Puppy needs help!

[susie462]

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Hi, I have 3 Yorkshire Terriers, Mia who is 8 years old, Bella who is 4 years old and Alfie, the puppy, who is 6 months old.

Since we got Alfie we have been house training him, but to no avail. I have training mats in the bedroom, two on the stairs, one in the living room and another just by the door to access the garden. The two older dogs, every morning, afternoon and evening, when I'm there, go out and do their business, followed by Alfie, but he does nothing. Then all evening the two older dogs let me know by barking or twirling round by my feet that they want to go out, followed of course by Alfie, who does nothing, and then comes in and does his business on the sofa, floor, carpet, etc, yes sure he uses his training pads the majority of the time but, gosh, he even poo's on the sofa!!! I have taken them for walks, and the two older dogs do their business, Alfie doesn't and waits until we get home! I really just thought that it might of got just a bit easier having the two older dogs and that he might of watched and followed what they do! The two female dogs were pretty quick being house trained, is this what it is, the male of the species takes a bit longer?? Can anyone throw any light on this, as I'm at my wits end and my partner isn't too happy about it all!!

Susie

 

[Rosie33]

Hi,

I'm not a fan of puppy pads.

By putting puppy pads all around the house, really, you're telling Alfie that you want him to 'go' in the house, not outside.

I know your bitches wee and poop outside, but Alfie has never been taught to do that really. He's been taught to go indoors.

If I were you, I would remove all the puppy pads and house train him all over again, starting with the basics, taking him out often and giving him lots of praise when he obliges.

It shouldn't be too difficult, because when he gets to about nine months old, he will want to wee where your bitches have, to cover the scent.

Susan x

 

[eingana]

Hi,

I'm not a fan of puppy pads.

By putting puppy pads all around the house, really, you're telling Alfie that you want him to 'go' in the house, not outside.

I know your bitches wee and poop outside, but Alfie has never been taught to do that really. He's been taught to go indoors.

If I were you, I would remove all the puppy pads and house train him all over again, starting with the basics, taking him out often and giving him lots of praise when he obliges.

It shouldn't be too difficult, because when he gets to about nine months old, he will want to wee where your bitches have, to cover the scent.

Susan x

^^^What she says

Alfie clearly hasn't got the message that he's not meant to go in the house, so you need to change tack to provide him with that message and that means taking him out often, rewarding and praising and not giving him the get out clause of going in the house being OK.

 

[lurcherman]

Go back to basics , what worked 30. 40. Yrs ago stil works today.

 

[susie462]

Sorry I took so long to reply.

I'll take up your idea's on removing the puppy pads and start from the basics!

Something has to work.......surely!!

Thanks to those who replied, cheers!

 

[gypsysmum]

House training is all about rewarding the right behaviour and ignoring the wrong behaviour. You need to be nearby when he toilets outside and reward him with a high value treat immediately. Don't wait until he comes to you.

Crates make wonderful tools in the housetraining stakes. Introduce it as though it is a fabulous new toy and throw toys and food inside for a couple of days. Then put him in for a few minutes with a chew toy. Only let him out when he is quiet. Progress this until he happily settles in his new den for short periods when you can't watch him. If you know he needs to toilet but he hasn't emptied then keep popping him in his den with a nice toy to chew on and take him outside regularly until he is empty when he can have the run of the house again until the time comes for him needing the toilet when you need to repeat the above. Be very vigilant to try to avoid mistakes.

Never punish, even mildly, for mistakes as it makes them toilet in secret around the house to avoid your displeasure.

You will know he has "got it" when he looks to you to let him outside so that he can have a fabulous treat he only gets for toileting in the garden!

 

[banana]

I used Puppy Pads with Ripples and this has left her with a 'if I need a wee then I just go over there where the puppy pad was' attitude..

She is much better but what 'cured' her really was staying with James' parents when we were on holiday last year... they effectively retrained her!