How To Teach the House Is The Same As Crate?

[jason_els]

Hi all!

The pumi boys are doing OK so far with the housetraining but I still have issues with peeing inside. Right now they're on a good schedule, pee and poop outside, the works. My problem is when they're inside with me but outside of their crates or pen, they will just pee when they feel like it. Boomer is better but they both haven't quite figured-out that it's not ok to pee in the house.

These don't seem to be pees to relieve any pressing need as the volume isn't copious, just pees of convenience. I dash to scoop them up but by the time I get outside there doesn't seem to be any need to continue peeing. They will do this even within 20-30 minutes of their last outside pee break. There's little warning, usually no more than a few seconds of sniffing but at this age they spend half their time sniffing and mouthing everything so it's difficult to differentiate between looking for a potty place and just plain puppy curiosity. Tweeter, who is the worse offender, just doesn't seem to get it. He's definitely the pushier of the two. Boomer is a bit better.

I'm kind of surprised but really don't know what else to do to enforce the idea that the whole house is part of their den. Is there a way to transition from continual crating to house freedom I don't know about?

They're 14 weeks.

Thanks!

 

[Saje]

Same as always Jason. Don't give them the opportunity to learn to pee in the house by leaving them unsupervised. They are still young so try not to expect so much.

 

[daaqa]

we always used a leash or confined space like a pen just big enought to play in. they were kept in the crate, then taken out. when they have gone pee, they get to run around supervised for a few minutes [like 10 or so] and then they get leashed and have to be at someone's feet when they are out of their crate.

 

[jason_els]

Same as always Jason. Don't give them the opportunity to learn to pee in the house by leaving them unsupervised. They are still young so try not to expect so much.

As I indicated, they are supervised. They will do it right in front of me.

I know they're young, what I am wondering is when I can expect a transition and how to reinforce behavior that will help with that.

 

[Maxy24]

well supervising will not prevent them from going in front of you the idea is that you stop them and take them out wen they are about to go. It may take time but you will be able to tell the difference between "I'm about to pee" and just sniffing around. Watch tail posture, speed, pacing around etc. It's better to misinterpret them and bring them out and not have them pee than to do the same but keep them in and have them pee inside. Also make sure you feed them at the same time every day, if they don't finish their food in 20 minutes take it away (unless they are really slow eaters, I'm reffering to they leave the food and plan to come back in an hour or so, that is a no-no pick it up after 20 minutes). Try keeping a journal of every time they go to the bathroom (inside and out, but some how indicate which is the times they went in and which is the times they went out) Most importantly once you have this in a journal over about a week you should see a pattern of when they go and you can then take them out when that time approaches. Secondly you will be able to see your success as the inside potty slowly disappears and the outside potty increases. Then of course make sure they are getting adequate praise and yummy stuff when they go outside and make sure they get it within 3 seconds of finishing. Other than that just be aware that this takes time. They are still very much babies and this is what they do, eventually they'll be house broken don't worry and don't stress out over it, a puppy is a puppy and nothing more, just make training as fun as possible for all three of you. Hope everything goes well!


-Erin

 

[Spiritus]

There's a difference between active supervising and passive supervising. Active is you are right there, interacting with the dog, passive would be say, if you're cooking supper or watching TV and "supervising" the dog.

When can you expect them to be reliable? 6 months, maybe older.

 

[Saje]

Yes, supervising means that you are actively watching them and catch them in the act and take them out. You won't be able to actively supervise two at a time.

 

[dogsarebetter]

you need to be watching very closely at all times. before the pee, take them out.
if you catch them in the act, interrupt them, and take them outside

 

[jason_els]

Cool! Thank you all very much

 

[dogsarebetter]

no problem!
good luck!

 

[Corgi_Mom23]

As soon as they start, bring them outside and always make sure to praise them to the highest heavens when they relieve themselves out doors.

Seeing as they're 14 weeks old, I'm guessing they are unaltered. Both genders will mark their territory. Its a good possibility that because of one accident, a scent is now there that they both feel the need to mark with their own. Try cleaning the pee areas with an animal oder remover to reduce the smell. Hopefully this will stop the tiny pees that tend to be just a scent marker.

I know I had the same problem with my two dogs. The bigger one Ein, had gotten sick and peed on the bedroom carpet. Our other puppy was much younger (only 16 weeks) and unaltered. Because of this accident, he began peeing in the bedroom a lot. It got to the point where he couldn't be trusted loose in the bedroom, surpervised our otherwise because he would "mark" on the carpet. I got the odor remover and SCRUBBED the entire bedroom carpet. It seemed to help a lot and he's stopped feeling the need to pee in there.

He has since been neutered which has ultimatly stopped his marking, even outside.

Also, as puppies, they will have to go much more often then older dogs. So the best idea is to not give them chance. Start a walking schedule with them. Bring them outside every half hour and praise and treat them when they go outside, even if its only a few drops of pee. Soon they will see the positive side of relieving themselves outside and realize they get treats for that and stern words for indoor accidents.

Hope this helps!