posted 01-15-2004 10:35 AM         

Are you crate training her? It is a really good idea. With that method, you are either with the puppy watching her or she is in her crate. The crate needs to be just big enough for her to turn around and lie down - no bigger.

First, I would associate a word with going potty. Ask her something like, "Do you have to go outside?" so she gets to know what that means. Always go out with her. Tell her "Go Potty" or "Hurry Up" or whatever words you want to use. When she goes, AS she is going, say "Good Potty" or "Good Hurry Up" - you get the picture. Don't say it TOO excitedly or you will interrupt her. But make sure you praise her WHILE she is in the act of going.

If you stand out there for about 5 minutes or more and she is just fooling around, I would bring her in and immediately put her in her crate (or watch her closely). Wait about 15 minutes or so and take her back outside. Repeat until she goes.

With my puppy, I also tried to not bring her in immediately after she went. I didn't want her to think that peeing meant she had to go back inside. I never read to do that, but it just made sense to me. I encouraged her to pee right away by asking her "Do you have to go potty?" and praising her when she goes "Good potty!" and then let her play for a little bit before bringing her back in. Even a minute is enough for the dog to lose the association between peeing and going back inside.

Signs to look for inside that she has to go are a lot of sniffing and/or circling. Obviously, squatting is a very urgent signal! When in doubt, just ask her if she has to go outside and take her out. Better safe than sorry. If she starts to go inside, clap your hands and yell "No!" to startle her, then pick her up and carry her outside and tell her "Go Potty" and let her finish. Clean up the accident inside with an enzymatic cleaner such as Nature's Miracle.

If she has an accident that you didn't see happen, just clean it up. Even 5 seconds after she has finished is too late for her to know why you are yelling at her, so don't do it. Rubbing her nose in the puddle is also useless and does more harm than good.

The main times she will have to go outside is about 20 minutes after eating or drinking, and also right after playing or sleeping. When my pup was that young, as SOON as she stood up after taking a nap I was bringing her outside. Poor thing would stagger around groggily on her way out.

Another good rule of thumb is to add one to the age of the dogs in months and that is how long they can "hold it." So for a three month old pup, try not to leave her in her crate for more than 4 hours. Some can hold it longer and some not as long - only you know your puppy.

At 3 months, I would be taking her out at least every hour when you are home, plus after eating, sleeping, drinking, or playing. I also would not leave her in her crate for more than 4 hours - that means someone home at lunchtime to let her out, and also someone needs to let her out at least once during the night.

At this stage, you have to be patient. Just keep doing the same things consistently and she should catch on. And you have to watch her like a HAWK or she should be in her crate.

Let us know how it goes!

Jamiya

posted 01-15-2004 11:36 AM         

She's till young, it takes a while for them to learn, but once you begin a method, stick with it. quit changing, your just confusing her.

If your going with the paper training, treat her for using the paper, scold her for going off of it. (in other areas beside the paper, sometimes they miss by and inch or two, thats not a time to scold. she tried, jsut missed)