Hi, I have a 15week old Bichon Frise, Molly, the problem is we are not getting very far with house training, she is just weeing anywhere, I am doing all the things I have been advised, taking her out, praise, treats, restricting access in the house. One thing I am doing & wonder if it is having a negative affect & that is leaving the back door open whilst its warm, she is sometimes going near the door, no noise just wees, other times wees anywhere, will wee outside on occasions, we just dont seem to be getting anywhere, any advice gratefully received. Regards Pauline

Hi Pauline,
15 weeks is still very young, so don't worry too much!
You need to keep an eye on her all the time until she is house trained (unless she has just been, then you're ok for a bit!).
Take her out after eating, sleeping, playing or anything exciting, and every hour as well.
Stay with her in the garden, praise her when she does it right. You could make up a batch of liver cake, or get some hotdog sausage or cheese (anything that dogs love) and she only gets that after she has toileted in the right place.
Clean up any accidents with either a special pet cleaner designed to remove the smell, or a solution of biological washing powder and then wipe over with white spirit when it's dry.
Do you have a crate for her? If you do, does she go in there?
Stay patient, she will get there. I think Digger mentioned in a previous post that bichons mature slowly, so she could be mentally a lot younger than she is if that's true.
My friend had a bichon, and she took a while to crack it as well, so don't worry.
Just a final though, is there anything about the garden that might worry her? Is it near a busy road or do you have children playing loudly next door? If it's that, she may be too stressed to go there, and only relaxes in the house so you will have to work on that separately.

Jo

Hi Jo
Thanks for the advice, my eyes remain glued to her every move. I am doing all the things you recommend. Yes she sleeps in her crate at night although the past couple of nights she has created no end but I stayed strong & didnt respond, I dont understand really because the majority of the time she goes in no bother & sleeps till 6am although she has always weed & pood on the paper, I guess that will stop as her control gets better, I hope so anyway. Lel she loves children & rushes out if she hears the two little girls next door, & fortunatly we dont live near a road but I understand what you mean, thanks for the advice I will just continue & be patient. You dont think leaving the door open matters then? regards Pauline.

I don't think it would discourage her, but it doesn't really help to teach her control, if the door is always open whenever she needs the loo, she'll go outside.

I had a problem when I got a dog flap fitted, after a couple of months I closed it one night, and one of them had an accident by the door. I think that's because he hates the cold, so he hangs on until the last minute before dragging himself out into the garden, so he put it off, got there and the door was gone! Poor thing.

It sounds like you are doing everything right, so just remember that it will click with her in the end. Soon you'll realise the incidents get fewer and fewer, and before you know it, you wont be able to remember the last accident!

Just one point though, it might speed things up a bit if you get up once in the night to let her out, then she might be able to be clean all night. It might also stop her from crying to get out, because the toilet might be one of the reasons she is. This is just my opinion, but I think once they are crate trained you can let them out if they whine. My two love their crate, they are sometimes shut in at night, although they usually just take themselves off, but when they are shut in, if they cry to get out I always do, it happens rarely and so far it's always been toilet related!

Jo

Hi Jo
Thanks for the advice, I did try getting up but boy does she go mad crying & barking when I put her back so I decided an accident in the crate is not the end of the world, she will surely get better control as she gets older. I am thinking about a dog flap when Molly is a little older, we tried last night leaving the door of the crate open, & putting paper at the door which she used for her wees & 1 poo the other poo was in a corner so I have cleaned it with the recommended stuff. Like you say it will get better & I will soon forget the hard work, still shes worth it all, I say its harder bringing up a puppy than children...bless...my children are grown up now & are amused at my second phase of motherhood, I say its something to do with reaching 50???. regards Pauline