New puppy house training help....

[goin2disneyagain]

I have a 16 week old Shi-poo that I have had for 9 days. I take her to the same spot everytime I take her out and tell her the same command. She is taken out frequently but she still uses the bathroom inside frequently. She is good about going when I take her out 1st thing in the morning but even then she will go inside within 30 minutes again. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Aimeedyan]

She's still too young to expect to get it. It takes a long time for many dogs, esp small breeds.

My Shih Tzu was 1.5 YEARS old before he got it. Shih Tzu's are notorious for being difficult.

It takes time, patience, and lots of stain remover.

You can try leashing her to you - called the umbillical method. I found out about that when Harley was about 8 months old and had ruined the carpet in our dining room. He was quick; potty and hurry back to us before we had realized he was gone. This kept him close to me and cut down on accidents, though it's a pain to be tied to a puppy =) If nothing else, it helped cut down on carpet cleaning.

 

[goin2disneyagain]

Okay. I hope she doesn't take a year and a half. I did read that Shih tzu's can be difficult to train but toy poodles are easier. I guess she has more of the Shih tzu in her for that than the toy poodle. I had hoped to see at least a little progress but I really don't feel like I've made any yet.

 

[JARNJ3]

Okay. I hope she doesn't take a year and a half. I did read that Shih tzu's can be difficult to train but toy poodles are easier. I guess she has more of the Shih tzu in her for that than the toy poodle. I had hoped to see at least a little progress but I really don't feel like I've made any yet.

We used the crate method with our Shih Tzu. They don't like to go where they sleep........

We also used the wee wee pads. First placing it by the back door - then down the steps - then outside. She got the hint. It was much quicker than a year........

You also need to learn the signs of them wanting to go out. Lucy never barked - she'd just come in and look at us. When she had to do #2 - she'd run around the house like a crazy dog. You'll eventually learn her signals......

Also try taking her out after every meal - and after every time she takes a drink.

Our Lucy used to never drink when we weren't home - she knew she wasn't getting the opportunity to go out - when we got home - the first thing she'd do was drink - then want to go out.

One more thing - we found out early on from her pup stage - she needed to be walked in the morning before she'd go - her equivalent of bringing a book in the bathroom! Perhaps there's some of that needed too.

 

[Aimeedyan]

We used the crate method with our Shih Tzu. They don't like to go where they sleep........

We also used the wee wee pads. First placing it by the back door - then down the steps - then outside. She got the hint. It was much quicker than a year........

See, we used the wee wee pads and it was a disaster! Long after those pads were gone, he still peed in that same spot. Only broke him after moving houses. We didn't use the pads with the next two dogs and they trained much quicker.

We always crate train our dogs as well. We didn't have accidents while we were gone! =)

Harley was trained by our 2nd dog, who got it within weeks. He now grunts and sniffs at us when he needs to go out. We just have to watch his signs as he'll still potty in the house if we don't recognize his cues.

I'm willing to admit my dog is a few fries short... but he sure is sweet!!!

 

[HOGFAN]

It takes time. we have had our mini doxi for about a month now. He is getting better. He will head to the door and look back at us if he wants to go out. I think its also about training the owners. We take him out on a regular basis, signal or not. I read somewhere that a dog is not considered housebroken til they are at least 6 months of age and have gone one month without an accident. Hang in there and buy the big sprayer of Natures Miracle.

 

[golfgal]

One thing we learned with our dog was going just one time outside didn't mean she was done. She would pee and then we would bring her back inside and she would go in the house. We figured out that she would usually go 3 times when out so we would wait for that. When she was done sniffing around was usually when she was done. Now that she is older she doesn't do that, once is usually enough.

 

[chirurgeon]

Another vote for crate training. And it took my bichon over a year to get the pooping outside thing. She got the peeing outside after she was 5 months old or so, but she does go 2 or 3 times when she is outside. You need to learn the signals when the pup is about to have to go and try and get outside fast.

Hang in there,
Kim

 

[JARNJ3]

I'm willing to admit my dog is a few fries short... but he sure is sweet!!!

Our Lucy failed the final exam at her training class! She was supposed to sit and stay - then we were supposed to walk away from her and call her to us. Well - this worked at home - but at school, when we told her to stay - she followed us all the way back. The trainer said that actually that was a good thing, as she'd most likely never leave us when outdoors.

