I do want to say first off that i understand that every dog is different and it will take different amounts of time depending on the dog. But in general, how long does it take to house train a dog? how long has it taken all of you guys to house train a new dog? Gizmo is 7 months old now, we have had him for a month, and though he is doing better then the first little while, still isnt house trained. I mean, he doesnt even let us know he needs to go out most of the time! sometimes he will bark and we just have to guess if that's what he is trying to say, but most of the time he doesnt even do that. We even bought bells for the front door to see if that would help out. we have been ringing them and saying potty when we go out, but he wont ring them on his own when he needs to go. We can usually catch him as he squats to poop but there is little to no sign that he needs to pee. he just suddenly stops doing whatever he was and lets go without a warning. We do take him out first thing in the morning, then every couple hours, unless he is asleep, then we take him out right after the nap. we have to take him back out within about 10 minutes of drinking water or we have an accident. is there something that we are doing wrong, or is he just going to be difficult to potty train. he hasnt been "snipped" yet, but we will be getting that done soon. will that help? any suggestions?
How long does it take?
- Thread starter snkoyle15
- Start date
PreciousSheltie
Forums Enthusiast
My shelties have always been the best when it came to potty training, I've never really had a problem with it, they picked it up in a week or two. Never really had an accident after the first day or two when we were still trying to sync with each other of when they needed to go out. After a month though I would think that's plenty of time to have made the message clear of where and where not to pee. If you're finding that the accidents happen after your puppy drinks (normal), take him out immediately afterwards or you're setting up to pee inside. At 7 months, Precious was able to hold it for about 6-7 hours. Now at 11 months, she holds it for 8 or 9 if needed but if possible I take her out earlier just because I can and am home. She doesn't drink excessively too, only after she eats or plays hard so I know accordingly if she drank a lot more water than usual, to let her out earlier than usual to release.
As for the bell, I'm not sure which process you took but I've heard that you shouldn't even be saying potty right from the start but train your dog to actually ring it (the problem you have right now, your sheltie won't ring). As I'm sure by 7 months your puppy has had plenty of basic training/some sort of training, click and treat every time your sheltie touches the bell with its paws/nose (Whichever you prefer). Repeat several times for several days. After your dog is able to ring on command, start incorporating the fact that after you command the dog to ring and rings successfully, the dog is taken outside for a few minutes (best to do the exercise after your dog has eaten then to set up the dog to want to pee and poo once outside). Repeat this and only use the bell as a signifier to let the dog out ONLY to pee. You will make a grave mistake by letting out your dog just to play, as your dog will start to ring the bell any and every time it is bored and wants to play outside, not necessarily wants to pee. So if you let your dog out after it rang the bell, and it doesnt go in the first 2 minutes, immediately turn around and bring your dog inside to show that right now isn't play time and try again later.
Anyways, I hope all that helps. I don't use a bell because my house has many floors and my sheltie can be on any floor, meaning I wouldn't be able to hear it anyways. She's just learnt that she needs to hold it in, can't go inside, only goes when I let her out. Best of luck with potty training, shelties are smart dogs I'm sure yours will pick it up! Just be consistent
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PreciousSheltie
Forums Enthusiast
PS, most dogs, if not all, do some sort of SOMETHING right before they pee. Some circle, some sniff, some walk off on their own, some bark, etc. If you notice anything of the sort, use that as a sign that your dog is up to something. For me, my first dog liked to circle. She goes and goes in circles before she squats. My current puppy always sniffs before squatting. Hope that helps too. Their movements may be subtle but trust me they're there, try lookin for something and observing your sheltie more closely for the next few days to help you!
corbinam
Moderator
I think another thing that plays a part is the age at which you bring the dog home and start a routine. From your post it sounds like you got your dog when he was 6 months old, and you've only had him a month. We brought our first dog home at 7 months, and it took him a bit longer to get 100% house trained. It probably wasn't until he was around a year old that he wasn't make mistakes.
You just don't know what routine they were used to (if any) and they may have developed some less than stellar habits.
My puppy, who I got at 12 weeks, on the other hand, learned very quickly.
You just don't know what routine they were used to (if any) and they may have developed some less than stellar habits.
My puppy, who I got at 12 weeks, on the other hand, learned very quickly.
yeah, im wondering if it has to do with the fact that he is a little older. i think before, he was just able to roam around outside and go where/when he wanted to. we think he is getting the idea that going outside is good. he goes almost every time he is out. its just the "inside is bad" part and letting us know he needs to go out that he needs to work on. one good thing though, is he hasnt ever tried to "mark" his territory. He is still intact, so i was kind of expecting him to do it some and that that would be something else we would have to work on. but he hasnt done it once! (is that normal?
