Puppy house training. Advice needed

katiechoc_2

Hi all, first post on this part of the forum

We got a Jackapoo puppy 2weeks ago, he's now 14 weeks. When we got him he was partly housetrained - used to going on puppy pads in the house. Since we got him he improved quickly and we got rid of the puppy pads, we just made sure to put him outside regularly where he wees pretty much on command.

The last few days he's gone backwards though - he'll go out with one of us, do his wee then come in and within minutes he'll go again on the carpet. We haven't changed how we do anything, he's fine overnight (sleeps in his crate with the door shut). Any tips and advice welcome, thanks

lee111s

They do have relapses sometimes. Just keep doing what you're doing and lots of positive reinforcement when he does go outside! When you take him outside give him a few minutes afte his wee to see if he goes again. When they start getting older they sometimes like to spread it around for acent marking. My springer will have sometimes have 2-3 smaller wee's in the front garden, especially if my other dog is out there and has had a wee, he likes to cover up the other dog's wee with his smell!

katiechoc_2

Thanks, will persevere with what we're doing then

krlyr

If he's only 14 weeks then you're a way off having him fully housebroken. Sounds like he's doing really well, but as said, you may have slight relapses, it's just part of the training. Also bear in mind how teeny his bladder will be, so keep up with the frequent breaks even if he seems to be learning to hold it.

One thing you may find with the toileting outside then indoors, is that he's getting distracted when he's outside. Pup needs a wee, pup goes outside, pup gets fascinated by the sights and smells, pup forgets he needs a wee until he's back in the 'boring' indoors! What may help is to make sure pee breaks stay exactly that - this may require keeping him on a lead (a 6' training lead is ideal, gives him some freedom but not too much) and making sure you're still really praising him when he goes to the toilet.

You may want to add (if you haven't already) a cue word for toileting too - so as he's doing his business, tell him "go potty" or "do your business" or whatever word/phrase you choose, if you're consistant about saying it just as he's going to toilet then you should, in the future, be able to prompt him to toilet by using your cue phrase.

He's quite young to get any issues, but if it persists or worsens, you may want to pop him to the vet to rule out a UTI or similar.

Katiehound

krlyr wrote: »

You may want to add (if you haven't already) a cue word for toileting too - so as he's doing his business, tell him "go potty" or "do your business" or whatever word/phrase you choose, if you're consistant about saying it just as he's going to toilet then you should, in the future, be able to prompt him to toilet by using your cue phrase.

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and I would add that you treat him everytime you get the right action either with loads of praise or with a foodie treat.
That's how I have trained adult dogs..... in the process now.
Words to the action are very useful because then the dog will learn to perform on command (that's the way assisstance dogs are trained)
Good luck!