Hi there,

I picked up my 5month old Staffy yesterday, and am trying to start the process of house training. She obviously knows that going indoors is not acceptable (she's a rescue so I don't know how far her previous owners got with training) as she gets upset if she does. I've been taking her out every hour but in the time I've had her (less then 24 hours) she's gone overnight (understandable at 5months), and 2 outside when walking but I can't get her to pee at the park I'm taking her to pee in. She hasn't peed there yet so I can't show her what I want her todo and she just stands there looking confused, even upset.

I know she wants to please me, and she will take the instructions once she knows what to do but I can't get her to pee where I want her to in order to show her what I want.

Any tips?

Not wanting to pee in an unfamiliar and very public place (i.e. where she can smell other dogs) is insecurity and very common in pups. I couldn't even get my 8 month old super confident pup that I've had since 9 weeks to pee at all yesterday when we were at a show, she waited until we got home.

That makes sense! What else can I do to encourage her? Is it a case of standing in the park for 4/5 hours until she can't not go anymore? I'd be willing to do at but I don't want her to associate the park with such an ordeal...

It took my Lola months before she would pee out anywhere other than my garden, and for quite some time she would only go in a small area there.  She is now 3 and will only go on her lead if she is absolutely desperate.  I kept to a few places she nkew well and walked there every day, generally using the same routes and lots of praise when she finally did go.  At 4 months old she held herself for over 12 hours because we were out all day.  I had even took pee pads and newspaper for her!

And even now she will go in certain spots, she is a very fussy girl

My concern is that I can't house train her until she pee at this park. I understand now why she doesn't want to go there, but need tips on how to help her overcome that

Have you no garden or yard or anywhere?

Will she go on paper?  Could you get her used to going on paper and take paper with you?  Or use a towel to mot up after her each time so it takes on her smell?

Is there a small secluded section ot the park where you could confine your walks, all of mine have seemed happier to go in a small area at first rather than having the whole park to choose from (just thinking maybe of a corner or something where it "feels" a bit less open and vast to her.

Also when she does pee use a word - mine is toilet - so she learns that when you say that word she has to go.

I know Lola was that bit older when I got her and she was so much harder to train as she would just hold on and hold on whereas Roxy was a tiny puppy so it was just a case of taking her outside after eating sleeping playing etc.

I would be concentrating on getting her to go on command at home first before the daunting task of making herself vulnerable in a large area full of strange smells.

Do you give her a drink whilst you are out as it has to come out the other end eventually.

It's very early days indeed and I'm not surprised she is reluctant to pee in the park. At this stage she has only known you 24 hrs, she is on lead and she is in a place full of other doggy smells which could be intimidating. If she is managing to hold on in the house and will wee on the walk then she is being housetrained imo. Try her on a flexi (so she doesn't feel so shy) and don't get too hung up about it as she will pick up on your tension. Also just choose one area, watch her out of the corner of your eye, stay quiet and then lots of quiet praise if she squats. Lots of ball throwing (if she will fetch) and running round will also help to jiggle the bladder. I wouldn't go down the route of using paper/pads etc as it's just one more stage you will need to cut out.

Hi,I've just taken on a puppy at 4 months...he came from the breeder,and I expected him to be house trained. After just one day it was obvious we had to to back to basics.
Our rules..
outside after waking,outside after meals,after play,etc.
Always give the same command...outside,wee wee ..whatever
Praise if you get a result.
Reinforce any sniffing ,circling etc..with a word...I use yes..

My dog has taken two weeks ,and now is reliable in the house...he is a fast learner,but I was worried initially that he just wasn't getting it.
He sleeps in my room ,on my bed,and I take him out at midnight and then about 6am.
It works for us...I hope you get your girl sorted out soon , as I know how worrying it can be.
Also keep a bucket and disinfectant available for quick clean ups and don't make the dog feel its her fault...no big deal.
finally of you can't watch the dog,confine her to a safe area..eg kitchen,so she doesn't start to free mark the house..it really helps ,to set a pattern of where she supposed to go.

Thanks all. It seems what was in order was a little bit of distraction play. While I don't doubt we'll have accidents from time to time I think we've got to the point where we understand each other

Plus a cage. A cage has been a huge help