potty training help
by Mary & Samantha
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
OK. You all have great information. I love this site!! I am needing some more potty training help. I am taking Sam out every hour or two. She has done pretty well but sometimes will go outside then come in and 15 minutes later will go tee-tee on the floor. Poop is only occasionally. I feed her once in the morning then put her in her crate and take her out about 30 minutes later. Same thing in the evening. She is 9 weeks old. My question is how old before I start expecting her to let me know when she needs to go outside. I have had her two weeks and have tried to be consistent. Also crate believers, what is a reasonable time to be left out of the crate for play time each day? She will have to stay in there when I go back to school but for now I am trying to let her out for an hour or so 5-6 times per day. She is somewhat independent so she doesn't stay under foot all the time. It is hard to follow her around because she is always moving!! Any advice is appreciated. Sorry so long!! Thank you all!!
DISCUSSION:
9 weeks old is very young. I've heard they can't be expected to have control until approximately 4 months of age. That's not to say that she can't begin to understand before then. Continue as you are. One suggestion is to leash her to you and take her with you from room to room, taking her out frequently to relieve herself. She should be unwilling to potty in front of you. Also, never just "let her out" during the training process. Go with her, instruct her to "potty" and praise her when she does. By going out with her, instructing her and talking to her about what you expect, she'll catch on much faster as to what she's supposed to be doing out there.
Sharon
Sam is soooooo young to expect much of anything. I got Tasha at 11 weeks. I also crate trained. If she did her business outside I would leave her out of the cage for about an hr. then take her back out if she went then it would be another hr. out of the cage, but under a very watchful eye! If she didn't go I would put her back in the crate until she finally went. Didn't have a problem with pee pee in the house it was the poo poo, but she finally got it together and now she runs the house all day unsupervised, but lets me know when she has to go out. She will be 10mos. old tomorrow. Lots of patience, and praise ! Hope this helps.
Dottie & Tasha
She's just a baby and I wouldn't expect much at this point. Just be consistent and loving and eventually when her body is ready she'll let you know. I'm surprised that you would have her in your house at 9 weeks old. 7 weeks seems awfully young to be away from its momma. Poor baby....
Kathy
Mary, Lucy was also too young to be taken away from her mother and I did not know that at the time. I love my little ball of fur immensely but was very worried for a while. She and I kept in close contact with the vet until she was 14 weeks old. I too had a tough time housebreaking Lucy. I used the crate when I wasn't able to watch her continuously. She had quite a few accidents even tough I crated her and took her out hourly. The hour I took her out was not the hour she needed to go. That was just the way it went. I don't want to discourage you, but it did take quite a bit of time and patience for us to housebreak Lucy. Between the crate and keeping her confined to small areas when we were not there, it finally worked. She was well into her fourth month before we considered her housebroken. We still do not allow her upstairs unsupervised. Most people on this sight did not have the same difficulty I had, so I believe it was either my technique or Lucy being so very young or a combination of both. It will happen eventually - some sooner than others. Lucy is a perfect example of the test of patience, but she was worth every mishap and every wipe. I went through gallons of cleaner. Just hang in there and be patient and consistant Sam will catch on, but it could take a while.
DeeDee
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