Hi we have a beautiful tri colour cavalier called Evie.  She is 12 weeks old today and up until now she has been a little angel and we thought she was all but housetrained.  The last couple of days she has taken to weeing in the house despite the fact that I take her out into the garden every half hour or so and in the past has actually asked to go out.

Yesterday she weed on my son's beanbag and 2 or 3 times in the house and then this evening my son was sitting in his newly cleaned beanbag with his duvet watching tv when Evie jumped up on him and did a massive wee on his duvet.  I had only taken her out a couple of minutes earlier and she didn't do anything.  My son is 11.  Could this be a dominance thing and if so does anyone have any suggestions?

She also becomes vicious and very snarly and bitey for about half and hour in the evening.  Any suggestions there?

She is our second dog.  We have another cavalier who is 4.

Many thanks in advance for any advice as this is getting me down a bit

You should really expect accidents right up til 6 months - they will get fewer and far between but it's certainly not unusual.  I'd say the weeing on your sons duvet is much more likely to be excitement than anything else.

You've obviously done very well with her so far but she is still only a baby.   Go back to basics; take her out every 30/40 mins, after every meal and after every play session.  Keep a handful of treats in your pocket to reward and praise her for toiletting outside.

When she is indoors try and ensure she and your son only spend calm time together, after a play session and a wee she can sleep on him whilst they watch TV perhaps.  She will get used to associating him with a snuggle and snooze so he might not generate such excitement for her.

> She also becomes vicious and very snarly and bitey for about half and hour in the evening.  Any suggestions there?

Sounds like she may be overtired or it could be a bit of post food excitement.  My pup used to have the periodic hoolies - we'd shepherd him to a safe space let him bounce it off for a while then give him a snooze.  It's better not to interract too much when they get a bit daft. :)

Agreed, she is still very young. It sounds harsh, but if you know she needs a wee don't bring her in until its been done, try to ignore her until its done as well. If she sits down just walk around get her to sniff and wee, just try and make yourself uninteresting. Maybe have a cue word, wee wee or something, then she will eventually associate the two. When she does wee outside, bug fuss! Be patient, I know how frustrating it can be, but hold on and be consistent. At her age I wouldn't think its dominance issue. She could possibly not 'like' peeing outside.

With my pup this worked, wee wee cue and ignoring him until he did it, then BIG fuss. It didn't take long for him to know what to do.

> It sounds harsh, but if you know she needs a wee don't bring her in until its been done, try to ignore her until its done as well.

Doesn't sound harsh atall :)

They often get far too distreated with everything else and forget about needing a wee-wee.

Agree with the others - if you know she hasn't been for a while, don't let her run around in the house, keep her outside. When she does wee, use the word you've chosen 'good toilet' 'good wee wee' or whatever, and make the most enormous fuss of her ever! With the mad half hour in the evening, again I agree with the other - normal behavious, just put her somewhere a bit less exciting, perhaps a crate, or just the kitchen, until she settles down again.

> They often get far too distreated with everything else

Sorry, that is meant to say distracted !

I have an 11 ½ week old Papillon puppy. I'm not even properly trying to get him house trained yet, it's so wet and cold outside most of the time so I will put all my efforts in when the weather improves, in the meantime I just clean up and accept it -I don't even take him out every half hour. I'd never expect any dog, but especially not a toybreed, to be clean indoors until much later. Many pups will stay clean indoors until they are truly settled in their new home as they don't like to wee in strange places, so they DO seem to take a step backward after a while -that's normal. (My Peanut will stay perfectly clean during ringcraft classes and the travel there and back -total of around 3 hours! as he won't go in places that aren't home. Doesn't mean he is house trained at all.) So's the biting and snarling, we call my Papillon a mini Malinois -if he was ten times his size you'd be really scared. :) All play stops when he uses his teeth though and he will learn that teeth equals no fun.

NO dogs are dominant over people, and especially not puppies -EVER.

hi thanks for all your replies.  I don't think the weeing on the duvet was out of excitement as she was asleep next to my son on the floor and literally got up climbed on top of him and weed on his duvet and then got off.  There was no playing involved at all. 

