Hi everyone, I could really do with some advice on this.

McKenzie is 4 1/2 months old now and she's still not fully toilet trained. I know some dogs take longer than others, and that it's probably mainly my own fault (due to a variety of reasons including having to leave her with a friend for 2 weeks recently), but I'm not sure where to go from here.

I'd say she's about 75% trained, but would really like to get it cracked.

She's really good at toileting outside when we are out and knows that she is supposed to do that, but she still goes in the house when she feels like it. I don't think it's that she can't hold it, but that she doesn't realise she's ONLY supposed to go outside. Catching her in the act and taking her out doesn't seem to work because we have to go down 2 flights of stairs to get to the garden and it seems like by the time we get there she's forgotten the lesson.

I take her out about every hour when she is awake but she does sometimes go in between me taking her out, especially in the evening. I think at 4 1/2 months she should be able to hold it for an hour at least from what I've read.

I do put a puppy pad down for her - I'm wondering if removing it will help, or if she will just make a mess of the carpet!

Any advice appreciated!

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Puppy pads can confuse them, Personally ive never used them for that reason. It can give the message that its still ok to go in the house at times,which could well be whats happening.

I would go back to basics. Start upping the toilet trips to every 30/45 minutes and go back to using a name when she starts (this gives you a toilet cue eventually as they associate the word with the act and later in a lot of cases you can get them to pee on demand) Go back to the big praise and treats when shes finished.

At night depending on what shes like with that at the moment. I used to sleep downstairs for first week or two and take mine out when they stirred or woke to the garden. Or failing this if she still has accidents in the night set your alarm and take her out a couple of times. As I said this will depend whaat shes like at night and where she sleeps. If she doesnt already it might help if she sleeps in a crate at night for her bed.

I would deffinately ditch the training pads, as I said it might be the problem.
If she does have any aaccidents clean it up with a special pet stain remover as any smells left can invite them to keep going in the same places. You probably know already but never tell her off for accidents, this can make them not want to go in front of you making toilet training harder. Also watch for signs of circling sniffing and scratching at the floor usually signs they are looking for somewhere to go.

Apologies if ive duplicated anything you probably already know. Hope this helps.

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Oh missed the bit about the disruption to her routine by staying with friends for 2 weeks? yes I dont think that would have helped. Big changes in routine can set them back. With any training/settling in of a pup, consistency and routine is important, so it wouldnt have helped by confusing her, or very likely.

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Disruption of routine certainly can affect toileting progress. But she is still immature and can't be expected to be fully toileted.

How frequently does she toilet? Is she dry over night?

At her age she should be able to hold it 3.5-4 hrs during the day. But this will only cement if training is a little more structured.

The main rules are:

-confine from areas that she has previously toileted or is likely to toilet (as in have accidents)
- clean areas that she has had accidents in with bio washing powder/water
- turn these areas into feeding, fun and hang out areas
- supervise supervise supervise supervise
- reward with high value rewards x4 every single time she toilets appropriatley and don't end the fun and freedom straight after toileting otherwise you teach her to hold it
- bring her to the same toileting areas for toilet breaks as the smell of past eliminations will encourage her to mark again

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Anne, owned by Rufus & Tripod

Pet Central site & blog
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"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts." - John Steinbeck

"If you don't want your dog to bite you, don't be an a**hole to him." ~ Dr. Ian Dunbar

Tripod (sorry for hijack, OP) I'm just looking for an article of yours about recall training (I've seen other excellent ones by you on various subjects too) to pass on to a friend. Can you point me in the right direction please? Ta!

Thanks to both of you - VERY helpful. I knew I was on the right track but I think with your suggestions we might be able to go forward. I have removed the puppy pads and am now feeding her in the area where she would toilet, praising and treating even more, and taking her out more frequently. Fingers crossed.

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Here is a blog post on exercises for recall training: Rover! Rover? ROVER!!! – 100% rock solid reliable recalls | Pet Central's Pawsitive Dawgs Blog!

And at the mo we are doing it step by step, day by day in either Train Your Dog Month: TYD Month | Pet Central's Pawsitive Dawgs Blog!
or for the puppies in Socialise Your Puppy Month: SYP Month | Pet Central's Pawsitive Dawgs Blog!

Friend can comment on the blog or e-mail if there are any questions

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Anne, owned by Rufus & Tripod

Pet Central site & blog
Join us on FaceBook & Follow us on twitter

"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts." - John Steinbeck

"If you don't want your dog to bite you, don't be an a**hole to him." ~ Dr. Ian Dunbar

UPDATE:

Well the toilet training has been going really well here - she's dry overnight and piddle accidents are few and far between. I'm really proud of her!

We still have a problem with poop though - a lot of the time she is still doing this inside. Given our success with the weeing outside, I think she does know she is supposed to do it outside - do you think it could be that she can't control it? I do know the times of day that she needs to go, but it seems to be pot luck as to whether she goes when we are outside, even if I stand out there for half an hour.

Any ideas?

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how is she doing this if U are 100% of the time monitoring her when she is not crated?...

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terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, TDF
*wolves R wolves, dogs R dogs, + primates R us.*
tmp, sept-2007