Shih Tzus are not high up on the intelligence ladder - but they make up for it by being so darn lovable!

 

[Alicia87]

DD17 just got her 10 wk old Maltese this past Tuesday. He's done really well peeing on the puppy pads and pooping outside! We've always taken our pups outside about every 1/2 hr. when we first bring them home cause their little bladders can't hold for very long. My maltese only took about a full month to train. Hang in there, it doesn't happen overnight.

 

[puffkin]

We had really good luck with our beagle and the puppy pads. We put it by the backdoor and would put him on there as soon as he started to squat. He got the idea pretty quickly and then when he would head for the pad we would take him out back. It only took him a few weeks. We kept the pads down though for about 6 months though in case we didn't see him head for the back door, then he knew it was ok to go on the pad. When he was old enough to hold it we removed the pad and he would go stand by the back door to go out. His housebreaking was really easy.....which is strange because all our other Beagles have been hard to housebreak (trait of the breed).

 

[Aimeedyan]

Our Lucy failed the final exam at her training class! She was supposed to sit and stay - then we were supposed to walk away from her and call her to us. Well - this worked at home - but at school, when we told her to stay - she followed us all the way back. The trainer said that actually that was a good thing, as she'd most likely never leave us when outdoors.

Shih Tzus are not high up on the intelligence ladder - but they make up for it by being so darn lovable!

Harley (my Shih Tzu) can't do the stay thing either. He is much too loyal to us to let us walk away without him! I have 3 dogs and he is def the baby in the house. Just a great loving lap dog.

I have a Lucy, too - she's a Miniature Schnauzer. The complete opposite of my Shih Tzu and too darn smart for her own good!

 

[goin2disneyagain]

We used the crate method with our Shih Tzu. They don't like to go where they sleep........

We also used the wee wee pads. First placing it by the back door - then down the steps - then outside. She got the hint. It was much quicker than a year........

You also need to learn the signs of them wanting to go out. Lucy never barked - she'd just come in and look at us. When she had to do #2 - she'd run around the house like a crazy dog. You'll eventually learn her signals......

Also try taking her out after every meal - and after every time she takes a drink.

Our Lucy used to never drink when we weren't home - she knew she wasn't getting the opportunity to go out - when we got home - the first thing she'd do was drink - then want to go out.

One more thing - we found out early on from her pup stage - she needed to be walked in the morning before she'd go - her equivalent of bringing a book in the bathroom! Perhaps there's some of that needed too.

She will go in the morning when I take her out. It's the rest of the day that seems to be the problem. I just took her for a walk. She drank water about 30 minutes before we left. She stopped to pee once during the walk. After we came home I still took her to the spot in the yard I always take her to pee and she didn't do anything. We came back in after 10-15 minutes and almost immediately she pee'ed again!!! I don't expect her to be completely house broken. I would just like to see some progress and I don't see any. I've picked up on her poop signs and have scooped her up and taken her out as soon as I see her squat to poop. She won't do anything though when we go out. After she comes back in she will poop. I'm not a fan of crate training but I am considering giving it a try since I'm not seeing any progress. I've never had this much trouble house breaking a puppy before. Ugghh!!

 

[donald&daisy]

I crated trained my Shih Tzu. He loves his kennel. We never use it as punishment. It is safe spot and he likes to nap in there sometimes...when he isn't in his arm chair. It took a while to housebreak him, 2-3 months, but now he would never dream of going in the house (maybe if he was ill). Going #1 outside was the hardest, we just took him out all the time. Plus he guzzles water like there is no tomorrow...Anyways, just have patience. Also I think my Shih Tzu is really smart...my bumper sticker even says so

 

[cassie]

She will go in the morning when I take her out. It's the rest of the day that seems to be the problem. I just took her for a walk. She drank water about 30 minutes before we left. She stopped to pee once during the walk. After we came home I still took her to the spot in the yard I always take her to pee and she didn't do anything. We came back in after 10-15 minutes and almost immediately she pee'ed again!!! I don't expect her to be completely house broken. I would just like to see some progress and I don't see any. I've picked up on her poop signs and have scooped her up and taken her out as soon as I see her squat to poop. She won't do anything though when we go out. After she comes back in she will poop. I'm not a fan of crate training but I am considering giving it a try since I'm not seeing any progress. I've never had this much trouble house breaking a puppy before. Ugghh!!