It isn't that I expect her to be clean at all it is just that she has been so so good and follows our other dog out and for a week or two we have had no accidents at all so I am a little confused as to why this has changed.

I will make sure that I have treats on me at all time (like I have poo bags in all my jackets lol)

Thanks for all you help.  I will let you know how I am getting on.

Did you use biological washing powder on the beanbag?, if there was any scent left on it, she will continue to use it as a toilet. Also need to be aware when cleaning up after her you dont use any products that are ammonia based (or wee wee smellies as my nephew puts it)

> Did you use biological washing powder on the beanbag?, if there was any scent left on it, she will continue to use it as a toilet.

I would put the beanbag away somewhere, in a different room out of her reach til she is older. It's very difficult to thoroughly clean them to remove all smell. I am more used to cats weeing on beanbags (because, to some, the beans feel just like a deep layer of cat litter under their paws) but if she can still smell where she went before, she'll be drawn back time & again, and the last thing she needs is a "reminder" of wee in the house at this present time :)

Unfortunately, we can't put the beanbags away as my kids sit on them every night as we don't have enough chairs and they like them.  Yes I did use biological powder and also use Simple Solutions stain and odour remover for accidents in the house.

I was advised to use neat white vinegar on the spot where they weed. It takes out the smell, puppies don't like the smell of vinegar and desinfects as well. It works for my pup and has done in the past. - With 12 weeks they are still very young and still in the learning stage so don't be frustrated and upset if accidents happen. I keep a very close eye on my little 12 week old pup and I've trained him to wee outside on command. It works a treat. He now goes to the door and scratches when he needs to go out, but he's not perfect yet so sometimes when he's so exited during playing with my older bitch, he just forgets where he needs to go for his wee but accidents do happen and they will get over it...

Thanks for all the help. :)

She also becomes vicious and very snarly and bitey for about half and hour in the evening.  Any suggestions there?

So many puppy owners comment on this 'mad time' in the evening when their pups turn into monsters, its seems quite normal at this age. We named it the witching hour in my class!  My pups have all had mad moments around 6pm ish when they were young but it was never too bad.
I would anticipate it and distract them in some way. 
With the weeing, if you think she needs to go, however long it takes, I would stay outside until she has been and put a word to it so eventually you can 'ask' her to go on command. 
I had a few issues with my latest baby, we got there in the end and were totally sorted at 5.5 months - keep going, you will get there. :-)

Yep, my pup has his crazy time in the evening as well. It's fun watching him though but I never laugh when he runs "riot" as I don't want to get him hyped up even more. After his crazy time he goes to sleep for a few hours. Totally normal for them...

We have 2 pups of 15 weeks and I'm afraid that I am not under  any circumstances going outside frequently with them in the sort of weather we have had over the last few weeks. We have a puppy training mat by the back door and are more than happy for them to use that until the weather improves and feel that the last step to move the mat to the outdoors once we can leave the  door open for a little while will be far easier and less traumatic for the pups (and us) than insisting on full house training during the winter freezing cold and wet conditions. Sorry to be a wimp, but at least I'm a warm wimp.

In the past I have found foul weather very useful for house training, my latest dog was a wicked thing when a pup and would try and stay in the garden for as long as he possibly could when out for the toilet, as soon as the winter set in he got very quick at doing his business :)

I would think again about using training mats, I used them at first for my last dog and while he was mainly quite good he had a lot of little 'accidents' past the age he should have been, I found out by reading on here that often using paper or pads can train a dog that urinating in the house is ok. A couple of days after I stopped using them things improved a lot and I would never use them again. I feel that while they may have made clean up jobs a bit easier on the whole it lengthened the toilet training regime

> Unfortunately, we can't put the beanbags away as my kids sit on them every night

Then the pup will need to be kept out of the room with the beanbags in.

To be honest too much freedom in the house does tend to prolong house training.  It is best to restrict the pup to say the kitchen while it is young except for when having a cuddle on your lap.

This will also reduce the excitement aspect, as the kids will have to go to see pups especially,and can be supervised to avoid getting pup wound up.

This will help with the puppy biting, which is normal, but can be a pain, literally.

Search puppy biting on this site and there are plenty of posts, as ti is the most common issue for new owners.

