Potty Training - getting worse not better

[Meeps83]

Keep him on a leash with your for potty breaks. No playing until he does potty. When he potties, get SUPER excited and play, play, play. Don't send him out alone and don't let him play outside before pottying. It sounds like he doesn't understand what he's supposed to be doing outside.

[PinkDragon14]

If I remember back to a few months ago, Murphy wasn't "fully" trained until about 12-15wks, but even then he was having accidents. He will still have the occasional accident if I ignore his signals (sniffing around, going by the door), but he's much better for the most part.

Like everything else, each pup is different. Some things may/may not work for you. It just depends on the dog and their personality. Murph is a coconut head and does what he wants, so it took a long time to get it into his head that potty is OUTSIDE. Eventually your pup will catch on too, but remember that he's only 8 weeks which is still young to expect a lot. I know it's hard not to expect a lot, but he will learn. It just takes time, I promise!

I second the advice about not allowing roaming of the house. We kept Murph on the "old" carpet areas/tile for his first 3 weeks home and then allowed him into the big living room. That way if he did anything (which he did), it wouldn't ruin the newer part of our home. For tile, I never tried Nature's Miracle - I found some off brand at the store since I'm a cheap person It worked fine and he never went back to the "same spot". Whatever you choose, just don't purchase any ammonia based products, as he's more likely to return there since it smells like ammonia (similar to his pee/another dog's pee). For carpet, I use Pet Plus or Pet Care (I can't remember - Hoover makes it) that goes in the carpet cleaner. It works great and leaves the room smelling fresh. Just whatever you do, do NOT rub the carpet where he went. Soak it up ASAP and then clean away.

[jess_cope22]

Keep him on a leash with your for potty breaks. No playing until he does potty. When he potties, get SUPER excited and play, play, play. Don't send him out alone and don't let him play outside before pottying. It sounds like he doesn't understand what he's supposed to be doing outside.

That is very helpful. I normally just let him go out and stand close. But he has started running away from me afterwards because he's playing.

[jess_cope22]

Thanks everyone! The biggest thing I think is that I let him roam to much and gave him way to much freedom. I've kept him in his kennel outside of potty time/ play time and we had no accidents
yesterday or this morning (yet ). I also will start keeping him on his leash to go potty, especially since he runs from me now. I think he's just playing because he crouches down and jumps around, which obviously is not ok though. Thanks again for all the advice and support! I might have become a nut case with out all of it!

[Abulafia]

And if he runs from you, don't chase him! If he's doing this now, then yes: keep him on the lead.

Good luck! Sounds like today has gone well.

[PinkDragon14]

Thanks everyone! The biggest thing I think is that I let him roam to much and gave him way to much freedom. I've kept him in his kennel outside of potty time/ play time and we had no accidents
yesterday or this morning (yet ). I also will start keeping him on his leash to go potty, especially since he runs from me now. I think he's just playing because he crouches down and jumps around, which obviously is not ok though. Thanks again for all the advice and support! I might have become a nut case with out all of it!

I learned my lesson about a week ago - never trust a puppy off the leash! I took Murphy out quickly before lunch and a man was walking by with his dog. It must've set the "I really wanna play with you and smell you!!!" sense off in his little head and he took off. Luckily I was able to get him back, but ever since then, I NEVER go out without the leash. Even if you've trained your dog to go off leash, you never know when something will be triggered!

About the crate - treat it as your best friend. A crate isn't a bad place unless you make it/use it as one. In the books that I read prior to bringing him home, it always said to make the crate a happy place. Put familiar toys, treats, etc. in the crate to make him at home. Also, make it as comfortable as possible...but just watch the bedding and stuff once he begins to teeth/chew everything. (We bought a Primo Pad for Murph a few months back and he loves it. *knock on wood* he hasn't destroyed it/ripped it/chewed it yet).

Murph never goes in his crate randomly unless he's going to get a toy. At night, he knows after he goes out for the last time, there's a Kong with a treat inside. I also use his treats to "lure" him into his bed, but now whenever he goes in, he knows there will be a treat. All I have to say is, "Go in your bed, treat!!" and he runs.

As long as you make the crate a good place, he won't associate it with anything negative

[jess_cope22]

Keeping him on a leash going potty has definitely helped! Doing better Me & him!