dog owners - advice needed on puppy training
Discussion
we recently got a golden retriever puppy who is now 3.5 months old. He is pretty smart in terms of normal training like sitting, staying etc etc but we cannot seem to sort out the toilet training. We've tried a couple of methods such as the ignoring it and cleaning it up while he isn't looking to putting his nose towards it and saying very sternly NO, outside. We give him the commands when outside and when he goes in the garden praise him. Tried the newspaper and puppy mats but all he does with these is rip them up and chew them. He does seem recently to have stopped doing it in the house during the day when we leave doors open to the garden but at night he always has a proper toilet session in the hallway at some point!
Any advice from those that have been through this process before?
Thanks
Any advice from those that have been through this process before?
Thanks
Sounds like you're doing the right things to me. It takes time. He's already learning from what you say, and should get steadily better He's just weeing at night because his bladder is still weak.
Don't give him water near bed time or leave any out, it will help. It won't do him any harm at all, he'll be safely hydrated, as even his wet food has plenty of liquid in it.
Puppies are a nightmare though, I will never get another one!
Don't give him water near bed time or leave any out, it will help. It won't do him any harm at all, he'll be safely hydrated, as even his wet food has plenty of liquid in it.
Puppies are a nightmare though, I will never get another one!
We have a five month old Golden but he's only ever done anything in the house four or five times other than overnight. The main thing is to take him outside a lot. Always go outside after every meal and stay there until he has 'performed'. Then make sure you go outside every couple of hours at least. Overnight is about age, ours started to last overnight at about 3 months, but he always goes outside last thing at night and then first thing in the morning.
Don't do the 'rub nose in it' stuff, it really doesn't help and it's not necessary.
Don't do the 'rub nose in it' stuff, it really doesn't help and it's not necessary.
We took our dog outside about 30 minutes after eating. Sometimes we had to stay out for an hour until he went to the toilet, then we gave him lots of praise when he did manage to do his business. A pup can only hold it for a very short space of time, so you should at least be leaving a door open for him. Great if its in summer, but we got our dog in January. I wouldnt be a fan of rubbing his nose in it either.
get its nose rubbed in it then put it outside , pepole say its wrong but it works , both of my german shepards was house trained within a week (8weeks old), and there renowned for been a akward stuburn dog ,
be firm now otherwise you will regret it and making a rod for your own back ,big dogs are diffrent to smaller dogs
leave the door open when you can through the day if it does it in the house or starts trying as if its going to quickly pick it up and put it on the paper .
we put dog dishes on the paper so when it was eating and drinking it got used to the paper under there feet , they sort of see it as there space then .
keep plenty of toys floating about i have always had a big box full of them and never had anything damaged apart from a 24pack of toliet roll lol
once it realises it has to go to the paper near the door and it gets there you will see that wonts to go out
easy realy just make sure there is one person giving it its comands and be firm ith them otherwise they get confused
be firm now otherwise you will regret it and making a rod for your own back ,big dogs are diffrent to smaller dogs
leave the door open when you can through the day if it does it in the house or starts trying as if its going to quickly pick it up and put it on the paper .
we put dog dishes on the paper so when it was eating and drinking it got used to the paper under there feet , they sort of see it as there space then .
keep plenty of toys floating about i have always had a big box full of them and never had anything damaged apart from a 24pack of toliet roll lol
once it realises it has to go to the paper near the door and it gets there you will see that wonts to go out
easy realy just make sure there is one person giving it its comands and be firm ith them otherwise they get confused
The only thing that worked with our pup was putting her in a cage, at bedtime, which you can get in any pet shop. I know that sounds cruel but its a cage big enough for them to stand in and put their bed in but not to walk about in- dogs will not go to the toilet in their bed, they always move away so if they are in the cage they won't go, just take them out to the garden last thing at night and first thing in the morning and after a month or so you wont need the cage anymore!
(plus the cage is brilliant for putting them in the car or for going away for a weekend!!!)
(plus the cage is brilliant for putting them in the car or for going away for a weekend!!!)
Edited by Becks on Sunday 17th August 19:52
3.5 months is no time for toilet training in some cases. We have trained dogs within weeks and others have taken months. Our year old Jack Russell took around 6 months before she was fully clean. One of our GSDs took a week, the other took a couple of months. We also have a rescued 14 month old Jack Russell that can't seem to go the night or more than around 5 hours during the day. Luckily we still have a very large GSD and we can leave the back door open all night so it is only a problem if we have to go out for long periods.