Kids and puppies should be quiet time only!!

> We have 2 pups of 15 weeks and I'm afraid that I am not under&NBS; any circumstances going outside frequently with them in the sort of weather we have had over the last few weeks.

I am afraid that is part and parcel of owning a puppy/dog. 

They are not a cat, who will use a litter box, and you may well find yourself regretting not doing it properly, especially with two pups, which is never a good idea for so many reasons (You can search for threads on here re two pups).

> Unfortunately, we can't put the beanbags away as my kids sit on them every night as we don't have enough chairs and they like them.

Has it really come down to Kids vs. Puppy? sorry that wasn't meant to sound like it probably did, but this isn't forever... and the beanbags could be significant in housetraining your pup, from what you've already told us.

> I don't think the weeing on the duvet was out of excitement as she was asleep next to my son on the floor and literally got up climbed on top of him and weed on his duvet and then got off.

Weeing when they wake is normal so you may need to scoop and run if you can't get her to trot out on her own.  I doubt she was making a conscious choice to wee on your sons duvet, although she may prefer that type of surface.  I found my pup was always better (more willing) to pee on soft surfaces.  He was brilliant at going the minute his paws hit grass, but he was equally likely to pee on his fleece if I didn't get him outside as soon as his eyes opened :)

Going outside with your older dog may have lulled you into a false sense of security.  It's great that it has worked for you, but it's coincidence rather than actual training (or learning).  Do take advantage of that copying though and if it helps to have both dogs out at the same time then do encourage them to go outside together.  Do remember though that an older dog can hold on for hours whilst pups just can't.  Imagine her bladder as the size of a peanut and make allowances accordingly.

Brainless makes a very good point about restricting your pup to safe areas until she's more trustworthy.  Accidents on wipe clean floors are so much easier to deal with and she's also likely to be much nearer the back door for when you need to get her outside.   Don't worry though, this is all normal - two steps forward and one step back :)

She also becomes vicious

sorry but i really dont think a 12 week old pup could be vicious?

I wouldnt worry to much about her weeing. My 4 month old pug has just recently come good with not weeing in the house hes nearly 99% house trained (altho he does get out for a pee every 60 mins!). He has accidents now and again but thats expected from a pup. Altho last night he weed on the sofa and looked at me as if to say 'Ha ha' so he got ignored for five minutes!! brattttttttt!!!!

Hi Melster - I think you're doing great with your baby.  She seems to already be learning to go outside [you said she's even asked to go out].  I think this is really positive - when she grows up - in 2-3 years you'll have a great girl. 
I've found that pups, just like kids, seem to learn something then appear to forget it when other things are on their mind; they're so young there's only so much they can concentrate on at a time, and, as others have said, they've got tiny bladders - 'full to burst[ing]' comes to mind - a tiny distraction and oops - bladders emptied.   I've also noed in particular that bitches can vary quite alot in their ability to 'hold on' depending on whether they're coming into season or not.  One of mine has only just been able to control her bladder fully when in season - she's almost 4 but only her current and last season was she able to do this making her 2 3/4 when she still had an occassional accident.

I agree whole-heartedly about not using pads/paper or whatever - only used them a couple of years ago and found them to be a BIG mistake - definitely better in the kitchen on a hard floor that can easily be cleaned up. I used to get cheap biological washing powder [thanks for info from another forum] to get rid of the scent [for the dogs] other things can get rid of the smell for us humans but dogs noses are more sensitive - certainly make sure you don't use anything with ammonia in - it just makes the smell stronger for the dog.

Re the mad tea-time - my 13 year old still does this - tho she does still think she's at least a teenager - I also absolutelyagree with the advice re quiet time with your son - kids just can't help being kids nor can pups - mix them together and you have mayhem.  Maybe yu could allow them 'silly time' in the garden so as well as associating your lounge with calm - you can engourage

my pug george was a year and a half before he was toilet trained properly,rupert the pug who i owned which died,he was 6 months,and stan my 11 week newfie is dry all day,and one poo and two massive puddles(hehehe)at night,plus the odd accident if i am not on the ball. Thats puppies for you,i am getting a dab hand with a mop!!
Its great in my home at the mo,as i am toilet training my little girl as well,si i seem to spend my day either in the garden saying pee pee stan,thats a good boy, or pee pee lily,whos a good big girl!!!
it will all work out well in the end
jo xx

Melstar
my above post was timed out - couldn't even edit it - my computer's gone on a go slow - so much so it's practically stopped!  I think I was saying that teach your pup and son to play outside and encourage only quiet time inside as others have said.

