Slow to housebreak

[Archie]

Quinn (16 weeks) is an angel in every way, except she's been slow to housebreak. I thought she was housebroken very early but what I'm realizing now is that I just figured out her routine really early and was getting her out at the right time.

She always gets lots of praise for going outside and is caught going inside and taken out, but she still doesn't hold it if she has to go out, and doesn't ask to go.

She has no problem going on the floor if I don't follow her routine and just doesn't give a clear sign she needs to go out.

So I'm wondering if I need to train her on how to ask, maybe put up bells for her? Any thoughts? Are girls just slower?

[Labradorks]

Only half of my dogs ever "asked" to go out, and it wasn't any of my Labs. I would just keep them on a routine for about the first year and set them up for success. They've all been trained with very few accidents.

As adults, unless it's an emergency they have all just held it until I let them out, which is on a routine even as adults, though routine is a little loose after a year old. And the way they ask has always different. Pacing. Staring. Sitting and looking uncomfortable. Staring at the doorknob. I guess at a certain age when they have things down pat, they figure out what gets your attention and then they stick with it, but it takes time for them to do that and time for you to figure out their sign.

The goal at this age isn't to get her to ask, it's to go outside. I think it's too early to ask for anything else and yes, it is normal. She is still just a baby. Still growing, still developing, etc. Stay on your routine and she'll figure it out, but it takes time. One thing at a time. A co-worker left his puppy with the breeder until she was 16 weeks because he wanted the puppy to come potty trained and she is peeing on the floor and I'm certain it's because they aren't on the same exact routine and his expectations of her are too high (and possibly the breeder made some empty promises).

The bells can work, though often they ring them when they just want to be outside or get attention and I think that's annoying, personally. Lots of boy crying wolf. And of course, the one time you call their bluff they go on the floor.

[Maxx&Emma]

She really is still a baby. I would stay consistent with a routine for potty breaks. You could definitely try the bells while sticking to the schedule that works.

[CraftHer]

I think the routine is most important and watching for their signs. We got Mocha the bells and he thought they were a great chew toy. Then DH saw the Gotta Go button and we got that. Whether routine or we saw his signs, we would hit the button we went out the door. At first, he didn't have the paw to eye coordination to actually hit it. But he does now. However, he does hit the button just to go outside to play. But I think that would happen with any signal you teach.

Also, cleaning up any accidents with Nature's Miracle or similar cleaner.

One of our friends loves that button and asked how we trained Mocha to hit it. DH told him we just put the instructions on the floor next to the button and Mocha read them!

Amazon.com : Gotta Go Button : Pet Door Doorbells : Pet Supplies

[Archie]

I guess it's just a different experience from Archie. He started tapping the back door to go out at about 15 weeks and it's been smooth sailing ever since.

[barry581]

Bruce wasn't fully house broken until he was about 6 months old. Sophie was pretty solid at about 4 months. I'd say stay consistent in what you are doing, and eventually, it will come.

[doubledip1]

Stay consistent! Luna's thing is staring you down or licking hands, if it helps. I don't think girls are slower, Luna was housebroken in 3 days. I was, however, home 24/7 for the first few months of her life.

[Dee]

I was lucky with my lab, but here is what I did. We only went outside to pee and poop. Played in the house until he was trained. (this only took me a couple weeks, I didn't work, so had the time) Tied bells on front door, I manually rang them each time we went outside, and he started ringing them in a few days to signal he wanted to go out. I would take him outside every few hours, the moment he peed or pooped, lots of praise, pick him up and bring him in. He would go into the crate when I was busy or gone. Hope this helps. Dee

[Snowshoe]

She probably is asking to go out, it's just your ESP receptor isn't tuned in to her sender.

No, really, I think sometimes the better you are at getting them out in time the more likely it is they just Think PEE and you will know. Jet was very, very subtle about making it known. It took her a while to figure out I was poor at reception.

[ZoeysMommy]

Following her routine is very important. Potty training goes really well if you take her out more than she has to potty. Zoey never gave me any definate sign or asked to go out. She still doesnt. The most she does is stare at me

No girls arent harder, Zoey never had an accident even as a 8 week old puppy. I constantly took her out, i never gave her an opportunity to have an accident