Puppy Housetraining when going inside was acceptible before?

Big sis got a puppy.

She hasn't gone potty outside since Sat.

Esa is a 13 week old Bichon. The breeder had her "grate trained". She went in a corner & it fell through the grate.

Sis texted me tonight, so I called her. Esa was crying non-stop. I told her to cover the kennel on all 4 sides with a little bit left open for air. It worked, she texted me back "blissful silence".

The question on the housetraining....she takes her outside & she doesn't go.

She's gone 8 hours during the day with no way to get her home to let her out. She hasn't been taking her out at night because she won't go anyways, she'll come back in & mess in her crate.

The crate is the right size, I went through the steps with her & have pics to verify it is the right size. She flings poop/pee everywhere outside of the crate....

She's not interested in playing or being with my sis, doesn't know who to walk on a leash, & isn't interested in toys. (I fear she wasn't from the best breeder, not a BYB or mill, but not the best)

How does she go about housetraining Esa?
(I worry, she's never had a puppy before)

I rub Gigis lower tummy in a circular motion that usually gets her doing her stuff...

are the poops solid>>/??

What if she moved the crate outside, and every few hours took her outside to the crate to potty??
Eventually she could move the crate and the dog should smell the potty there and go!

It is hard as heck to train a dog to pee and poo outdoors when they have been trained to go indoors. I tell people as much as I can to not bother with pee pads or training pads because you will regret it later.

At 13 weeks, this is not a young puppy anymore and will have enough bladder and bowel control to be able to hold it for about 4 hrs. And as far as this pup is concerned, the grate in the grate / crate IS the potty. 8 hrs during the day is too long to leave in the crate, but you probably already knew that.

For whatever it is worth I think your sis is going to have to give up on the crate eventually because the breeder messed up the crate training-the crate has become the potty area. And forcing the dog to pee and poo in the crate by leaving her in there for 8 hrs is reinforcing that. This doggy doesn't recognize grass or dirt (or concrete) as a potty area now and will have to be taught. Its like you and I can recognize a toilet in someone else's home but would never try to pee or poo in the bathtub because it doesn't look right.

So to get this doggy to pee/poo outdoors, I think your best bet is to re-create the feel AND smell of the grate where she wants the dog to go. It;s gross, but bring some poop and put it where the potty area is. Dogs recognize the potty area by smell (also feel) and not by sight. And she should have treats ready for that magic moment when the Bichon does go outside and then praise her and fuss over her like she won the lottery, and give her a treat.
Good luck, there is a lot that goes into having a pup (somebody gotta train Esa to walk on a leash too).

I can't help with housebreaking.. but with the walking.. she just has to keep at it. She may not like the collar or the leash at first.. but they get it pretty quickly.

I just totally ignore the dog/puppy as I am waling. If that means I have to partially drag the dog.. then thats what I have to do. They will learn very fast if you don't look at them, or talk to them.. just walk, at your pace, not hers.

She will quickly realize that she has to walk to keep up with you, ortherwise she'll be dragged along the walk. Mkae sure she can't slip out of the collar though. Harnesses are often used for small dogs because they have a higher risk of their trachia collapsing.. but if used properly, a belt collar or even a chain collar will work fine. Martingales are awesome, as well.

My little Thor had never really been outside before I got him at 10 weeks. They were "pad trained". I just took him outside all the time and made sure to give him TONS of praise when he did anything outside. I also used treats. As far as the crate went he did potty in it in the begining. I made one part a place to lay and put a puppy pad on the other half. I scolded him if I saw him potty inside and took him outside that very minute.

He also never had a leash on, as you can guess. It didn't take me long at all, but I trained him to walk on the leash inside where he was comfortable. I didn't pull on the leash at all, but asked him to come with me.

And he eventually learned about toys and loves them so much now!

As for the walking on a leashe thing, i would start with having the dog wear a harness inside the house to get used to it, and then add the leash inside and let the dog get used to the weight.
And then after a few days I would try to walk outside.
She needs to spend time with the dog and socialize it extensively. Are there any doggy daycares around that might help out with potty training during the day? Or maybe she could find a dog sitter, willing to help??

I agree that 8 hours in a crate is a little much for a puppy. Is there anyone that can come and let her out for a short time?

