Toilet training gone wrong

JoMichelle · 01-26-2012, 04:39 PM

Hi folks

Having a bit of problems with toilet training Winter who is 10 weeks old. Here's the problem:

I bought a huge crate for her, not realising at the time she was supposed to be confined to only a small part of it. I realised this the day before I got her and ordered a divider. Unfortunately this came after we'd had her for a week and a half, by which time she'd got into a routine of using one end of the crate to toilet in and the other end to sleep in.

The divider arrived. I put it into place and got up every 2 hours in the night. She doesn't have a blanket in there as she soiled it. She is now quite happy to toilet in the crate and sleep in it/roll around in it. When I let her out, I cannot take her outside during the night as the light is poor and I can't see if she does anything. She does her business on the puppy pad, and within 10 minutes of me putting her back in the crate she has soiled it, even if she's not eaten or drank.

During the daytime she is not interested in doing her business outside and waits until we are inside when she can use the puppy pads. All of this has got her horribly confused and I know it's all my fault. She's stopped using puppy pads during the day now too and just goes wherever she feels like it, which is literally every 20 minutes at most. She's confused as to if she can come out at night or not, so she just cries in her crate all the time now.

Not having such a great experience of my puppy at the moment, there are other issues I will post in a different thread.

Thanks for reading, I will take any criticism anyone wishes to throw at me as I know where I have gone wrong, as long as it is constructive, civil and doesn't undermine my decision to get a dog!

Thank you x

All of this has

1sttimeforgsd · 01-26-2012, 04:47 PM

Is it possible for you to take a soiled potty pad outside to where you want her to go potty and see if she will start going outside. And if she does you need to really get excited with her and tell her good girl. I don't know if it will work or not but it could not hurt to give it a try. I also would take the pads out of her crate.

JoMichelle · 01-26-2012, 04:54 PM

Oops I don't know what that bit is there on the end of my post lol.

Thanks for your input. I can take a soiled pad outside but it would be useless in the dark as I can't see what she is doing clearly. She always gets a huge fuss when she toilets in the right place. I will try this tomorrow though. There doesn't seem to be any set time she will go toilet. She can go once, then 10 minutes later, then an hour later, then 5 minutes later. I have no idea when she will need to go. I'm trying to keep a diary of when she goes etc, but it seems so random.

Also, I did take the pads out of her crate and it makes no difference. I can put her in the crate at 10pm (her normal bedtime) and come back to her at midnight. By which time the crate is completely covered in faeces and so is she. She somehow manages to get it all over the floor around the crate and all over the bars and roof. So almost every time I have to clean and disinfect the entire crate and kitchen floor.

Twyla · 01-26-2012, 05:01 PM

When I was house training Woolf, I kept a flashlight by the door because like you are dealing with the lighting was bad. (This helped DH change out the fixture

)

It may take a few nights of hardly any sleep.... try setting an alarm every hour to take the pup out. On leash, no play, do his business, praise and off to bed. During the day, leash the pup to you and again, every hour or every time you see him looking to go, scoop him up and head outside.

A bad habit has developed and it will take time and energy to change it.... but it can be done.

Barb E · 01-26-2012, 05:06 PM

Flashlight, bag and treats all sit very close to my back door for those after dark potty runs!

Barb E · 01-26-2012, 05:10 PM

Also it sounds like she's in another room at night?

Kaos's crate is right next to my bed - board on top so it makes a great nightstand - so I can hear her when she starts stirring.

Though

I've gotten pretty tired from sleeping in segments that I'm now setting an alarm to make sure I get her out every few hours.

Also what are you cleaning the crate with? You want to make sure to use a cleaner with enzymes like Nature's Miracle

JoMichelle · 01-26-2012, 05:11 PM

Alright, thank you.

So even if she keeps soiling the section of the crate she's in I should just persist and she if she gets the hang of it? Should I restrict water? I've been doing that today but it's made no difference so far, she just drank the entire bowl when I gave it to her. I've read somewhere to only feed her in the crate to reduce the chances of her soiling it. Should I try this too? x

stealthq · 01-26-2012, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoMichelle

She is now quite happy to toilet in the crate and sleep in it/roll around in it.

