Toilet Training - Dog Forum

Damian227 · 07-28-2010, 11:29 PM

Me and my girlfriend have a puppy Chihuahua/Jack Russell cross but are having a real hard time toilet training her. I've trained German Shepards, Border Collies and Jack Russells in the past... but this one is a bit of a madam.

She's only 16 weeks, but she'd performed well the last 4 weeks, always peeing and pooing on paper, in a specific area of the room. However over the last two days she's suddenly decided to misbehave and I'm not sure what to do.

She's walk up to her paper and sniff it, maybe put a front paw or two on it, then pee off the paper... or even worse, walk onto it, sniff around... walk to the other side of the room and pee on the carpet? There seems to be no consistancy, she went twice on (first thing in the morning), two times no where near it (she was told off the second time), once back on (the telling off seemed to work) and then twice back off again?

She knows she's done wrong because she'll pee off the carpet, then drop her ears and tail when I look at her... yet if I look at her normally, she'll wag her and tail and run over to play. So if she's aware she's doing wrong, why is she suddenly doing this?

Any help would be appreciated. I've recently torn one of my six pac muscles badly, so bending to clean to the carpet non-stop is killing me lol

puplove · 07-28-2010, 11:48 PM

Have you done any outdoor potty training or is this not possible? I wonder if you start from scratch and take her out every hour or so with lots of praise and goodies when it goes right. She may not be aware that she has done wrong but more likely is picking up on your body language that you are upset. It is not uncommon for some pups to regress for a bit and you just have to stay consistent and patient with your training.

**StarfishSaving** · 07-28-2010, 11:56 PM

Hi there, welcome to the forum.

Dogs don't actually know right from wrong, despite what we've always heard. If she is putting her ears and tail down it is probably either a reaction to your body language or her recall of chastisement or punishment in the past. She may be confused and insecure about going potty because she doesn't quite know what she's supposed to do. Peeing is self-rewarding (Pressure in the belly > pee > relief) so all it takes is one accident for them to realize that peeing feels just as good on the carpet as it does on the paper (maybe better, who knows?)

So, going on the paper doesn't have a strong enough value for her, it seems. Since you are trying to teach her to distinguish something very difficult- "It's okay to pee in the house HERE but not okay to pee in the house HERE"- you will have to work harder to associate a positive enough value with going potty on the paper, and help to steer her in the right direction when she's about to do something inappropriate. Treat it as though you are housebreaking a dog, only instead of rewarding for potty outside, you're going to reward her for going on the paper, and if you see her having an accident you need to try to interrupt her and get her to the paper. I would not let her out of your sight during this process. A crate would come in very handy for now.

Karebear · 07-29-2010, 03:20 AM

I have never had much luck with puppy pads i think the best way to go is taking her outdoors once a hour maybe less treat very well and act like you are just beside yourself with happiness with what she's done rub her and just make a big fuss out it.

Damian227 · 07-29-2010, 09:15 PM

Outdoors seems to be a no-go with her... I've walked her non-stop, including a five hour day out to the fields/town and she didn't go once... she holds it in until she gets home. The only time she's peed outside, is when she found a scrap of newspaper on the floor...

She hates puppy pads too, we tried those and she'd sniff them and never ever use them, so we had to go back to paper.

Also does anybody have any tips to stop her attacking peoples hair? She feels the need to go scatty and chew on it and is really aggresive about it. We're not sure why as her mother was short haired like her and we've never allowed her to do it... she just goes mad for it and it's a horrible way to be woken up during a nap on the couch lol

zouzouna · 07-31-2010, 09:34 AM

Hi Damian,
I think your little madam has not suddenly decided to misbehave. As you said, she's only 16 weeks and her good performance for the last 4 weeks was good so that was when she was 12 weeks? I think that it had nothing to do with good performance either at that age, you were just lucky she went that long without an accident and that now, when she has some accidents, your body language probably confuses her.

