Potty Training Woes

[rleechb]

My wife and I got a cute little guy, named Jack. Anyways, we've had him about 4 weeks now, and he's a bit over 4 months old. We are having the absolute worst time potty training him. We've been crating him at night, and letting him roam around the house first thing in the morning, while we watch him like a hawk. As soon as he pees, we clap our hands and say "UH HUH! NO!", grab him (which takes a second or two, since he always runs away), and take him to the kitchen where the piddle pad is. When we get him in the kitchen, we point to the pad say "right here" in an excited voice, tell him "good boy", and continue watching him.

He pees on the carpet over and over, hardly ever making it into the kitchen. He has no problem going outside, but we can't have him as an outside dog, since we live on the 3rd floor of an apartment complex (we'll take him outside as often as we can, but it'll be difficult to take him outside once the weather takes a turn for the worse). Ideally, we want to give him free reign around the house, getting him to go on the pee pad while we're at work, outside when we're home to take him out.

I'm beginning to wonder if he's associating the kitchen with punishment, and not as a place to relieve himself. Often times, after we clap and tell him no, he runs into the kitchen and just sits there. Doesn't pee, nothing. Then he ventures out, and pees on the carpet again. Oddly enough, he makes it on the pad more often than not when he's baby-gated in the kitchen while we're at work.

Any suggestions to speed up the potty training? Our carpet is taking a pretty ugly beating (we have a steam cleaner ready to go at all times, thankfully).

A quick pic of our new addition:

[Louwants]

As soon as you take him out of his crate, take him outside or to his pad; don't let him wander around. If he uses the pad when you pen him up, that's a good sign. Just be patient, some take longer. Just fuss and give treats when he does go on pad. He'll soon get the idea.

You may also want to clean the carpet with odor remover for pets. If you're not the first people to ever be in the apartment, there may be a chance that a dog before had peed on it. That will make him want to do it also, to mark his territory. Also, be sure to get him neutered, that will help with the territorial marking.

[MyPemCharlie]

Corgis have such big ears, it's hard to get them in a photo. heehee. Just kidding. He's really cute!

Are you using an enzymatic cleaner with the carpet steamer? If not, then the urine odors don't come out and the pup can still smell it. Nature's Miracle and other OTC urine odor neutralizers work. I use a mixture of 1 cup each white vinegar/water plus about 1 ounce of Listerine. (I also have ceramic tile where I use this around the cat box, so I would test any product to make sure it doesn't stain or bleach out your carpet.)

Potty pads are not my personal preference for housetraining (versus pottying completely outside) but since you plan on having Jack use them his whole life, then he certainly needs to be trained to consistently use them.

Try to catch him before he starts to pee, instead of after he starts. With their short little legs, it can be hard to tell the difference between just walking around and squatting, but there are a few cues. Jack will probably start sniffing the carpet to look for his spot. Once he finds "the perfect place" he may circle once or twice. Some pups will be playing, then suddenly run to another area or another room to "potty in private". Watch for any of these signs, go pick him up, take him to the pee pad and say "pee pee" or "pee pad" or whatever you want your command to be. And of couse, you are already praising him when he goes on the pad...definitely keep that up.

Since you are watching him like a hawk when he is loose, the only thing you need to change to be successful is to master figuring out his signals that he is about to potty and stop him before the accident occurs.

[rleechb]

Originally Posted by Louwants

As soon as you take him out of his crate, take him outside or to his pad; don't let him wander around. If he uses the pad when you pen him up, that's a good sign. Just be patient, some take longer. Just fuss and give treats when he does go on pad. He'll soon get the idea.

You may also want to clean the carpet with odor remover for pets. If you're not the first people to ever be in the apartment, there may be a chance that a dog before had peed on it. That will make him want to do it also, to mark his territory. Also, be sure to get him neutered, that will help with the territorial marking.

That works. The thing is, I could pen him up until he goes to the bathroom in the kitchen every morning, but I have a feeling he'll go on the carpet as soon as we let him out (if he doesn't pee). He does the same thing while we're at work: pee on the pad while we're gone.. let him out... pee on the carpet.

When I notice him sniffing around (and he hasn't peed in a while), I pen him up in the kitchen, and he just lays down, and goes to sleep forever. When I finally let him out, it's urinary armageddon.

Should I just pen him up, and leave him in there until he takes care of business?

Finally, what do you suggest for an odor remover? We've used nature's miracle (enzyme based), but can't stand completely soaking the carpet and then waiting for it to dry.

[rleechb]

Originally Posted by MyPemCharlie

Corgis have such big ears, it's hard to get them in a photo. heehee. Just kidding. He's really cute!

Yeah, that's why we decided to name him Jack (he looks like a Jackrabbit.. god we're so witty)

Potty pads are not my personal preference for housetraining (versus pottying completely outside) but since you plan on having Jack use them his whole life, then he certainly needs to be trained to consistently use them.

We're planning on moving eventually, but we're not sure if it'll be into a house (the home loan market + California/Bay Area housing prices don't make it very easy), so we figure doing the puppy pads is the best/only route.

