House sitting for a 6 mo. old puppy that isn't house broken

[acontalee]

I am house sitting for a 6 month old puppy for the next 5 weeks. He seems very depressed (not playing, or eating). When the puppy came to me last week he was not house broken. I made some progress with him this week (two days with no accidents). Then today my husband took him out before leaving for work and he wouldn't go to the bathroom. After my husband left he used the kitchen floor. That was about 7:30 this morning. I took the puppy outside every hour for the rest of the day, but he wouldn't go potty outside. My husband took him out about 9 pm tonight and he wouldn't go. Shortly after coming back inside he used the kitchen floor again.

Is he refusing to go outside because it is cold? Is it seperation anxiety? Is it because he was never house broken?

[yogi]

in all honesty, all three are the reasons why. He may have been learning but the change to a new environment can cause re-laps. He is still a puppy and therefore the learning takes time again. He carried over for the first couple of days until he realizes the change and may interpret this as permanent therefore is a little frightened. Cold without a doubt can contribute to this. Though puppies may find the cold initially stimulating, once the cold hits they no longer want it. Puppy coat is still intact therefore they will get cold easier and this causes discomfort. The kitchen is the spot he will continue to return to so best when he comes in to follow him and just before he commences with his business, take him back out. Stay with him as long as it takes. Also, try playing with him to get his metabolism up. This helps induce the system to do its thing. Puppies will immediately stop paying no attention to surroundings and do their thing quickly in order to return to playing once started. Good luck.