As for rubbing noses in it, I doubt it works as they generally know when they've had an accident and punishing them for it would only make matters worse IMO.
As for rubbing noses in it, I doubt it works as they generally know when they've had an accident and punishing them for it would only make matters worse IMO.
We've two golden retrievers - just a year old now.
Same sort of problems.
We fed them @ 18:00, and also took their water away after that time. Also, basically up to six months you're going to struggle with them overnight.
Take him out every 20 mins, and praise him when he does the job.
You will just find there are less 'accidents' over time.
Same sort of problems.
We fed them @ 18:00, and also took their water away after that time. Also, basically up to six months you're going to struggle with them overnight.
Take him out every 20 mins, and praise him when he does the job.
You will just find there are less 'accidents' over time.
falcemob said:
3.5 months is no time for toilet training in some cases. We have trained dogs within weeks and others have taken months. Our year old Jack Russell took around 6 months before she was fully clean. One of our GSDs took a week, the other took a couple of months. We also have a rescued 14 month old Jack Russell that can't seem to go the night or more than around 5 hours during the day. Luckily we still have a very large GSD and we can leave the back door open all night so it is only a problem if we have to go out for long periods.
As for rubbing noses in it, I doubt it works as they generally know when they've had an accident and punishing them for it would only make matters worse IMO.
our jack russell took about 6 months also to go all night without a mishap! the look on his face in the morning said it all,he knows he had done wrong ! now he is ok,always dashing to go out in morning,always gets praise for waiting to go outside,just takes time !As for rubbing noses in it, I doubt it works as they generally know when they've had an accident and punishing them for it would only make matters worse IMO.
I'm not a fan of the putting their nose in it technique. It can worsen the behaviour because the puppy will want to hide its soiling...and it can also create low confidence which can lead to a dangerous adult dog.
You need to watch the puppy as much as you can. Especially half an hour or so after eating and waking. When they start to pace and sniff lead them to the back door and onto the grass (or wherever you want them to do it). Leaving a puppy training pad by the backdoor can help too.
Clean up any accidents with antiseptic to hide the smell of dog poo/urine or they will be drawn to using that spot again.
You need to watch the puppy as much as you can. Especially half an hour or so after eating and waking. When they start to pace and sniff lead them to the back door and onto the grass (or wherever you want them to do it). Leaving a puppy training pad by the backdoor can help too.
Clean up any accidents with antiseptic to hide the smell of dog poo/urine or they will be drawn to using that spot again.
BigLepton said:
Pick up any sh!t that they've left in the wrong place and drop it on their bed. Leave any they have done in the right place. It normally only takes a couple of days for them to work out what they must do to avoid sh!t appearing in their bed.
That has to be the most ignorant statement I've ever read. You really think a juvenile dog can make the association between s
t in it's bed and it's behaviour? 
BigLepton said:
Pick up any sh!t that they've left in the wrong place and drop it on their bed. Leave any they have done in the right place. It normally only takes a couple of days for them to work out what they must do to avoid sh!t appearing in their bed.
I have to say, thats pretty sh!t advice (pardon the pun)That's just going to really upset the dog. Did this work with yours, because I'd be amazed if it did?.....
Second the take them outside for 30 mintes after eating, most dogs are simple beasts and will crap within 10 minutes of their belly being full.
Also recommend the cage technique, they will wimper if they really need to go or they will hold on to the morning then let them out straight away.
Also recommend the cage technique, they will wimper if they really need to go or they will hold on to the morning then let them out straight away.
siscar said:
We have a five month old Golden but he's only ever done anything in the house four or five times other than overnight. The main thing is to take him outside a lot. Always go outside after every meal and stay there until he has 'performed'. Then make sure you go outside every couple of hours at least. Overnight is about age, ours started to last overnight at about 3 months, but he always goes outside last thing at night and then first thing in the morning.
Don't do the 'rub nose in it' stuff, it really doesn't help and it's not necessary.
^^ +100.Don't do the 'rub nose in it' stuff, it really doesn't help and it's not necessary.
Patience and persistence are the key. Anyone who rubs a puppy's nose in its mess and expects a positive result is at best naive and at worst a bit of a t
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