what am I doing wrong? House breaking

[firefly386]

The question that I have is I have a eight weeks old puppy. And he is still going in the house. I take him out every 15 to 30 minutes and he still comes in and pees on the floor. I have caught him in the act and took him out right away. when he goes potty outside I praise him like crazy. And I have even tried treats. I crate him at night and let him out when he cries he does not go in his crate unless he is left in for a long period of time. The main problem is he will go outside and then come back in and go in the house.

Is there anything that I'm missing or do I need just to give him time. Another thing that he is starting to do is to start running up towards the front of the house where I do not won him to go potty. So I put a leash on him and he does not like this because he still tries to go towards the front and I try to keep him towards the back without calling on a leash but he will not listen when I call he keeps trying to go further away.

I will take all the help that you can give me about this.

thanks chad

[anna&jacksmom]

Are you making sure the dog potties outside before bringing it back in? Some puppies can get distracted by all the outside smells and forget about doing their duties. Do you have a word for using the bathroom? I know this helped me. Anna knows how to "go pee" now that is all I have to say and she runs right out and does her business and gets to come back (she is older though you should still go with a baby). It isn't necessarily a bad thing to have the dog get used to going to the bathroom on a leash. When Anna was a small pup I took her out on a 15ft retractable leash (the grocery store brand) she didn't get tripped up and went where I wanted with a little room to run. Your dog may like this kind of leash better. Remember even though 8 weeks may look big he is just a tiny baby and potty training can be a long process but he WILL get it. Hang in there!

[firefly386]

I use the word "let's go potty" and I use a retractable 15 for at least also. And I wait and wait until he goes sometimes I'll even wait 15 or so more minutes to see if he will goes poop. but at this time he does not like the leash. He tries to go everywhere I don't want him.and since its winter timeout he likes to play around and its freezing outside. So this helps a whole lot.

Thanks Chad

[anna&jacksmom]

Anna was a pup in the summer when it was 100degrees outside so wanting to be out wasn't a huge issue. I am out of good ideas, but it sounds like you are headed in the right direction it just takes a while sometimes. I am sure the experts will have some more ideas:) I do remember that Anna used to pee 2 times whenever she went out and if we came in after the first I would be cleaning up a puddle. I know it isn't fun to stand in the freezing cold waiting for a pup to do its thing though.

[brunie's mom]

At 8 weeks of age he has very little bladder control still.
When you take him outside give the command "go potty" and then wait... don't walk, don't play, just stand still. After he goes praise like crazy and give a small treat. If he did not go, bring him back in the house and put him back in the crate. Only give him freedom from the crate if you know his bladder and bowels are empty.
Rotties are very smart.. the older he gets the quicker he will catch on. Never scold him for accidents, just clean up and keep trying.
What are you using to clean the "accidents"? It's best to use a enzyme cleaner such as Nature's Miracle or Simple Solution... they are sold at pet stores. If you use a cleaning solution the dog can still smell it and go back and use the same spot for a toilet.

I also had a 8 week old puppy in February....it is not fun out in the cold , snow and dark training a puppy:)

Gina

[LORHEL]

Make sure you take him out to the exact same spot each time. They look for that, and maybe that is what takes him so long, if you are just walking out?

Just a thought. :D

[Leader]

housebreaking a pup takes some time and a great deal of patience, and that's just the beginning:D ENJOY!;)

At 8 weeks old even if he understands he can't control himself. As
Lorhel said, take him to the same spot and give him time. He obviously doesn't know what you want. Here's a clue...keep him in his crate as much as possible and take him out as soon as he wakes up. Don't let him walk, carry him directly from his crate to the part of the garden where you want him to go, and keep him there (on the lease??? or off). Keep him out as long as it takes, winter or not, until he does what he has to and praise like mad...and praise again. then let him play, if you want and take him back in ONCE HE'S DONE IT. He should go out for housebreaking every 2 hours, after eating (about 15 mins, I think after eating) and as soon as he wakes up and before going to bed at night. It took my last pup (who was a very sick one) less than a month to learn on her own...but I was very vigilent and very patient. I did not get angry with her. My male is 6 and I STILL parise him (I also have an 11 yr. ld boxer and I even praise her!):D
Lots of luck and patience!;)

[firefly386]

hello all,

Well I have taken in some of your advice and it seems it is working so far. I take him out and let him to his business and if he doesn't I take him and put him back in the crate. so far he has only have one accident in the house. But he spends more time in the crate now that he did before. The question I have now is a couple of you said to keep him outside until he goes? well I do but he doesn't always go poop. If he doesn't go poop should I bring him back and put him in the crate? I understand that he should go when you first gets up and probably after he eats. I don't figure he has to go poop every single time he goes out. That's why I'm asking you guys for your opinions.

Thanks again,

Chad

[anna&jacksmom]

I don't think that he has to poop everytime, but he should definately pee. I usually expect one poop in the morning one after every meal and one in the afternoon from a puppy but that might just be my dogs schedule. If you watch you can kind of learn his schedule and then make decisions based on that. My dogs have gotten to the point that if I send them out they will fake a pee if they really don't have to go. They know that they have to make the effort before coming back in.

[jokergrin]

Firefly,
I wish you the best, but our Rott is 6 months old and she acts exactly as your puppy does. Best of luck to you.
-steve