Need puppy advice

DH and I got a puppy 4 weeks ago. He is 13 weeks old now. I am wondering if I am on track with house training. As of now, he goes to the door sometimes but pees on the floor in the house the other times. He never pees in his crate overnight, we put him in at around 11pm and he stays asleep till about 6:30. Then we put him back in the crate till about 7:30, when DH and I get up for work. He has only slept through the night 2 times, from 11pm through 7:30am. While he dosen't pee in his crate overnight, he usually does when we go to work (I leave at 8:30am and DH gets home between 2:30 and 3).

Do my question is, given that my pup is 13 weeks old, he is on track with house training?

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Posted by snydl40

He is. It takes a little while, but he will get used to your schedules. I would just try to not give him a huge bowl of water in the cage while you are at work. I would put a water bottle in there (like a hamster/gerbil one) and this way he won't go crazy with the water. It helps us when we are training our pups before we sell them. We also take our pups out LOTS of times during the day and evening, and this stops their in-house accidents. Good luck!

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Thanks!!! We don't give him water in his crate. We give him water in the morning with his breakfast, and then DH gives him water with his lunch, and then water with his dinner. I was thinking that part of the reason he was peeing in his crate during the day is because we don't let him out as much before we leave for work. We are only home for about an hour or so after he eats and we have to get ready for work. After dinner, he goes out like 5 or 6 times before we put him in his crate for the night.

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Posted by mtdr1106

i think you are doing good. dont get discouraged.

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THANK YOU!!! I think I needed to be reminded that we are doing everything the way we are supposed to. DH lacks patients, so it has been a lot of work on my part. I'm glad to hear someone say we are doing okay!

Their alot of work!
I think you are doing the right thing and he is on the right track. Especially, putting him inthe crate overnight and then back in the crate before you leave for work.
Puppies DEFINITELY need to be taken out alot more, because their not used to holding it in. As they get older, they;ll learn to hold it. And if he is going by the door and peeing, it means you weren't quick enough to let him out! They're not quite sure yet, this is only the beginning! Theyre alot of work, but I would recomend wee-wee pads. They will break away for going to the bathroom in the crate, because they will learn that that is their place to 'sleep' and they won't 'make' where they 'sleep.'
He's still very young, so just keep doing what your doing, and you'll be fine! Their alot of work!
We got a puppy in May [2 months be4 our wedding] and he'll be 1 year this month and he's still alot of work, and we're still training him! Their alot of work but theyre great companions!
Good luck!

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Posted by LBride

Puppies and dogs in general usually do not go to the bathroom where they sleep. If he's going in the crate while you are at work, you're probably keeping him in there for too long. If he's awake during the day and in the crate, he may not be able to hold it as opposed to if he's in the crate sleeping. We never crated, I just couldn't do it emotionally to our dog for a long period of time, I already felt terrible leaving her. We let her loose but block her off in the kitchen, dining room, hallway, and part of the living room so she has enough room to play with her toys and lay in her huge bed that takes over everything. I put the wee wee pad and papers down just incase

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Yes - Puppies will go to the bathroom at least once an hour for the age in months. So if your puppy is one month, he would go every hour, if 3 months, every 3 hours, etc. I think your puppy is in the crate too long.

Also, like LBride said, dogs will usually not, and should not be forced to, go to the bathroom where the eat and sleep. Get a baby gate and put the crate, food, and wee-wee pad or newspapers in a blocked off area (most people use the kitchen). This way the pup has a place for everything (food, home, and bathroom) and he will be comfortable using each place for its intended use.

Leave a comfy blanket or towel in the crate and a few toys in the enclosed area. BUT do not give them the ENTIRE kitchen because then they will have a very difficult time learning boundaries and where they are supposed to be going. The space should literally be big enough just to include each of the three things (food, crate, wee-wee pads).

Good Luck!

Your puppy is about the same age as ours. We're also working on house-training her and it's tough!! Sometimes I think she's got it and then the next thing we know she has an accident!!!!

We put her in her crate at night and DH says that dogs won't go where they sleep so she's good at holding it all night. Then she goes back in there when we go to work and she's good again. It's when we're about to take her out that sometimes she has an accident bc she gets excited.

So we make a big deal when she does the right thing and goes outside; we cheer and give her lots of attention and treats when she does good.

Your puppy sounds like he's on track since mine is behaving the same way!! I'm here if you want to talk since we're going through the same thing!!

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Posted by MrsStefan

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Posted by mtdr1106

i think you are doing good. dont get discouraged.

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THANK YOU!!! I think I needed to be reminded that we are doing everything the way we are supposed to. DH lacks patients, so it has been a lot of work on my part. I'm glad to hear someone say we are doing okay!

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Trust me...it takes alot of patience. We got a 10 week old puppy back in May and it was alot of work for the first month or two to fully train him. They have to learn to be able to 'hold it' during the day. Just make sure he gets a treat when he does, and you tell him 'no' when he has the accidents. It's all worth it in the end! Our pup will be 1 on Tuesday.... Any questions - Feel Free to FM me.