Porsha is 4 mos. now and still not housebroken. HELP

[lindak]

What is acceptable at this stage?
She is just over 4 months. She goes outside first thing in the morning when she comes out of her crate. No accidents ever in her crate during the nite. She comes back in and than we feed her breakfast. Back outside and she poops.

I thought that at this age, the can hold it for a couple of hours. She can pee sometimes 1.5 hrs. later. She'll go right in front of me in the kitchen.

I keep her in the crate for periods of time through out the day and immediately, when i take her out of the crate, we go outside and she'll pee.

She just pooped in the kitchen this afternoon again and yesterday too. The one thing i found consistent with the last two days is she'll lay on my feet while i might be at the sink and get real close to me. Than, i'll turn around and they'll be poop on the floor. Is she telling me something. She never whimpers or barks or gives me any sign. I tell her bad girl, tell her poopies outside, and duh, she goes inside anyway. When we're outside and she goes, i tell her good girl, poopies outside and give her a treat.
When will the connection be made.
It's so frustrating cause the puddles and piles are getting larger. Ugh, LOL.
She knows she did wrong today cause she hid behind a kitchen chair.

Please help me with this one. Any suggestions. She is so smart otherwise with her commands already so she is no dummy.

Thanks.

[Soapie&Buddy'sMom]

The only thing that worked for me was to catch them in the act, and I mean at the point where the poop and pee is actually leaving the body (sorry to be so graphic) and pick up the dog and take them outside. Once the stuff hits the ground it's too late.
That's why you gotta watch a puppy every second it's not in the crate or otherwise confined.
Also, I don't think that she really made the connection that she knows she did wrong just because she went hid the kitchen chair. She knows you scolded her about something, but she hasn't quite figured it out yet.

[AngelBunny]

lindak:

Put a leash on her collar & tie the leash to your waist so Porsha can't wander around your house w/o your knowledge. If she's not tied to you via this umbilical cord, she's crated. From now on til she's housetrained, she's never, ever, ever out of your sight.

The other thing you need to do is take her outside like clockwork; regardless of what you're doing at the time, when it's time for her to go outside, you take her outside. At 4 mo old, Porcha has control for 5 hours.

"She knows she did wrong today cause she hid behind a kitchen chair."

No, she doesn't know she did anything wrong. She's not housetrained so she certainly doesn't understand she's done something wrong. A dog has to be trained, to know something backwards & forwards, before the dog knows he or she did wrong.

What you're seeing is her response to your body language, your facial expressions, the change in your tone--your annoyance probably means you even *smell* different. This's why she's hiding behind the chair. Dogs live in a sensory world we can't comprehend & Porcha's picking up on clues that are likely so subtle you're completely unaware you're giving them.

[Caesarsmom]

Excellent replies, ladies.....and you are right on the money. My Jenka is 19 weeks old, and has not had one accident in the house.......ever. I watch her like a hawk. She is never out of my sight. It is tiring at times, but that is how I raise a puppy. If she leaves the livingroom and goes to the kitchen (or any other room), I get up and go with her. She's usually just going for a drink of water, but I need to see what she's doing. If I'm at the kitchen sink doing dishes, she's laying at my feet watching me while I talk to her. We go outside quite often (as we live on a farm), so she has plenty of opportunity to relieve herself. Just within the last 2 weeks she has started going to the door and putting her paw on it to ask to go out.

Patience, timing and consistency are everything! Good luck!

[poohbearsmom]

by Angel Bunny and S&B's Mom - I'd like to also ask - are you feeding her at regular scheduled times? If not, do so. In order to housetrain, you DO need to be consistant about timing - (to reiterate AB's advice) take her out at regular intervals - feed her at regular intervals - and everything should start working at regular intervals. Take her out shortly after eating - and STAY out with her until you get the desired results.... Consistancy is the key to training - as well as learning to read your puppy's body language - she's clued into yours, (hiding behind the chair) - do her a favor and learn hers.
Also, keep treats in your pocket, so that you can whoop it up on the praise when she goes in the proper place - make it FUN to relieve herself outside!!
Good luck, and heed the excellent advice given. Sounds to me as though you are giving her too much freedom to roam and get into trouble at this point.
She's really not plotting against you....
:D
Elisabeth

[AngelBunny]

poohbearsmom:

Yes! Feeding a dog or puppy you're attempting to housetrain on a regular schedule is *extremely* important.