I have had a puppy that came from the breeder like this. Be resigned to the fact that your puppy is going to be unusually difficult to potty train and you will need to be more conscientious than most, for longer than most. That said, it CAN be done.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoMichelle

When I let her out, I cannot take her outside during the night as the light is poor and I can't see if she does anything. She does her business on the puppy pad, and within 10 minutes of me putting her back in the crate she has soiled it, even if she's not eaten or drank.

Get a flashlight, take it with you. Do not let puppy back indoors until she has pottied. Make sure that you are going often enough that she doesn't make another mistake in her crate. This is super important - you need her to be used to a spotless crate so she re-learns that she should not potty in it and every error puts you back to square one.

I would bring her puppy pad outside as well until she starts to potty pretty quickly when you go outside. When you are where you want her to go, say some command like 'Go Potty' - eventually she will understand to go whenever you say that wherever you are. Once she goes, praise and treat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoMichelle

During the daytime she is not interested in doing her business outside and waits until we are inside when she can use the puppy pads. All of this has got her horribly confused and I know it's all my fault. She's stopped using puppy pads during the day now too and just goes wherever she feels like it, which is literally every 20 minutes at most.

It sounds as though you are available to take her out during the day - in that case, remove the puppy pads from inside so she doesn't think that's where she should go. Going about every 20min is not unusual for such a young pup, especially since she is not learning to hold it (what the crate helps to teach). I'd keep that schedule with her during the day. Normally, I'd suggest putting her back in her crate for 15min if she doesn't go then take her out again, but that won't work for you. Instead, you're going to need to stay outside until she is successful. Don't play with her - make it as boring as possible. She'll figure out that when you go outside, she needs to go for the fun to start again. When you notice that you're having to wait around most of the time you take her out (or that she's peeing only a couple of drops rather than a full pee), then try going out every 30min., then 40min., etc.

JoMichelle · 01-26-2012, 05:15 PM

Yes, she is in the kitchen. The reason for this is when I put her to bed at night I don't go to bed myself. I'm studying at university and I have to use this time to get some work done. Do you think it would help a lot? Wouldn't she just keep crying to come out if she's near me? I get up a lot in the night too as I don't sleep well. I'd be constantly disturbing her.

Also I crate her whilst I have to do things where she can't be with me, such as taking a bath etc. I'm not sure she would settle in the crate if I'm always moving around and disturbing her.

I'm using a regular household disinfectant. I'll go to the pet shop tomorrow and get the one you suggested, thanks x

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barb E

Also it sounds like she's in another room at night?

Kaos's crate is right next to my bed - board on top so it makes a great nightstand - so I can hear her when she starts stirring.

Though

I've gotten pretty tired from sleeping in segments that I'm now setting an alarm to make sure I get her out every few hours.

Also what are you cleaning the crate with? You want to make sure to use a cleaner with enzymes like Nature's Miracle

JoMichelle · 01-26-2012, 05:19 PM

Thank you Stealthq. I will give that a go.

I am at home with her most days, but - 2 days a week I am out the entire day. I have a dog walker to come see to her during the day but it means there are two parts of the day where she is in the crate for 4 hours. What should I do during this time? I do also have to put her in the crate for 2 hours at a time twice a day whilst I do the school run. It's a 3 mile round trip so she can't come with me, even when she can safely go outside after her next injection it will be too far for her.

01-26-2012, 04:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
JoMichelle Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Derby, UK Posts: 200	Toilet training gone wrong Hi folks Having a bit of problems with toilet training Winter who is 10 weeks old. Here's the problem: I bought a huge crate for her, not realising at the time she was supposed to be confined to only a small part of it. I realised this the day before I got her and ordered a divider. Unfortunately this came after we'd had her for a week and a half, by which time she'd got into a routine of using one end of the crate to toilet in and the other end to sleep in. The divider arrived. I put it into place and got up every 2 hours in the night. She doesn't have a blanket in there as she soiled it. She is now quite happy to toilet in the crate and sleep in it/roll around in it. When I let her out, I cannot take her outside during the night as the light is poor and I can't see if she does anything. She does her business on the puppy pad, and within 10 minutes of me putting her back in the crate she has soiled it, even if she's not eaten or drank. During the daytime she is not interested in doing her business outside and waits until we are inside when she can use the puppy pads. All of this has got her horribly confused and I know it's all my fault. She's stopped using puppy pads during the day now too and just goes wherever she feels like it, which is literally every 20 minutes at most. She's confused as to if she can come out at night or not, so she just cries in her crate all the time now. Not having such a great experience of my puppy at the moment, there are other issues I will post in a different thread. Thanks for reading, I will take any criticism anyone wishes to throw at me as I know where I have gone wrong, as long as it is constructive, civil and doesn't undermine my decision to get a dog! Thank you x All of this has

