Jennie
09-28-2003, 09:57 AM
OK, we're doing pretty well on this housebreaking thing, but I think we've reached a plateau. Just looking to see if anyone has any advice on what to do next, or if we're at a natural point that will pass in time.
My puppers are 7 months old, and doing fairly well with their training. They are crated when I am not at home with them (never for more than 3 or so hours at a time), and crated at work (but there they are crated together and have plenty of room to play and wrestle - in fact, I often can't keep them outside when I go visit them at lunch, they'd rather be in their crate - where they do get a small biscuit each time I leave them). They have never had an accident in their crates either place.
When I am home, I confine them downstairs to the kitchen and great room (blocking off the dining room where they were prone to accidents), or to the hobby room upstairs (depending on where I am). When we are downstairs, they have gotten very, very good at going outside to do their thing. We are having a bit of an issue with them wanting to continually run in and out, in and out. Bailey did have an accident downstairs today, but I think it's my fault for telling him he didn't need to go outside (he had just been out plenty, but apparently didn't need to go until I said no). But generally speaking, they are having less than 2 accidents a week between them downstairs. Upstairs seems to be a different story. If they have just been out, they're fine. But if we spend any period of time in this room (the furthest from an outside door), they don't give me any sign (that I've been able to figure out). They still just go on the carpet as they want.
I have heard that puppers decide room by room that it is also their den and that they gradually decide the whole house is a place they don't want to go. But, the hobby room is perhaps the room we spend the most time in. I wonder if it is because the outside door isn't right here and they can't just walk to it. Any thoughts on how to keep progressing, or is this just a natural spot that we need to work through?
Also, when I do catch them in the act, I've never been successful at startling them. I've tried clapping, scolding in a tone, etc. and they just look at me and keep peeing. Thoughts on what I'm doing wrong here?
Sorry for being so long winded - didn't think it would take me this many words!
My puppers are 7 months old, and doing fairly well with their training. They are crated when I am not at home with them (never for more than 3 or so hours at a time), and crated at work (but there they are crated together and have plenty of room to play and wrestle - in fact, I often can't keep them outside when I go visit them at lunch, they'd rather be in their crate - where they do get a small biscuit each time I leave them). They have never had an accident in their crates either place.
When I am home, I confine them downstairs to the kitchen and great room (blocking off the dining room where they were prone to accidents), or to the hobby room upstairs (depending on where I am). When we are downstairs, they have gotten very, very good at going outside to do their thing. We are having a bit of an issue with them wanting to continually run in and out, in and out. Bailey did have an accident downstairs today, but I think it's my fault for telling him he didn't need to go outside (he had just been out plenty, but apparently didn't need to go until I said no). But generally speaking, they are having less than 2 accidents a week between them downstairs. Upstairs seems to be a different story. If they have just been out, they're fine. But if we spend any period of time in this room (the furthest from an outside door), they don't give me any sign (that I've been able to figure out). They still just go on the carpet as they want.
I have heard that puppers decide room by room that it is also their den and that they gradually decide the whole house is a place they don't want to go. But, the hobby room is perhaps the room we spend the most time in. I wonder if it is because the outside door isn't right here and they can't just walk to it. Any thoughts on how to keep progressing, or is this just a natural spot that we need to work through?
Also, when I do catch them in the act, I've never been successful at startling them. I've tried clapping, scolding in a tone, etc. and they just look at me and keep peeing. Thoughts on what I'm doing wrong here?
Sorry for being so long winded - didn't think it would take me this many words!