Our pug has to be outside moving for about 10-15 minutes before she will do her business. It's almost like she has to "work" up the urge to go. It could be your sister isn't taking her out long enough. Just remind your sister that when she DOES go outside, praise her like crazy!! That is the most important thing. That way she realizes this is what she is supposed to do and she did a good job. Treats, pettings and lots of "good girls" does a lot. When we were house breaking Snickers we praised her everytime she squatted, even if she didn't do anything. Of course, she caught on to that pretty quick so we stopped giving treats but still praised her.

Also, take her outside right after she eats and definitely before putting her to bed. Don't worry about whether she acts like she has to go, just do it. I'm guessing your sister doesn't have a yard she can just turn her lose in, which makes it harder but it has to be done. The leash thing just takes time. When we first used a leash on Snickers, she fought it like crazy, but after a week or so she forgot it was there. She still isn't the best leash trained dog but we live on 5 acres of land so the leash isn't neccessary most of the time (only going to the vets). I still need to work on her with that.

The playing thing is sad. When we rescued Brooke (our Samoyed) from the vets she didn't know how to play, didn't know what a bone or treat was...it was sad (and the vet says she is around 3 yrs old). It takes some time. One thing that really brought her out of her shell were the other dogs. She wasn't sure about them at first but after watching them play for a while she started participating and having fun. We've had her for almost a year now, and she's a different dog. Now she plays tug of war, wrestles around, etc. She'll play tug of war with us occassionally but she would still rather play with the other dogs. Does your sister know anyone with a friendly dog that would be willing to set up a playdate to get her around another of her kind?

I wish your sister luck. Basically, it sounds like she needs to spend a lot of time working with her new pup. It doesn't sound like she's had her very long, so hopefully things will sort themselves out soon. But she needs to show her what is expected of her. Let us know how it turns out.

That is a tough one!

I was listening to a pet show on Martha Stewart radio (on SIRIUS) and someone had called on wanting to know how to train their dog to go outside and not inside. (I'm not sure what the dog was trained to go on inside, it might have been puppy pads, I don't know). The advice was good but I don't think it will help you because it involves keeping the dog inside a crate.

The vet said to keep the dog in the crate for hours and it won't go in the crate because it's a small space and then to pick the dog up, never setting the dog on the floor in the house, and put them outside on the grass. IF he doesn't go, he goes back in the crate and you try again in 20 minutes (or something like that).

That won't work with this dog because she *will* go in the crate. What a bizarre thing for a breeder to train a puppy to do. Maybe try getting a puppy pad and putting it in the corner of the crate she is used to going on. That way she'll go on the pad. And then ditch the crate for a while and keep the puppy pad inside. And then slowly move the puppy pad outside? (I don't know though, that's coming from someone who has never had to train a dog).

good luck!

WCL...how is your sister coming along with Esa???

Erm, I'm coming along fine with her. She "gave" her to me after she had her a week. Still won't potty outside, but is getting good about using a piddle pad, want to switch her over completely to using a LB so I can dump used litter outside.

I'm a certified dog trainer and I use only positive methods. the best way to potty train your dog is to make it a command like anything else you want it to do. Here is the easiest way.
pre scent the area with the dogs urine or poop.
after eating, the dog will need to go out within 5 to 25 min. later.
put the dog on a leash and take the dog to the spot you want it to use.
stand in one spot and let the dog walk around you. while you are standing there you say over and over in a very monotone voice....potty, potty, potty. (or whatever word you want to use). say it over and over and over until the dog does something. At that point say good girl/boy/ and walk right back into the house. DO NOT play with the dog outside. Once you are in the house then you can play. The reason for standing in one place is because your dog will want to do anything else but potty. it will check out the birds, butterflies, whatever is out there. They will also walk all over looking for the perfect spot, or bird poop or anything out there it can find. You say the word potty over and over without emotion to help them remember the sound of what you want them to do. As soon as the go, you don't want to play because then playing will become more important then going potty. Before long, you will be able to open the door (if the yard is fenced,) tell them the word "potty" they will run out to their spot, go potty, and come right back into the house. that is because that is how you have trained them. It's better then having to stand in the rain or snow waiting for them to find the right spot to go.

Hope this helps
Mary