frustrated about potty training my 15 week old doxie.

[Lisalovesruben]

Hello! I am a proud owner of a 15 week old black and tan male doxie named ruben. We have had ruben for exactly 2 weeks today. Ruben is a smart little dog and will go on command when i take him outside. The problem is, he does not want to go outside, he run's and hides or run's back in when i get him outside......... or refuses to ask to go outside. I live in the midwest and we are slowly approaching winter here. The main problem is his kennel. Ruben is peeing and pooing in his kennal at night and during the day when i am gone. He seems upset when i find him sitting in his mess, but continues to do so. Is this because of his age and will he eventually grow out of it or get sick of his mess? I come home daily to a sad puppy sitting in his mess, which i have to clean up and then.......I have to give him a bath. Frustration has set in. From everything i have read, puppies arent' suppose to go in their own space. Will he eventually get tired of this or will he grow out of it? I also have a 5 mo old darling daughter at home and an 8 year old. I recently became a single mom and am wondering if i took on too much right now. lol I guess i just thought a puppy would bring a little love and tlc to our home, which he has. My son is so proud of him. Do i just need to be patient and time will help? Any suggestions? thanks. lisa :dog:

[TessieMom]

Time should help. How large is his crate??? If it is too large, he can use it as a bathroom and bedroom. You might want to get a smaller crate if that is the case. If you look back through the archives you should see a lot of other good advice and the realization that it just takes time for the bulb to come on. Some folks use treats also.

Good Luck!
Rena and the Waco crew

[Juneysmom]

I wrote this in the other post, so just copied and pasted it here.

About the kennel. Are you talking about a crate? or an X-pen? If it is a crate, then you need to know that a puppy cannot hold himself for 8+ hours. I believe that a 15 week old puppy can only hold himself for 2 - 3 hours.

It might be better for you to get an x-pen, then leave the crate inside the x-pen, but put down potty pads in a corner of the x-pen.

Because he has been messing in the crate, you will need to watch him when you get home, and when he has a need to go, then put him on the potty pad and say in a nice voice, "go potty". If he moves, then put him back. When is he done, then praise him up and down and all over the place. Also, you can give him a treat for going in the right place. He will eventually start going there while you are gone.

In the meantime, wash his crate inside and outside with a good anti-odor anti-soil agent made especially for dogs. (Don't buy the cheap kinds - they don't work).

It will take some time for him to learn to go potty because he is still a baby. Just like it took you awhile to potty train your son when he was a toddler, your puppy will need the time, patience and love. If you think to yourself, that this will pass and that the puppy is only a puppy, you can get through it without frustration.

Good luck.

[FOREVER A DAXIE]

Firstly Lisa, I'd like to WELCOME you to this truly awesome board. 15 weeks is very young for Ruben to be telling you he has to go. Charlie will be 6 months old at the end of next week and he's doing fine but the Lightbulb has NOT come on yet.

Luckily I haven't had the problem with the Kennel. I'm wondering because you got him much later (13 weeks) he was already soiling his previous Kennel. Did he come from a Breeder? Most puppies are sold between 6-10 weeks. Most at 8 weeks.

He's so little that there is NO way he can hold it during the day if you're gone for more than 4 hours. He's like a baby. The bladder control is not fully developed yet. If you can't be with him during the day I don't recommend you leave him in a Kennel. You would be much better off if you gated your Kitchen etc. & put down some pad for him to go on.

P.S. Is Ruben a Mini or Standard?
PPS: We LOVE pictures. Send some.

[Orchid Crazy]

Welcome!

I am new here as well. We have a 12 week old puppy that we have had for 3 weeks. I agree with the other posters that he is too young to hold it during the day for that long. Buddy makes it through the night for that long, but then is going sometimes every hour, sometimes more often than that, during the day. We do hold the water at night, which you can't do during the day. You've had some great suggestions on things you can do to help him out. Sounds like you do have a lot on your plate now, but with time, I think you will be happy. It's just going to take alot of patience and clean up for a while. I went through the same "oh man, what did I do, what was I thinking" this past week. I have three children ages 6, 4 1/2 and turning 3 on Monday and had a breakdown over him peeing on my carpet this week. But, the accidents we had were my mistakes and no one elses fault and I am changing my way of thinking with Buddy to resolve those issues. Doesn't give him much freedom to roam the house right now, but that is not a good thing for him to be doing till he is trustworthy.

Hang in there!
Sandy

[Lauri Gengor]

I agree with the recommendation from Journeysmom. That's what I did. A puppy that young cannot hold it all day. All three of mine now started out with a pen with a kennel cab and papers/pads inside to use. I also cleaned the kennel cab with a disinfectant if someone soiled. For me, it was the best way to go.