I use a mixture of 1 cup each white vinegar/water plus about 1 ounce of Listerine. (I also have ceramic tile where I use this around the cat box, so I would test any product to make sure it doesn't stain or bleach out your carpet.)

We'll start using the Nature's Miracle again. I don't like using it, because I always find a way to step in it with socks on (did it this morning). How does your homemade concoction smell/work? I'm not sure I like the smell of vinegar any more than the smell of dog urine, lol.

Try to catch him before he starts to pee, instead of after he starts.

I'm assuming if we see him start to pee, we should pen him up in the kitchen w/ a pad, until he finishes business, then give a treat?

Thanks for everyone's help!

Here's a pic w/ the ears (they are HUGE):

[Louwants]

I have a bottle of Urine gone ( I think that is the name, it's advertised on TV). We have piddle pads for Duncan, but I was lucky, he always ran to them. He is more of an outside dog, but the pads are around for "just in cases." He still acts like a puppy, you know, be playing and all of a sudden, he'll run to his pad; no warning he has to go. They also are there because he hates going out in the rain. But, being an adult dog, he sometimes just catches the edge of his pad when he hikes his leg. Typical males, can't aim..LOL. I usually blot it up with one of those Sham Wows (and they do work), spray the Urine Gone. Then, I have a little hand held cleaner I use a few minutes later. Then Febreeze.

There use to be a bottle of drops that you could put on a paper or pad, that would attract them to that area for potty training. But, the main thing is to get the urine out of the place he has been going. Chris gave some good ideas on a more natural way of getting rid of the odor and not as expensive.

[Louwants]

He is a cutie. As for his ears, he will grow into them. Seems like puppies are all head and ears when they are that size.

[MyPemCharlie]

Originally Posted by rleechb

We'll start using the Nature's Miracle again. I don't like using it, because I always find a way to step in it with socks on (did it this morning). How does your homemade concoction smell/work? I'm not sure I like the smell of vinegar any more than the smell of dog urine, lol.]

It does smell a little like pickles. LOL I switch between buying mint and orange Listerine (actually I buy the generic brand). The scented mouthwash helps cover the vinegar...a little bit. When the spray dries, the vinegar smell goes away, which would take longer on carpet than on my tile. The enzymes not killed by the vinegar are killed by the alcohol in the mouth wash. I've also heard of people dousing puppy pee with hydrogen peroxide, then sprinkling baking soda on it and vaccuum when dry. That wouldn't have any odor, but might be most likely to bleach the color out of your carpet.

Originally Posted by rleechb

I'm assuming if we see him start to pee, we should pen him up in the kitchen w/ a pad, until he finishes business, then give a treat?

Yes. Many pups don't like to be watched, so pen him (and you) in the kitchen and turn kind of sideways to watch him out the corner of your eye. If he looks at you, look away. Mega congratulations and treats the second he finishes going on the pad.

Originally Posted by rleechb

Here's a pic w/ the ears (they are HUGE):

Very cute!

[MyPemCharlie]

Originally Posted by Louwants

Chris gave some good ideas on a more natural way of getting rid of the odor and not as expensive.

I go through "buckets" of it. (Two cups at a time in a spray bottle.) It worked so well on the cat urine, that I've started using it to clean my mirrors, shower tiles, spritz down the kitchen cabinets, etc., etc., etc. Guess I like pickles. LOL

[rleechb]

Originally Posted by Louwants

He is a cutie. As for his ears, he will grow into them. Seems like puppies are all head and ears when they are that size.

Yeah, he's all ears, head, and paws (can't believe the size of them, he's going to be a monster when he grows up).

Originally Posted by MyPemCharlie

Yes. Many pups don't like to be watched, so pen him (and you) in the kitchen and turn kind of sideways to watch him out the corner of your eye. If he looks at you, look away. Mega congratulations and treats the second he finishes going on the pad.

Yeah, I guess that's what we'll have to do. It's a bit irritating when I lock him up, come back every 15 minutes and see him upside down on the tile, fast asleep, every time. I suppose he can't hold it forever, lol.

[rleechb]

I just noticed that I'm supposed to pen myself in there as well. Time to mount a small TV in the kitchen; looks like I'll be spending quite a bit of time in there!

Thanks for your help. I'll let everyone know how Jack does. If you don't hear back from me in a few weeks, you can go under the assumption that I lit him on fire and tossed him off the balcony.

[rleechb]

Well, I may need some more advice. I got home last night, cleaned up the mess he left in the kitchen (he goes #1/#2 in the kitchen when he's penned up and we're at work) and let him run around the house a bit. I saw him start sniffing, so I penned him up in the kitchen, and waited. After an hour, nothing. My wife took over, and read in the kitchen for another hour. Still nothing. He just alternated between whining and laying down.

