Pup doesn't know how to tell me she needs to go out

L

Lacysmom

Forums Regular
My sheltie is 12 wks old, and has lived with us for 4 wks now. She knows what pee and poop means (the words), and she knows she is not to go in the house. However, if I don't catch EVERY single time beforehand, she seems to not know how to ask to go out. She is NOT a barker. In a month has only barked 2 or 3 times. I'm at my wit's end. Am getting chicken wire today to fence off the dining room, as my area rug is her spot of choice (no pun intended) to poop and occasionally pee. Any thoughts?????:confused2::confused2:
 
Don't worry, I had this issue with my little boy. He had to learn on his own time to let me know. My other sheltie comes and finds me and cries at me when she needs something, then when I ask her, she'll show me (by going to that door). But puppies just don't know it. You just gotta watch like a hawk and eventually they'll pick up on it. Also she may show you signs, but you might not read them that way. My pup's sign is he'll go by the door and pace. I didn't think anything of it and in fact would often miss it because if I'm in a different room, I never see it. Eventually he learned to paw at the door/hit the blinds covering the door to let us know. Even at 7 months we miss some of his cues because he doesn't let us know he needs to go out if we're in a different room than him. Instead he'll go right beside the door. :gaah

One thing you might want to try is the potty bells. This is where you have bells set up on the door and every time you go outside with her to potty, ring the bells with her paw. Over time she'll learn she's suppose to ring the bell if she needs to potty.
 
You just have to watch her. She maybe telling you but in subtle ways.

Not one of my 4 shelties "tells" me that they need to go out. What they do is come and stare at me and if that doesn't work they start pacing. Age 11,8,4 and almost 2.

Also at 12 weeks , she doesn't know that she isn't supposed to go in the house. She maybe getting the idea but she does know. That is like saying a child who isn't fully potty trained knows not to go in their diaper just because they used the potty chair once or twice.
 
Dickens picked up the bells within a week or so and we never had a problem with him. And it's not just bells; anything dangling from a doorknob works for him. When he's in the other room with me, away from the back door, he'll nose his leash that's hanging from the closet knob. Of course now that he's older he's extended the meaning of the bells to indicate that he wants me to do something for him, not necessarily to go out. But that's not a huge problem at this stage.
 
I agree with Dr. Shelli, Mine have never really told they have to go but Zak will start pacing the perimeter of the room or he will come stare at me. Sometimes he will go stand at the back door. Some times you have to pick up on a subtle look or action.
 
It took a long time for Shelby to learn how to tell us. I know how frustrating that was. We did the bell thing and it worked great. We don't use them any more. Was tired of hearing them all the time. Now she will stare at you and click her teeth at you until you respond. Or she will just pace around by the door if you are near it. Your pup will learn. It just takes some time.
 
Thanks, everyone. I do have the bells hanging, and plan on starting working with her to ring them later this week. She can't reach them yet, so I need to make a strong extender to hang them lower. Thanks again.
 
It took Laddie a long time to tell me, now, at almost 8 months, he does let me know.............sort of, he whines and will stand by the door, if I am in another room, he comes in and acts very nervous, I am learning his ways as well as he is learning mine. It takes time, she will get the hang of it.
 
Our pups will go to the back door and whine or "squeak" when they need to go out. The bark if they see something like a rabbit ... or the other day they went ballistic when there was a doe and two fauns standing at the fence ... or if they want to play.

Our previous blue merle didn't go to the door or make any noises, but would pace around the house.

The Skipperke never goes to the door, rarely pees in the yard and never poops except on his 2 or three daily walks.

Most of the time, however, they stick to a regular schedule or if they haven't been out in a while, I'll ask them "who needs to go out" when I pass by the door. If they have to go, they do, if not they just stay where they are. My only concern would be in a puppy who can't hold it that long. Adult dogs can hold their business for a long time unless they are overly excited or ill.
 
Lunatic59 said:
Our pups will go to the back door and whine or "squeak" when they need to go out. The bark if they see something like a rabbit ... or the other day they went ballistic when there was a doe and two fauns standing at the fence ... or if they want to play.

Our previous blue merle didn't go to the door or make any noises, but would pace around the house.

The Skipperke never goes to the door, rarely pees in the yard and never poops except on his 2 or three daily walks.

Most of the time, however, they stick to a regular schedule or if they haven't been out in a while, I'll ask them "who needs to go out" when I pass by the door. If they have to go, they do, if not they just stay where they are. My only concern would be in a puppy who can't hold it that long. Adult dogs can hold their business for a long time unless they are overly excited or ill.
Click to expand...

I'm impressed, if I stood by the door and asked Honey if she needed to go out the answer would be "Yes! Yes! Yes! OUTSIDE OUTSIDE, I want to go outside!!!" every single time, even if she's just been out three minutes ago :lol:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top