Also when I said about being in season - yours has a long way to go before that - just alerting you to changes that may come in time with hormonal changes - just like us women.

Don't get trapped withthe 'Dominance' issue - too much of it on TV's dog training programmesit's become so easy to get obsesssed with it.  I know dogs aren't human but think about kids and the mistakes/learning curves they go through [not to mention us as adults] and it may help you to realise what a confusing world it is for your pup.

My whippet is virtually 100% house trained & he will be 17 wks old on Sunday. The cold weather & snow actually helped with the house training! Within a second or two he had done wees & a poo too if he wanted one & then he would leap into my arms to be taken back into the warmth. 4 weeks of vigilance & regular trips out into the garden were well worth it. Persevere, move the bean bags out of her way to break the habit & give her something to play with when she has her mad half hour. Stanley has a large plastic orange juice container, it's been squashed a bit, but inside are some treats. He loves the noise that it makes & plays like a lunatic with it! Good luck.

Beardy > virtually 100% house trained & he will be 17 wks old on Sunday

I think it's important to note that you say virtually 100% house trained.  I don't think this little bitch is far behind at only 12 weeks.  BUT it's important to remember that accidents can/will still happen and that all dogs are different.  OP seems worried enough to me without being given time limits on house training.

Totally agree with you saying 'persevere' and your advice re bean bags and games - dogs love plastic bottles for some strange reason:-).

Ideally, I would ignore anyone who says their dog is virtually trained at anything, this basically means the pup/dog is not trained yet, so please do not allow yourself to be in a race with anyone.. each pup is an individual, and will take their own time in any training stage, it is down to you to be vigilant, and help this training on..

To give you a true idea of how different pups can become toilet trained at differing stages...

I have 6 pups here at the moment.. 4 are 19 weeks, two are just 6 days younger... 2 of the four are completely housetrained, not one accident since around 9weeks, the other two are clean overnight, but one will still have the odd accident during the day, without asking to go out, the other has had the 'odd' accident, possibly once a fortnight...

The other two actually ask to go out, but usually when desperate, and sometime just dont ask in time for me to notice...

They are all treated the same, have had the same vigilance etc.. but each one is at a very different stage in the training process..

Persevere, and dont get yourself upset, just carry on as you have done, and it will come right in the end... It can be so frustrating at times, just when you think you have both cracked it, and find yourself taking a little step back...

> She also becomes vicious
>
> sorry but i really dont think a 12 week old pup could be vicious?
>

Totally agree with this.  A puppy behaving as a puppy is not vicious - it is just being a dog.  I don't understand when folk say they have a "viscious" puppy.  I usually think that they don't understand what is normal.

[url=]as she was asleep next to my son on the floor and literally got up climbed on top of him and weed on his duvet and then got of[/url]

There's your answer, she was asleep and woke up, at 12 wks of age, she will need to be taken out to toilet, as soon as she wakes,   , you need eyes in your backside,  to be on the ball to catch her  before she pees, they will usually pee within minutes of waking, so try and be a little more vigilant , on taking her out.

I have a new puppy - 12 weeks today :-) Last night she was trying to chew my head to the accompaniment of mini growls. To the uninitiated she would appear vicious but really she was playing and as there were no other puppies to bite I was the target :-) not vicious just normal play and she soon stopped when she was presented with my back and no playing! She also regularly jumps at my older dogs face trying to bite - she will tolerate it for so long then snap back - doesn't stop miss growly-drawers though so eventually the older one just moves to a higher perch where miss growly-drawers can't reach. Too much and we remove her to give the big girls some peace but most of the time they are quite happy to sort it out themselves.

> Last night she was trying to chew my head <IMG alt=eek src="/images/eek.gif"> to the accompaniment of mini growls.

LOL
Sounds like miss growly-drawers is a delight!  :-)