Finally, after 4 hours, he went #1, while I was sitting down on the kitchen floor with him. I immediately gave him a treat, praised him, and let him run around the house (he missed the pad, but I figure getting him to go in the kitchen is the most important thing at this point). Within 5 minutes, he let loose on the carpet. I grabbed him, and threw him back in the kitchen while cleaning up his mess. Then, about 20 minutes later, he evacuated on our bed. Once again, we grabbed him, told him no, and penned him up in the kitchen (praising him once we got into the kitchen... not sure if this is what we should do, btw).

This morning, I got up, let him go in the kitchen. I sat in the kitchen with him, and pet him for a bit. He jumped into my lap and peed on me a bit. I gave him a little praise for actually going in the kitchen, but knew he had a lot more pee, so I kept him there. He held it for an hour until I got ready for work. As soon as I let him go, he made a run for the front door (I usually take him out to take care of business before work), and let loose right in front of the door. Once again, a "NO!", into the kitchen, praise/point at the pee pad. Then I took him out.

I'm not really sure what I should do. He refuses to go in the kitchen, penned or not, me present or not. But as soon as I let him go, I'm in for it. I don't want to keep him in the kitchen forever. It bums me out that he gets penned up most of the day (sometimes we come back at lunch), and then we have to keep him penned up in the kitchen for most of the night, because he won't pee.

He's such an awesome dawg too, minus the pee problems.

Thanks for everyone's help.

P.S. I was joking about the setting on fire/tossing off the balcony...

[Corgis4me]

Originally Posted by rleechb

He pees on the carpet over and over, hardly ever making it into the kitchen. He has no problem going outside, but we can't have him as an outside dog, since we live on the 3rd floor of an apartment complex (we'll take him outside as often as we can, but it'll be difficult to take him outside once the weather takes a turn for the worse). Ideally, we want to give him free reign around the house, getting him to go on the pee pad while we're at work, outside when we're home to take him out.

I'm a bit confused; you are taking him outside "at times" to potty and then trying to also train him to potty inside on the pads? If you are doing this, Truthfully, in my opinion, I think that is very confusing to a young pup of 4 months of age. But that is just my thoughts. My goal, if it were me would be to teach him that pottying outside is what is expected of him. Is anyone able to check on him during the day(come home at lunch) to let him outside to potty? I guess if your goal is to get him to use the pads, then that is only what I would do.


Can I ask what you meant by it will be difficult to take him outside once the weather takes a turn for the worse? Aren't you in CA? - I live in Wisconsin and we have very long, cold winters here, but my dog, even as a puppy was/is taken outside all the time.

I have read that it is possible to train a dog to use a litter box, but I am not familiar with it myself. However, when fully grown a regular kitty size litter box would probably be too small, you would maybe have to use a "sweater box" instead.

Originally Posted by rleechb

He held it for an hour until I got ready for work. As soon as I let him go, he made a run for the front door (I usually take him out to take care of business before work), and let loose right in front of the door. Once again, a "NO!", into the kitchen, praise/point at the pee pad. Then I took him out.He held it for an hour until I got ready for work. As soon as I let him go, he made a run for the front door (I usually take him out to take care of business before work), and let loose right in front of the door. Once again, a "NO!", into the kitchen, praise/point at the pee pad. Then I took him out.

This statement right here, tells me he is confused. He made a run for the front door - in hopes you "may" take him outside, but then he pottied, then you put him into the kitchen to point at the pee pad as if he was to understand that he was supposed to go there; I think he doesn't know what to do. If you usually take him out before work to take care of business(you mean outside, right?), then I would have taken him outside after his accident versus putting him in the kitchen and pointing to the pad.

How is a 4th month old pup supposed to understand what is expected of him in this case?

[Corgis4me]

I have also read of this other method for potty training, but never used it myself because I am home during the day.

However, you would put your dog in a smaller room behind a baby gate(such as a bathroom) and lay newspaper down covering the entire floor; obviously the puppy will potty on it and you will then put clean paper down. Then after about 10 days of doing this, you only put paper down covering 1/2 the floor in the bathroom and the puppy "should" go to the paper area to potty - then after a while(several days again) you remove more of the paper until eventually you are down to a small area of floor being covered with the thoughts that the puppy will go to the paper area to do its business.


Now I have never tried this, but from what I read, it sounded like something that "may" work. Maybe this is something you could do and once he is trained to go on that little area of paper, he could then stay in the larger area of your apartment(the kitchen) with a small area of newspaper laid out and would be consistent in going to that area?

[Louwants]

Covering the floor with papers is one way a neighbor of mine paper trained her puppies. It does work. They get to where they go to where ever the paper is. With Duncan, I had a piddle pad in about every room in the house in the beginning. Then, I put a gate up where I didn't want him to go, but made sure the pads were where he could see them. He has just the one that is outside of our bedroom. I was able to keep on eye on him that way when he was little. At the time, my husband and I both worked nights, and this way, I could hear him moving around and make sure he used the pad during the day.

I'm surprised he didn't get confused about pad and going outside. But, then, as soon as we wake up, we take him out. Plus, he gets out attention when he has to go out. He gives us the wide eye look, you know....THE LOOK that he has to go NOW. I call it the "corgi in the headlight" look.