Bailey's First Day home. Already a mess. :(

[petitesalmon]

Don't stress!! Having a puppy and toilet training it is hard work - and overwhelming.
I remember my pup had been with us for 4 weeks and was still having the occasional accident inside - I was a worry wart - I had done everything the books said and he wasn't getting it - but it just took time and diligence. We haven't had an accident in the house for ages and he patiently waits by the door when he needs to go out. Don't stress. It isn't an immediate thing that happens. Just be diligent and praise, praise, praise when she goes outside! Good luck!

[BaileysMom30]

Thank you, Everyone! So So much for all the good pointers and support I did indeed read a lot of the replies, but am just now getting around to grabbing a moment to respond to them.

Today was day 3 with Bailey home, since it was mid afternoon or a little later by the time we finally got her home on Saturday. She's doing very well, she LOVES her crate, way more than I had thought she would.

We've managed to set up an Ideal Schedule, I got lucky, and my Husband was given this whole week off!! So I have help now!! YAY! lol. Our schedule is Up at 7AM on the nose, and I take her out to her potty spot, with Bailey, we've learned that you gotta get her up to a brisk walk before she'll finally eliminate number 2. She urinates fairly quickly in the morning. I'm usually still sleeping for this HAHA. Walking the dog with one eye open! But she gets a treat and high praise when she goes in her potty spot. No matter how many times I took her out she would NOT eliminate for me. She'd pee but that was it. For some reason, the hubby would take her right back out, as soon as I came in and said nope.. no go. And 3 minutes later he'd come in gagging, but this is how we found out that it wasn't me per say, but just that I wasn't getting her to walk fast enough.

Today was an entirely successful day. Up at 7am straight outside to potty, she went straight away both, no problems. Inside to eat and drink. Back out to potty. (Of course I didn't expect her to poop again) We've actually gotten that part down too. She literally goes at 7:30am every morning for that part of it. So I think we've got it timed out right for "this long after she eats.. she'll do this" But since we've got 4 adult eyes watching her now, instead of just me, and we're tag teaming her, she's getting it.

We do have her on a leash when we take her outside. it's a fairly long leash, but we keep it shorter for her for now. Thank you again for all of the great advice and reassurance. I'm glad I was definitely right about being completely against making the dog feel like it's her fault.

[doubledip1]

You can do it! Sounds like she's getting the hang of it already. I took Luna out every 10 minutes because she couldn't be trusted at 15. Puppies poop a TON! Luna was pooping 5 times a day. Strict schedules are the best way to potty train! And her signal became sitting in front of you and staring you down, and if that doesn't work she puts her paws in your lap. It all comes with time!

[MontananDakota]

Nothing different...just wanted to agree with all who said no don't EVER rub their nose in it or reprimand her. She is a baby. Even fully grown dogs wouldn't understand why your'e rubbing their nose in their poop. Seriously. Never ever. Makes no sense.
Lots of patience & praise each time she goes outside.

[MontananDakota]

Puppy=baby. Yup she's a dog but a baby dog-remember that.

[peppersmom]

You're doing great. Seriously, you won't believe how fast that little puppy you carried to the backyard to pee will become the 70+ lb dog running around in your yard. :-)

[BaileysMom30]

She is so silly it swells my heart...
We couldn't find a lead long enough for our yard without having to place new poles or what-not into our yard, so instead we bought one of those stakes that twist into the ground. It lets her have run of a good size circle for when she will be outside (Not entirely often) But she has NO CLUE what to do while she's out there. My husband and I tied her out and walked into the house, and went to a window to watch her. She sat perfectly still on the sidewalk that leads to the back yard and stared at our back porch. I feel so bad for her. It's like while she was in the Shelter she wasn't taught how to be a dog at all. The day we finalized our Adoption of her, the woman in charge at the shelter left us in on a lot more information than we knew at the time. Apparently the people that dropped her off not only attempted to deliberatly breed two pure breed females at the same time, only to fail and have the wrong stud mate with the wrong female (totally their own fault) --- I'm going to try to be nice, because I don't think to highly about that situation. But to make matters worse, we were told on the day of adoption that the puppies were dropped off full of ring worm and colitis (sp?) starved of both FOOD and attention. The "breeders" that dumped them off at the animal shelter did so because they didn't want "muts" around their "pure" dogs. It angers me, and it breaks my heart. Because when I look at Bailey's face, I don't have the capacity to understand why anyone would not, or could not love her, or her littermates. --- With all of that said, She and her littermates were adopted out all to loving homes and are mostly healthy now. But she is definitely a very timid dog, you can tell she only want to please and be loved.

[OHfemail]

You're all off to such a great start. It's truly amazing how fast they work their way into our hearts!

[smartrock]

Sounds like Bailey has found her way into a very loving home! Lucky girl to have 2 human siblings to love on her, too. It sounds like you and she are finding your rhythm.

I'm not too fond of those tie-outs, especially for puppies Bailey's age. Puppies are so mouthy, they will eat anything they find within range, from insects to small rocks, sticks, anything. Many pups and even older labs do not like being outside by themselves, they don't generally entertain themselves. They sit and wonder where you are and why they're outside alone and can develop some undesirable habits, like barking or digging, or get tangled in the cord or pull it out of the ground and run loose dragging it behind them. If she's going to be outside alone, a solid fence would be much preferable to a tie out. I know there are some dogs that are outside dogs and seem to adjust to it. My labs definitely are not in that category!

The so-called breeders of those pups, ugh! I'm glad you all found each other!

[Jeff]

Keep a close eye on her and learn her signals, circling, beginning to squat. Quickly and calmly scoop her up and take her out. When she goes, put on a super potty party, praise, treat.

This this and more this. I would also emphasize on the praise. When she starts to pee inside, maybe a quick clap of hands to get her to stop, pick her up, take outside, when she goes to finish outside then Use a high pitched super happy voice, Yay, your such a good girl, lots of praise, treat too. If she pees inside, say nothing, just clean it up. They are very smart and will very quickly learn hey when I go outside to pee I get happy time. Rubbing nose and stuff, no, that's old school thats how they did it 20-30 and more years ago. Positive training, works a lot faster and has no negative drawbacks. Rubbing nose and scolding you can create a fearful dog. Right now you are raising the pup you want to be as a dog. You are establishing the relationship you want to have.

I still do this with Hemi because it's fun, and like first thing in the morning he goes right out and potties and runs back up like ok lets get happy this morning.