I agree with Star, it is very important for her to start associating positive values with going potty on the paper. It's probably the only thing. If she does, praise - praise - praise. How many times I've made myself ridiculous dancing my happy dance in the middle of the street .... If she has an accident pay no attention, just mop up the mess without making a fuss, not giving her the look or telling her off (I know that this is easier said than done, I have been biting the inside of my cheek more than I want to admit in order not to shout at Greta when she was happily wagging her tail next to me while I was mopping up an accident

). A result could be that she starts hiding to go potty -under the bed or behind a chair- in order not to upset you because she's really a baby still and so intent on just making you happy.

Another thought that crossed my mind was that you and your girlfriend should have the same potty training ideas and both act the same when she has an accident, this for obvious reasons.

Probably needless information after training so many dogs but she's still far too young, only after 8 - 9 months can you relax a bit .. just a bit. So good luck and take care of those six pac, you'll be doing a lot of bending still

Zou

Damian227 · 09-01-2010, 10:52 PM

Hi guys, just an update on Princess (my girlfriends choice, not mine

)

It's quite rare she has an accident off the pads these days. We've taken to placing a puppy pad on an open bin liner (gives me a good idea of when she's in the area and gives a more secure 'safe zone') She seems to have taken to it well and only missed once recently, but we had a lot of visitors who she was excited to play with, so thats fine.

She did have a few accidents between now and when originally posted. Strange thing is, if she had an accident, she'd be aware as she'd run to the bed (i'd see when looking behind me, so no body language as I wasn't even aware yet) or be in the bed when I came back into the room.

One question though, has anybody else had trouble with their puppy running off when she's hasn't let all the poo drop off yet? We've also had to pull hers out, it'd be dangling by a hair that'd come out too? We're not sure if this is from her grooming herself, as we've stopped her chewing our hair now?

07-28-2010, 11:29 PM	#1
Damian227 Puppy Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 4	Toilet Training Me and my girlfriend have a puppy Chihuahua/Jack Russell cross but are having a real hard time toilet training her. I've trained German Shepards, Border Collies and Jack Russells in the past... but this one is a bit of a madam. She's only 16 weeks, but she'd performed well the last 4 weeks, always peeing and pooing on paper, in a specific area of the room. However over the last two days she's suddenly decided to misbehave and I'm not sure what to do. She's walk up to her paper and sniff it, maybe put a front paw or two on it, then pee off the paper... or even worse, walk onto it, sniff around... walk to the other side of the room and pee on the carpet? There seems to be no consistancy, she went twice on (first thing in the morning), two times no where near it (she was told off the second time), once back on (the telling off seemed to work) and then twice back off again? She knows she's done wrong because she'll pee off the carpet, then drop her ears and tail when I look at her... yet if I look at her normally, she'll wag her and tail and run over to play. So if she's aware she's doing wrong, why is she suddenly doing this? Any help would be appreciated. I've recently torn one of my six pac muscles badly, so bending to clean to the carpet non-stop is killing me lol

07-28-2010, 11:56 PM	#3
StarfishSaving Administrator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Indiana, PA Posts: 2,556	Hi there, welcome to the forum. Dogs don't actually know right from wrong, despite what we've always heard. If she is putting her ears and tail down it is probably either a reaction to your body language or her recall of chastisement or punishment in the past. She may be confused and insecure about going potty because she doesn't quite know what she's supposed to do. Peeing is self-rewarding (Pressure in the belly > pee > relief) so all it takes is one accident for them to realize that peeing feels just as good on the carpet as it does on the paper (maybe better, who knows?) So, going on the paper doesn't have a strong enough value for her, it seems. Since you are trying to teach her to distinguish something very difficult- "It's okay to pee in the house HERE but not okay to pee in the house HERE"- you will have to work harder to associate a positive enough value with going potty on the paper, and help to steer her in the right direction when she's about to do something inappropriate. Treat it as though you are housebreaking a dog, only instead of rewarding for potty outside, you're going to reward her for going on the paper, and if you see her having an accident you need to try to interrupt her and get her to the paper. I would not let her out of your sight during this process. A crate would come in very handy for now. __________________ Founder, Starfish To the sea Animal Rescue -Crystal with Sammy, George, Sally, Dover and Toby Rest in peace Lady, Buddy and Callie Getting Started on the Forum (and how to post pics) Forum Rules

