Puppy potty training advice?

Question

HI.. I've got a 10 week old sheltie pup, and I've had her for 2 weeks now. She's actually doing REALLY good with housebreaking in that

I keep her in her crate, take her straight outside, and she does what she has to do.. .she knows it's good to potty outside

Yesterday I mistakenly thought I could wait a couple more minutes (after she'd finished eating) to take her ouside. I could kick myself.. She DID whine a bit near the door before having an accident. I caught her in the act and told her "NO" and rushed her outside..where she actually finished the job!

There are very few accidents, because I take her out frequently and crate her. As I said, she seems to understand that it's good to go outside to potty..

BUT I need advice on how to cement in her little puppy brain that it is BAD to go on the carpet inside... This morning I had already taken her out twice in an hour (Because I take her first thing to do #1 when I wake up, then feed her and take her back out to #2)... And she STILL did a tiny puddle in the kitchen floor.. That surprised me.. she DIDN'T whine first this time.. I think she was just so hyper and excited, running around and playing.

Anyway.. I need tips on how to let her know it's BAD to go inside, especially as she has so few accident, simply because she knows WHY I take her outside and does her job and I"m careful.. But that doesn't mean she knows it's a "no-no" to go inside..capice?? I need to teach her that the whole house is "her crate" where she has to hold it until I take her out (she currently does fine 5 hours at a time in her crate.. I'm working on 6... dreaming of when I'll be able to sleep all night LOL)

I also realize I need to teach her how to ask to go out.. that's my responsibility.. I just keep blasted forgetting to buy some bells for the doorknob whenever I'm in town!!!

So.. is that the first step.. teach her how to ask??

I'd REALLY like to get her to a point where she can have the run of the house and I won't have to worry about her....

Any thoughts, advice.. please, I'm a newbie.. She's doing really good, but I need to know how to continue progressing..

Answer 1

Sounds like she is getting it so that speaks alot for how you are doing. Puppies remember are babies accidents WILL happen.. You already recognized "Yesterday I mistakenly thought I could wait a couple more minutes " .. often the accidents are our faults. timing is key with a new baby afterall.

Crate: There are many many useful websites etc for crate training your dog. A few reminders: A crate is a happy place so do not use it to punish. I have used a crate but made sure to never close the door while I was awake and bopping around the house. The only time I shut the door was while I was out of the house. ( Also alot of people do when sleeping - My dog sleeps with me so wasnt an issue) Remember while you are home you are teaching .. Dont expect to watch to many movies uninterupted until she is fully trained.

Schedule":It will help to try and get her on a schedule with it. Example. My dogs eat at the same times each day. Thier potty times as follows 1. Immediately when we wake up..potty then eat.... 2 hrs later potty again.. we are then good to lunch we eat then we potty again.  We go abput another 2 hrs playing napping then potty again. Then surprize dinner ( rinse and repeat ) Potty after dinner then about 2 hrs later.  Last potty time is before bed.  

Asking : We taught ours to knock on the back door. Everytime you take her out have her sit at the door then while praising her saying lets go out lift her paw and tap the door before opening it EVERYTIME in and out we tapped the door

1. puppy sit at door,

2 puppy tap on door.

Eventually they will do this all by themselves and thus "Ask" to go outside. Others do this with barking personally I prefer tapping its easier on my ears :)

Positive reinforcement goes much farther with a puppy then negative. Your pupppy understands outside is good she as a baby wants to please you..  It would not be fair to punish her for an accident. Instead take her outside immediatly repeating potty outside to her.. when she does praise her enormously.

Puppies are cute and sweet and playful but they are babies and alot of work and responsibility. In short dont expect to sit through a 2 hour movie without interuption the first several weeks. Good luck and I wish you and your new baby great joy with each other!

Answer 2

Maybe it is too soon for her to have the run of the house just yet. She is still young and they go so often when they are little. If your kitchen is not carpeted I would confine her to the kitchen after she has been out.  

I had to put my little yorkie on a leash in the bathroom because my apartment was all carpet. She had her toys and chewies, but she just mostly slept until I walked her. When she cried a little I knew she had to go. After I walked her I would let her run loose for a while before I put her on the leash again. At first I took her out 6-8 times a day, then it was 4-5 , then 4 times was enough.

It sounds like you are doing a great job with her. Just maybe let her get a little bit older and she will be fine. You can teach her to speak, when she wants something, by starting with a treat. She will automatically speak when she wants something after that. Like water,  food and probably out too.

A little warning here though, you will maybe wish you hadn't taught her to speak. She may not want to shut up. Some dogs get down right bossy when they want something. They are just beautiful aren't they. I love dogs.

She will go out for you just fine, I think at about 6 months they start to hold their bladder better. They will usually only go out about 4 times a day.1. Morning, 2.afternoon, 3.after dinner, 4.before bedtime.

Answer 3

Well, unfortunately, they are like newborn babies in a way.  They just can't help it, or hold it long.  When they are that young their little bladders aren't that controllable.

Puppies are hard work, and you can always expect some damage to your house.   Just do the best you can...they really do catch on with a little maturity....they are such babies right now.    Take her out as much as possible and reward the good times!  GET EXCITED!!  tell her how GOOD she is when she goes outside.....it seems they respond better to that- then punishment.  Make the mistakes a short loud NO!!!!!!! and take them outside right away. That's really all you can do--I don't think anyone has an easy time of it.

Answer 4

if she hasnt quite gotten how to ask yet then I suggest getting one of the puppy training pads so that if she doesnt warn you atleast she will be attracted to the pad and not the carpet.

Answer 5

seems like you have a good idea already keep up the good work

Answer 6

look,10 weeks is too young for pup to fully understand that she shouldn't do it inside, but i can see that u are above average , coz some some owners dont tech dog that untill dog is as late as 6 months. dont be nervous, puppy knows what she must do, but she just in stage of life when thats the least of her worries. u need to take time. puppys at this age dont have full controll over bladder. mine is 14 weeks and she can hold on for 6 hours at night. she does it at  midnight, and then at six in the moning.

good job to u!