities of being a puppy owner. But the time will come that he will have learnt and then you'll forget all about how much of a pain it has been!!

I remember our first night with Ruby after having cats forever just thinking `Aaaaaaaarrrrrgh how many times can this thing wee in one hour!!' And then she got a urinary tract infection and would literally go 10 times in the space of 40 minutes - anywhere and everywhere. It was torture!