My dogs aren't catching on to pottytraining.
May 23, 2012 9:42 PM Subscribe
What am I doing wrong in potty training my three dogs?
I've had two of them for several months, and the other I got a few weeks ago. Two are around a year old, and the other is around four months. I have a mini Dachshund, Papillion, and Chihuahua.
They don't know that they're supposed to use the bathroom outside. I keep them crated when I'm not home and at night, and take them out as soon as I wake up/I get home. I also take them out shortly after eating and periodically throughout the day.
Often they'll use the bathroom outside, then two minutes after they're back inside they'll poop/pee in the house. Or they'll do nothing outside after like twenty minutes, then as soon as they're back inside they'll use the bathroom. It seems like more of a coincidence that they go to the bathroom outside - they just seem to go wherever they are when they have to go.
There's bells on the door that I ring whenever I take them out, and I use a keyword: "Let's go outside!" I also give them treats when they do their business outside. But they still haven't learned to let me know when they need to go outside and don't seem to understand me saying "No!" when they go to the bathroom in the house. They'll just look at me, wag their tails, and come over for a kiss.
Please tell me what I'm doing wrong! I've googled this which is where I got the suggestions above, but they're not catching on. I don't have the money to get professional classes or a personal trainer. I've had them for so long that I feel like they should've learned by now - help, please!
I've had two of them for several months, and the other I got a few weeks ago. Two are around a year old, and the other is around four months. I have a mini Dachshund, Papillion, and Chihuahua.
They don't know that they're supposed to use the bathroom outside. I keep them crated when I'm not home and at night, and take them out as soon as I wake up/I get home. I also take them out shortly after eating and periodically throughout the day.
Often they'll use the bathroom outside, then two minutes after they're back inside they'll poop/pee in the house. Or they'll do nothing outside after like twenty minutes, then as soon as they're back inside they'll use the bathroom. It seems like more of a coincidence that they go to the bathroom outside - they just seem to go wherever they are when they have to go.
There's bells on the door that I ring whenever I take them out, and I use a keyword: "Let's go outside!" I also give them treats when they do their business outside. But they still haven't learned to let me know when they need to go outside and don't seem to understand me saying "No!" when they go to the bathroom in the house. They'll just look at me, wag their tails, and come over for a kiss.
Please tell me what I'm doing wrong! I've googled this which is where I got the suggestions above, but they're not catching on. I don't have the money to get professional classes or a personal trainer. I've had them for so long that I feel like they should've learned by now - help, please!
Dachshunds are incredibly stubborn. You can't even get them to do things they want to do! I've heard that chihuahuas are similarly difficult to housebreak.
First, get your carpets cleaned. Consumer Reports says that a home carpet shampooer is just OK, a Rug-Doctor-type rental is better, but that the truck-mounted professional machines are the best. Tell them that you have pet urine problems before hand and they'll use cleaners to remove those specific stains.
Then, each pup needs to be in a crate (or leashed to you -- but that seems like it would be tough with three of them). They need to earn the right to roam free. When you release them from the crates, immediately take them outside. Give treats and pets and high-pitched praise for poopin' or tinklin' done right.
They can run around free if they've done their business outside, but gate them in the same room with you. After a while, they'll need to go back out one more time and then probably placed back in the crates so you can have a break from being vigilant.
Dachshunds are also vindictive and tenacious ... this is a breed that was bred to fight badgers, underground, alone, and in the dark! They DO NOT respond to punitive punishments at all. So, resist the urge to swat the bad dachshund because it won't help and will actually make things worse. I don't know much about the other breeds.
(Once you do get a dachshund trained, however, they are very steadfast and loyal. They are just super stubborn!)
posted by Ostara at 10:13 PM on May 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
First, get your carpets cleaned. Consumer Reports says that a home carpet shampooer is just OK, a Rug-Doctor-type rental is better, but that the truck-mounted professional machines are the best. Tell them that you have pet urine problems before hand and they'll use cleaners to remove those specific stains.
Then, each pup needs to be in a crate (or leashed to you -- but that seems like it would be tough with three of them). They need to earn the right to roam free. When you release them from the crates, immediately take them outside. Give treats and pets and high-pitched praise for poopin' or tinklin' done right.
They can run around free if they've done their business outside, but gate them in the same room with you. After a while, they'll need to go back out one more time and then probably placed back in the crates so you can have a break from being vigilant.
Dachshunds are also vindictive and tenacious ... this is a breed that was bred to fight badgers, underground, alone, and in the dark! They DO NOT respond to punitive punishments at all. So, resist the urge to swat the bad dachshund because it won't help and will actually make things worse. I don't know much about the other breeds.