01-26-2012, 04:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
1sttimeforgsd Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: West Virginia Posts: 4,897	Is it possible for you to take a soiled potty pad outside to where you want her to go potty and see if she will start going outside. And if she does you need to really get excited with her and tell her good girl. I don't know if it will work or not but it could not hurt to give it a try. I also would take the pads out of her crate. __________________ karen, mom to: ace-gsd (bi-color) 6/14/2010 mandy-yellow lab 1/31/2009 baby-terrier mix 11/25/2000

01-26-2012, 05:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
Barb E Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 14,437	Flashlight, bag and treats all sit very close to my back door for those after dark potty runs! __________________ Dante - March 2004 Kaos von Wolfstraum Oct 2011 "Today is tomorrow's time machine" ~ Dr G ~

01-26-2012, 05:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
Barb E Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 14,437	Also it sounds like she's in another room at night? Kaos's crate is right next to my bed - board on top so it makes a great nightstand - so I can hear her when she starts stirring. Though I've gotten pretty tired from sleeping in segments that I'm now setting an alarm to make sure I get her out every few hours. Also what are you cleaning the crate with? You want to make sure to use a cleaner with enzymes like Nature's Miracle __________________ Dante - March 2004 Kaos von Wolfstraum Oct 2011 "Today is tomorrow's time machine" ~ Dr G ~

01-26-2012, 04:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
JoMichelle Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Derby, UK Posts: 200	Oops I don't know what that bit is there on the end of my post lol. Thanks for your input. I can take a soiled pad outside but it would be useless in the dark as I can't see what she is doing clearly. She always gets a huge fuss when she toilets in the right place. I will try this tomorrow though. There doesn't seem to be any set time she will go toilet. She can go once, then 10 minutes later, then an hour later, then 5 minutes later. I have no idea when she will need to go. I'm trying to keep a diary of when she goes etc, but it seems so random. Also, I did take the pads out of her crate and it makes no difference. I can put her in the crate at 10pm (her normal bedtime) and come back to her at midnight. By which time the crate is completely covered in faeces and so is she. She somehow manages to get it all over the floor around the crate and all over the bars and roof. So almost every time I have to clean and disinfect the entire crate and kitchen floor.

01-26-2012, 05:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
Twyla Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Georgia Posts: 499	When I was house training Woolf, I kept a flashlight by the door because like you are dealing with the lighting was bad. (This helped DH change out the fixture ) It may take a few nights of hardly any sleep.... try setting an alarm every hour to take the pup out. On leash, no play, do his business, praise and off to bed. During the day, leash the pup to you and again, every hour or every time you see him looking to go, scoop him up and head outside. A bad habit has developed and it will take time and energy to change it.... but it can be done.

01-26-2012, 05:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
JoMichelle Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Derby, UK Posts: 200	Alright, thank you. So even if she keeps soiling the section of the crate she's in I should just persist and she if she gets the hang of it? Should I restrict water? I've been doing that today but it's made no difference so far, she just drank the entire bowl when I gave it to her. I've read somewhere to only feed her in the crate to reduce the chances of her soiling it. Should I try this too? x

01-26-2012, 05:19 PM	#10 (permalink)
JoMichelle Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Derby, UK Posts: 200	Thank you Stealthq. I will give that a go. I am at home with her most days, but - 2 days a week I am out the entire day. I have a dog walker to come see to her during the day but it means there are two parts of the day where she is in the crate for 4 hours. What should I do during this time? I do also have to put her in the crate for 2 hours at a time twice a day whilst I do the school run. It's a 3 mile round trip so she can't come with me, even when she can safely go outside after her next injection it will be too far for her.

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