07-31-2010, 09:34 AM	#6
zouzouna Adolescent Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 104	Hi Damian, I think your little madam has not suddenly decided to misbehave. As you said, she's only 16 weeks and her good performance for the last 4 weeks was good so that was when she was 12 weeks? I think that it had nothing to do with good performance either at that age, you were just lucky she went that long without an accident and that now, when she has some accidents, your body language probably confuses her. I agree with Star, it is very important for her to start associating positive values with going potty on the paper. It's probably the only thing. If she does, praise - praise - praise. How many times I've made myself ridiculous dancing my happy dance in the middle of the street .... If she has an accident pay no attention, just mop up the mess without making a fuss, not giving her the look or telling her off (I know that this is easier said than done, I have been biting the inside of my cheek more than I want to admit in order not to shout at Greta when she was happily wagging her tail next to me while I was mopping up an accident ). A result could be that she starts hiding to go potty -under the bed or behind a chair- in order not to upset you because she's really a baby still and so intent on just making you happy. Another thought that crossed my mind was that you and your girlfriend should have the same potty training ideas and both act the same when she has an accident, this for obvious reasons. Probably needless information after training so many dogs but she's still far too young, only after 8 - 9 months can you relax a bit .. just a bit. So good luck and take care of those six pac, you'll be doing a lot of bending still Zou Last edited by zouzouna; 07-31-2010 at 09:35 AM. Reason: adding info

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07-28-2010, 11:48 PM	#2
puplove Good Dog! Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 305	Have you done any outdoor potty training or is this not possible? I wonder if you start from scratch and take her out every hour or so with lots of praise and goodies when it goes right. She may not be aware that she has done wrong but more likely is picking up on your body language that you are upset. It is not uncommon for some pups to regress for a bit and you just have to stay consistent and patient with your training.

07-29-2010, 03:20 AM	#4
Karebear s.h.i.t.z.u lover Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Spartanburg Posts: 112	I have never had much luck with puppy pads i think the best way to go is taking her outdoors once a hour maybe less treat very well and act like you are just beside yourself with happiness with what she's done rub her and just make a big fuss out it.

07-29-2010, 09:15 PM	#5
Damian227 Puppy Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 4	Outdoors seems to be a no-go with her... I've walked her non-stop, including a five hour day out to the fields/town and she didn't go once... she holds it in until she gets home. The only time she's peed outside, is when she found a scrap of newspaper on the floor... She hates puppy pads too, we tried those and she'd sniff them and never ever use them, so we had to go back to paper. Also does anybody have any tips to stop her attacking peoples hair? She feels the need to go scatty and chew on it and is really aggresive about it. We're not sure why as her mother was short haired like her and we've never allowed her to do it... she just goes mad for it and it's a horrible way to be woken up during a nap on the couch lol

09-01-2010, 10:52 PM	#7
Damian227 Puppy Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 4	Hi guys, just an update on Princess (my girlfriends choice, not mine ) It's quite rare she has an accident off the pads these days. We've taken to placing a puppy pad on an open bin liner (gives me a good idea of when she's in the area and gives a more secure 'safe zone') She seems to have taken to it well and only missed once recently, but we had a lot of visitors who she was excited to play with, so thats fine. She did have a few accidents between now and when originally posted. Strange thing is, if she had an accident, she'd be aware as she'd run to the bed (i'd see when looking behind me, so no body language as I wasn't even aware yet) or be in the bed when I came back into the room. One question though, has anybody else had trouble with their puppy running off when she's hasn't let all the poo drop off yet? We've also had to pull hers out, it'd be dangling by a hair that'd come out too? We're not sure if this is from her grooming herself, as we've stopped her chewing our hair now?