(Once you do get a dachshund trained, however, they are very steadfast and loyal. They are just super stubborn!)
posted by Ostara at 10:13 PM on May 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
We also have a mini dachshund who was nearly impossible to housebreak--moreover, he'd been abused previously, and had developed a cower-and-urinate response when he was scared, which was often.
We've had him for several years now, and it took us solidly six months to get him to stop pissing in the house daily, and probably another six to get it down to, say, once a week or less. (And he's still not perfect--now it seems to be mostly in fear reaction, if someone comes towards him too fast or holding a leash or belt, but I think that occasionally he just gets lazy. Still, even including fear reactions, we're talking about once or twice a month, which is so much better than he was when we got him.)
What we did was this: Accept urine in the house as an inevitability for a while. When you see it, clean it up--not just wiping the floor (if it's tile), but getting out the soap, etc, and actually washing it. If we saw him using the bathroom inside, we'd immediately take him outside, but other than that, no reaction. Scolding doesn't seem to work with stubborn little creatures like this, in my experience--it just makes them fearful. Take him outside as often as you can, and every time he goes outside and pees, immediately praise him and reward him in whatever way suits you--for us, it was occasional cookies and lots and lots of cuddles; I have a friend who successfully used clickers for this. Effusive praise was key for us.
Also, I know you have crates for them, but be sure to leave dog-things in non-crate areas, as well--the more they think of the house as their living space, the less likely they are to soil it. Obviously it can't be theirs the way that the crates are, but I did notice that when we put a dog bed in the living room and my dachshund started hanging out in there, he suddenly stopped urinating in the living room.
I don't think that you're doing anything wrong. I think that dachshunds are really, really hard to housebreak, and other small breeds are often not a lot better. A woman I know who had several dachshunds compared housebreaking them to potty-training toddlers--it's not something that gets done in a day or a week, but over months of frustration and effort. You'll get there!
posted by MeghanC at 12:09 AM on May 24, 2012
We've had him for several years now, and it took us solidly six months to get him to stop pissing in the house daily, and probably another six to get it down to, say, once a week or less. (And he's still not perfect--now it seems to be mostly in fear reaction, if someone comes towards him too fast or holding a leash or belt, but I think that occasionally he just gets lazy. Still, even including fear reactions, we're talking about once or twice a month, which is so much better than he was when we got him.)
What we did was this: Accept urine in the house as an inevitability for a while. When you see it, clean it up--not just wiping the floor (if it's tile), but getting out the soap, etc, and actually washing it. If we saw him using the bathroom inside, we'd immediately take him outside, but other than that, no reaction. Scolding doesn't seem to work with stubborn little creatures like this, in my experience--it just makes them fearful. Take him outside as often as you can, and every time he goes outside and pees, immediately praise him and reward him in whatever way suits you--for us, it was occasional cookies and lots and lots of cuddles; I have a friend who successfully used clickers for this. Effusive praise was key for us.
Also, I know you have crates for them, but be sure to leave dog-things in non-crate areas, as well--the more they think of the house as their living space, the less likely they are to soil it. Obviously it can't be theirs the way that the crates are, but I did notice that when we put a dog bed in the living room and my dachshund started hanging out in there, he suddenly stopped urinating in the living room.
I don't think that you're doing anything wrong. I think that dachshunds are really, really hard to housebreak, and other small breeds are often not a lot better. A woman I know who had several dachshunds compared housebreaking them to potty-training toddlers--it's not something that gets done in a day or a week, but over months of frustration and effort. You'll get there!
posted by MeghanC at 12:09 AM on May 24, 2012
I am a dog trainer, but I am not your dog trainer. I have also done Papillon rescue for years.
Congrats! You are sharing your life with the three breeds that I have found to be most difficult to housebreak. :) They are wonderful dogs, but housebreaking is always a struggle with them.
You are on the right track, it's just going to take time and consistency. I would add in one tool that it doesn't sound like you're using, and that's bellybands/bitches' britches. When I get in a new foster dog, I use these tools to not only assess their housebreaking level but to help reinforce the behaviour I want. No animal likes the sensation of peeing on themselves, so using bellybands in the house at all times means that if a dog starts to let loose in the house the pee is a) contained and b) its own reinforcer.
Make elimination trips outside separate from playtime visits outside. Elimination trips are BORING until they eliminate, then they get to play and have fun. If a dog likes being outside and they get taken back inside as soon as they eliminate, then you are actually punishing the behaviour of eliminating outside. Also, walks. Walking stimulates mammals to pass their bowels, and a morning and evening walk can empty them out really well, especially if they (like most small dogs) like to overmark. How much are you walking them each day?