I'm in the same place you are. I bought an Austrailan Terrier 7 days ago and he is 3 1/2 months old. He is crated while I work, and my dd takes him. He's better with me than her as she is busier than me at home. Pooping is my biggest problem. Jack will pee okay, but catching a poop has been harder.

 

[clutter]

Break a milk-bone up into about a dozen pieces. Bring some with you when you go outside. Give one small piece when he goes outside. I hate using food for rewards, but that gave my cockapoo the message.

 

[kkproulx]

Okay....I didn't read all the other posts, but I feel like an expert here going through all the dogs that I have in my life! I have crate trained all my dogs. Some people don't like the cage thing, but the dogs learn to love it. Here's what we've done with all the dogs we've gone through. We have three right now and have gone through three others. We had a collie, major food allergies and car sickness, found a person that had another collie; had a shih-poo, very aggressive dog and tried to go through a screen to one of my little girls friends, had a lab, needed to much yard that we could provide. We now have two pomeranians and a maltese-shih-tzu. Anyway, we put them int he crate unless they are eating, outside or playing one-on-one at all times with them. The first thing in the morning we put them outside; let them in and they eat and drink; let them back outside; play a bit with them (as long as our schedule can deal with); put them back in the crate; go to work; come home a few hours later; let them back outside; give them a drink and eat; let them back outside; play, etc. You need to realize that EVERY time they wake, eat and play they NEED to go out immediately after....NO MATTER WHAT! This is not mean to the pups no matter what people say. My dogs are now all right around two years old and when I say "cage" they all immediately go into the cage. I will remain caging them all because with three dogs, I believe that they may destroy my house....they know now to go outside...it usually takes nearly a year before they KNOW to go outside. They all are on a feed schedule, and cage schedule. All dogs are different and may take longer or shorter to train. I do know that my maltese mix took shorter than my Pomeranians. But my youngest Pomeranian took to potty training sooner than the older Pomeranian. The Poms are males andt he Matlese mix is a female. It all is different for each dog, whether the breed or sex. Good luck. If you need any further help, please PM me. I love training dogs.....but I will tell you this....I don't want to potty train another dog....but will be willing to help you!

 

[Dr Pepsi]

Another vote for crate training.

My dogs are both crate trained. They don't mind their crates at all.

The fact that your puppy goes after 10-15 minutes inside means that he doesn't understand at all where you want him to go, but a crate will be a great tool for teaching him.

Whether you use a crate or not, you MUST keep your eye on him every second he's loose in the house so you can take him out as soon as he shows signs of needing to go. Otherwise you'll never get him housetrained.

Good luck.

 

[goin2disneyagain]

She goes out frequently and is always taken to the same spot. She did have a couple of accidents today after drinking a lot of water. Even then she had already gone pee outside once or twice before the accidents happened. She seems to have done better overall today though. If that trend continues tomorrow I will feel like we have made some progress. I am not fond of the crate training idea, partly because someone is almost always home with her. I am taking treats out with me to give her when she goes potty outside. I hate using food to bribe her so to speak but I guess if that's what it takes to make her understand that she is supposed to go potty outside I will have to do that.

 

[Aimeedyan]

She goes out frequently and is always taken to the same spot. She did have a couple of accidents today after drinking a lot of water. Even then she had already gone pee outside once or twice before the accidents happened. She seems to have done better overall today though. If that trend continues tomorrow I will feel like we have made some progress. I am not fond of the crate training idea, partly because someone is almost always home with her. I am taking treats out with me to give her when she goes potty outside. I hate using food to bribe her so to speak but I guess if that's what it takes to make her understand that she is supposed to go potty outside I will have to do that.

LOL, I have the opposite philosophy on dogs. I think every single dog should be crate trained (there are SO many reasons why) and that food is the best positive reinforcement you can use and have no qualms about making my dog work for their food. Working for food is part of their instinctive nature, just like having a den (crate) is.

Regardless of what method you use, I am glad she is getting better each day!