The Potty training thing

[lindak]

My porsha (11 wks old) is pretty good at doing #1 for me outside. I time it that when she comes out of her crate after napping, we got out and she does her thing.

Here is my problem. After she eats (7:30 am and second feeding varies), i wait for 15 mins. - 1/2 hour. Watch for her sniffing around in the kitchen, circle, blah blah and than the squat. Sometimes it has already started so i pick her up and bolt out the door. NADA, nothing, zilch outside. We get back and she starts again and a little something and out we go again. I can do this two three times and still nothing outside. In the 5 wks. i have her she has gone outside about 1/2 dozen times or a little more.
What am i doing wrong. please give me advice.

I do praise even with #1 like crazy so loud that the neighbors must think i'm nuts. With #2 ..... WOWWEE! and a treat.
She doesn't get it.

[AngelBunny]

lindak:

After she eats she should be taken directly outside. I think you're waiting too long before taking her outside.

[lindak]

Angelbuddy, there is no sniffing immediately following eating.
I am going thru this at the moment. It's been hours since she ate and finally a sign that she had to go. She squated, some fell out, (gross sorry) and we ran out. NADA. Came back in and squated again. Back out again and NADA. Can't figure out what's wrong.

[AngelBunny]

lindak:

Rule of thumb: Puppies have bladder & bowel control for 1 hour/month of age + 1. So, an 11 week old puppy needs to be taken out *at least* every 3 hours.

Don't lose heart; she'll get the hang of what you want. Keep her on a tight feeding schedule; this will help regulate her. I also wouldn't feed her any treats until her housetraining is more stable.
Take her outside the first thing when she wakes up from her nap. When I have a puppy, I take puppy outside more often than puppy needs to be taken outside. Also taking puppy to same latrine spot outside can help puppies make the connection. Are you cleaning the spots in your house thoroughly?

Housetraining has been discussed extensively; doing a search will uncover valuable tips.

Hang in there. Every single dog of every single owner here (well..*almost* every single dog...) has become housetrained and they all started out just as your puppy is starting out.

[lindak]

Don't want to say too much, but.... this morning she pooped outside twice for us. Yippee. Lots of praise and carrying on.
And no mistakes with #1 inside. She's crated now for most of the time except with playing and the 5 mins. training sessions but as soon as she comes out, out the door and #1 we go.

Also, she is getting a tiny tiny bit better with biting. I tried something yesterday that a friend suggested who also has a rottie pup of 8 months. In order to show him who the "alpha" is, she lays in his bed and he comes over to her. I tried that yesterday and she laid besides me. Is that a sign of being a pack leader?

I also have been scenting her toys with my hands. Shows her that i had them first and than she gets them. Good idea?

[Judi W]

The person is lying in the dog's bed??? Did I read the correctly? Person lying of floor (I don't care if it is on the rug or on the dog's bed) and dog comes over, dog can't help but be looking down on person. Oh yeah, terrific idea. Not!

Our leadership should be established as a human leader, not as a dog. People walk on 2 legs, sit on the furniture and behave as the human species. If you pretend to be a dog, don't be surprised if you get challenged as a dog when the young one becomes older and stronger.

Concentrate on being a good, reliable and fair human leader. We play the role of human much better than we play the role of dog.