6 month old STILL not trained

[Charmane]

I really need some help with my dashie, Tutts, she is six months old and still is not trained. She was really good when I first got her but now that the weather is getting cold (I live in Nova Scotia,Canada) she is going more and more in the house. My parents are really getting frustrated with her as am I.
PLEASE HELP

[LisaH]

Do you clean up her pee spots with an enzymatic cleaner such as Nature's Miracle? If she can smell where she went before, she'll do it again.

Beyond that, you just have to keep an eagle eye on her at all times, take her out often to the same spot and give her a command like "go pee." When she pees, praise her to the skies and give her her favorite food treat. Repeat this 1000 times and your dog will be housetrained.

I don't know whether anyone has told you this, but dachshunds are "challenging" to housetrain. They're very comfort-loving and don't see what the big deal is about peeing in the house where it's nice and warm. Don't give up--it can be done, but it's going to take longer than for other breeds.

Good luck!
Lisa and Annie

[Augie Dog]

Aug was tough too! We had a hard time trying to read the "I have to go now" look.

Pee pads were a toy at first. This sounds weird but, it worked for the pads.

I knew that dogs go in the same spot as they or another dog did before. So, after Aug wizzed outside (that was rare at first) I got a pee pad and blotted a little on it.

After an hour or so, I placed it by the door and made sure that he knew the pad was there. He sniffed at it for a while. It did not happen right away but, the pad was no longer a toy to be shreaded.

Bell training may be an idea too.

[Heather]

Housebreaking can be challenging, but it can be done. The advice below, on taking the dog to the same spot, receiting the same command over and over until the dog goes is my advice as well. My dogs are 6 and 3, and I still recite 'go pee pee' over and over evertime we are outside.

I also do not allow my dogs free run of the house. When we are not home, they are in a crate. Even when we are home, I usually restrict access to a few rooms adjacent to where I am. My dogs happen to be afraid of the baby gates, so I can just lean them up in a doorway, and they won't go near it.

I find that if I don't pay careful attention, I miss the 'i have to go' look.

Bell ringing is a great way to teach the dog to tell you he has to go. I have not used this technique, but I believe others on this board have.

Good luck.
H

[Rusty's mom]

We live in Canada too - Alberta and it sure can get cold here. We put our boys out more frequently in the colder weather but not for as long. We feed only at certain times and water is picked up at 9:00 p.m. Also, they do not have run of the house. We used to have them sleep with us but when they had to go they would just get off the bed and go anywhere. Now, they are crated at night - a HUGE crate and all three of them sleep together. The upstairs and downstairs are totally out of bounds unless me or my husband is with them. Our daughter and her friends don't count as they get busy and forget about the boys. Anytime they leave our eyesight we are following them around. All this has started to really pay off for us. It's not often that accidents occur in the house any more and with ours ranging in age from 16 mo., 11 mo. and 5 mo. it's been a hard go so we are pleased with the results we are getting. This type of dog is hard to housebreak and extra patience is truly required. But, I have to say that our boys are truly worth the effort we make.

Kathy - mom to Rusty, Duffer and Hobbs

[OwnedByChaucer]

Just when I thought we had everyone housetrained and squared away...Henry (my 12 year old) decided it was time to start peeing in the house when we left him alone (he is the opnly dog we left uncrated b/c for the first 6 months we had him...no accidents...)

So, at this point, we crate EVERYONE when we leave. Henry has his own "house" as he hates the young dogs. Chaucer also has his own house as he plays a little too rough sometimes. Gidget and Herman are crated together. Chaucer would like to be crated with Gidget and Herman, but he needs to chill a little first.

AS long as we stick to this (and there is no snow or rain) we are doing pretty well with potty. Everyone sleeps either in our bed, or next to it on a pillow (Henry), and we have no potty problems as they know going potty on the 3rd floor (where the bedrooms are) is a real quick way to be banished to the family room kennels for the night...

D