) we should be getting him fixed sometime soon though, so hopefully it stays that way
) we should be getting him fixed sometime soon though, so hopefully it stays that way
Justicemom
Forums Celebrity
yeah, im wondering if it has to do with the fact that he is a little older. i think before, he was just able to roam around outside and go where/when he wanted to. we think he is getting the idea that going outside is good. he goes almost every time he is out. its just the "inside is bad" part and letting us know he needs to go out that he needs to work on. one good thing though, is he hasnt ever tried to "mark" his territory. He is still intact, so i was kind of expecting him to do it some and that that would be something else we would have to work on. but he hasnt done it once! (is that normal?
Not all intact males are big markers. Justice who is 9yrs and still intact didn't even lift his leg until he was 3yrs old and that was when he was around his first in heat female. Even now he marks one fence post on the left side of my yard, where the neighbors male poodle goes(he has even peed on the poodle.
) But thats it. No marking when outside my property. Likely he is giving some subtle hint and it can be very short and very subtle that he is going to go. Watch him like a hawk and if you see any sniffing, circling, he is doing something and suddenly stops , he tries to go off on his own-take him out. Also make sure you take him out on leash or go out with him. One so you can see he did both jobs and two so you can praise him. No playing , no interactive until he has done his business than play with him. Some puppies just forget why the went out if you let them play first. I had one dog who in 15 yrs never "asked " to go outside. Most she would do is look at me from where ever she was at.
If he has been left to his own devices for 6 months it will take longer to train him and break those habits he has already made.
SheltieChe
Forums Sage
my shelties do not let me know unless they have dire need to go for diarrhea. They will hold it until I ready to take them out. Thus I am responsible to remember to take them every couple of hours to potty. It took them less then 2 weeks each to stop potty in the house and then I had about 5 incidents total for each dog. You have to supervise your dog 100% for those couple weeks, tie their leash to your waist and walk around or crate when you can't, you will figure out when he shows signs of needing to go, just observe better.
Make a party when they do it outside, give him outlandish treats for potting outside. Put it on cue. Cue helps when you traveling and need them to go before entering a building etc
Make a party when they do it outside, give him outlandish treats for potting outside. Put it on cue. Cue helps when you traveling and need them to go before entering a building etc
PreciousSheltie
Forums Enthusiast
I received Precious at 4 months and Pudding way past 6 months, around the same time you got yours probably. Don't lose hope, again, they're a smart breed. It seems your puppy is on the way, just sounds like a little fine tuning here and there Everyone else has wrote a lot of great advise too, hope it all helps!
Everyone else has wrote a lot of great advise too, hope it all helps!This has been the key for us. I have the same story as the opening post and it was not until we made a commitment to have on leash inside the house at all times that she stopped. It took two weeks, but now she pretty much wont go inside. She was probably ready after 1 week to be off the leash inside, but we wanted to make sure.
BarbV
Forums Celebrity
Chiming in here...no pun intended....forget the bell for now!
You are back to puppy basics.....as if 8 weeks old and just weaned from Mom.
First off, you need a crate.
Second, you need a routine. In the morning take pup outside. If pees or poops, then big hurray and treat.
Feed dog - preferably inside the crate. Wait 5 to 10 minutes, bring pup outside. If pees/pooss, big hurray! If nothing, then after about 5 minutes, back in the crate. Wait another 10 minutes and try again.
What you definitely do NOT want to do is let the pup out on its own after in the morning and after any meals without ensuring that some business has been done.
Pup might do one but not the other. If so, keep an eagle on eye....if necessary, attach a leash to you. At any signal they pup is starting to squat, pick him up, even in mid strean and try to get him to finish outside. If he does, treats! If he doesn't, just ignore till next time.
Do not get emotional if accidents happen. Just clean it up (preferably with pup in another room) and forget about it.
It's really common sense....reinforce the good and just to curb the bad. If bad happens, move on and start again.
It's not much different from toilet training kids actually.
You are back to puppy basics.....as if 8 weeks old and just weaned from Mom.
First off, you need a crate.
Second, you need a routine. In the morning take pup outside. If pees or poops, then big hurray and treat.
Feed dog - preferably inside the crate. Wait 5 to 10 minutes, bring pup outside. If pees/pooss, big hurray! If nothing, then after about 5 minutes, back in the crate. Wait another 10 minutes and try again.
What you definitely do NOT want to do is let the pup out on its own after in the morning and after any meals without ensuring that some business has been done.
Pup might do one but not the other. If so, keep an eagle on eye....if necessary, attach a leash to you. At any signal they pup is starting to squat, pick him up, even in mid strean and try to get him to finish outside. If he does, treats! If he doesn't, just ignore till next time.
Do not get emotional if accidents happen. Just clean it up (preferably with pup in another room) and forget about it.
It's really common sense....reinforce the good and just to curb the bad. If bad happens, move on and start again.
It's not much different from toilet training kids actually.