With puppies (and I would classify 12-18 month old dogs as puppies still), I will often take the dogs out and whoever doesn't poop/pee goes in the crate for ten minutes and then taken out to try again. Repeat as necessary. Remember that a puppy can hold their bowel/bladder for 1 hour per month of life (with a ceiling of eight hours). Don't expect too much of the four month old too quickly.
Feel free to MeMail me if you have any questions
posted by Concolora at 4:52 AM on May 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Congrats! You are sharing your life with the three breeds that I have found to be most difficult to housebreak. :) They are wonderful dogs, but housebreaking is always a struggle with them.
You are on the right track, it's just going to take time and consistency. I would add in one tool that it doesn't sound like you're using, and that's bellybands/bitches' britches. When I get in a new foster dog, I use these tools to not only assess their housebreaking level but to help reinforce the behaviour I want. No animal likes the sensation of peeing on themselves, so using bellybands in the house at all times means that if a dog starts to let loose in the house the pee is a) contained and b) its own reinforcer.
Make elimination trips outside separate from playtime visits outside. Elimination trips are BORING until they eliminate, then they get to play and have fun. If a dog likes being outside and they get taken back inside as soon as they eliminate, then you are actually punishing the behaviour of eliminating outside. Also, walks. Walking stimulates mammals to pass their bowels, and a morning and evening walk can empty them out really well, especially if they (like most small dogs) like to overmark. How much are you walking them each day?
With puppies (and I would classify 12-18 month old dogs as puppies still), I will often take the dogs out and whoever doesn't poop/pee goes in the crate for ten minutes and then taken out to try again. Repeat as necessary. Remember that a puppy can hold their bowel/bladder for 1 hour per month of life (with a ceiling of eight hours). Don't expect too much of the four month old too quickly.
Feel free to MeMail me if you have any questions
posted by Concolora at 4:52 AM on May 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
It sounds like you are doing a lot of stuff right. I just want to echo what Concolora suggested, and ask for how long you're taking the dogs out, especially the times when they come back in and have 'accidents' right away. I remember reading that it's important not to bring the dog in right after he goes to the bathroom outside, they catch on pretty quick that that's the end, and if they want to prolong their time outside, they might hold it in. And walking time is big too. My dog wants to take a crap at the same time every morning, but will not always actually do it. But if I walk him longer, or even better run with him a little, that seems to work just about every time.
posted by troywestfield at 6:15 AM on May 24, 2012
posted by troywestfield at 6:15 AM on May 24, 2012
Teach them a signal for going out. Put something interesting near or on the door. When 1 dog goes to the door, you say Out? and take the dog out, with some praise. I'm not great at this with my current dog, but taught a previous dog to request going out; he had an unreliable bladder & bowels, so he had to go out often, and inconsistently. You are quite patient - lucky dogs.
posted by theora55 at 9:09 PM on May 24, 2012
posted by theora55 at 9:09 PM on May 24, 2012
I don't know if this would be a possibility, especially with three dogs, but we had great success with "puppy pads" for our Chinese Crested. (Another notoriously difficult to housebreak breed!)
She is able to pee the (many!) times a day she needs to with such a small bladder and training seemed to go much faster this way.
posted by PrettyKnitty at 5:07 AM on May 25, 2012
She is able to pee the (many!) times a day she needs to with such a small bladder and training seemed to go much faster this way.
posted by PrettyKnitty at 5:07 AM on May 25, 2012
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You might try restricting their water intake until you get them on a schedule. (I don't mean deprive them of water - just time the watering around a going-out schedule.) This means you have to establish and stick to a schedule for a while. STICK TO THE SCHEDULE.
Morning wake-up: take them outside immediately and stay there until they do their business(es).
Go back out a couple hours later.
Go back out a couple hours later.
Go back out a couple hours later. Etc.
You want to take them out often enough that you pick up on their individual or collective pee/poop habits. Possibly keep a diary of those activities.
Food or water input=take the dogs outside within 15-20 minutes. Give them an especially good walk until they all do their business.
When in the house don't let them roam freely. Keep them leashed and attached to you so that if you spot any of them getting a pee/poop look about them you can haul them out immediately.
It's possible that the dogs are also pee/poop marking the place. Which wouldn't be surprising since there are three of them. Get an enzyme cleaner to clear out the stains/scent.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 10:01 PM on May 23, 2012 [1 favorite]