Our Westie is now 15 weeks old and so far has been very good at doing her business in the right place. She didn't actually take much training at all, she seemed to get the hang of it really quickly. But, we had out niece and nephew to stay at the weekend and since then she's been really naughty! She pee'd on their bed on saturday night and then last night she pee'd on ours! She has never done this before, even when she used to have accidents they were always on the floor, never on furniture or anything.

Also, when i got home yesterday she had messed up her training pad chasing the cat but had still managed to pee on the little bit left flat and I was really pleased she'd gone to such effort to get it right. But then last night she had three accidents (aswell as the bed incident) and we're just wondering if it's an attention thing as she does it perfectly when we're not there? Or do puppies have relapses?

Hi Claire,

At 15 weeks your puppy is very much still a puppy. I would not be too worried. Make sure she is being taken out as often as you can. I often think if you put the hard work in during the first 4-5 months then it makes life so easy. Out once a hour is not too frequent. When they have been good for a week or 2 it is easy to let the time between piddles widen when it is really best to keep the same to encourge the continuious of the good toileting. I personally think that at 15 weeks unless being physically held it is best to keep them off the beds and furniture till you are 100% sure they can/will hold.

Westie bitches are generally quick learners and are very clean so just give her a bit more time. It is generally about 8 months what most are aiming for some will or can have accidents up to 10-12 months.

I have two young westie girls just now 4 1/2 months and 6 1/2 months , they both occasional make mistakes but I just run them right out and encourage them outside with praise. We have a house rule when someone passes the patio doors they let the pups out for a quicky.

Hope this at least puts your mind at rest.

Good luck with her.

Pamela

Hi Pamela, thanks for your reply.

We only allow Molly on to the bed with us. She comes up at bed time for a cuddle and a treat before bed, but over the weekend she learnt how to jump up herself! I just wondered if you thought her lapse last night might be due to her knowing that it was 'treat time' and not wanting to drag herself away to the toilet? I ask this as we noticed her peeing on the rug once when she had cornered that cat - she obviously didn't want to let him go and just pee'd where she was!

In case you're wondering, we normally take her in the garden but she has a pad down at night as she doesn't seem to like going out to the toilet in the dark. (We're in the process of putting up an outside light for her.) But this is the reason we hadn't taken her out as she normally takes herself off to her pad when she needs to go.

We've also noticed that she won't pee on walks - is this normal? Obviously it's better that she does her business in our own garden, but we took her to the coast one weekend and were gone for about 3 hours and try as we might we couldn't get her to go to the loo before we left. I now don't like taking her too far as i don't want her to strain her bladder. What do you think - do yours do this?

Hi claire,

Honestly everything you are thinking iand experiencing is normal, she is just a baby honestly. The piddling with the cat could be purely excitment.

She is even a bit young for out walking too much 5-10 mins is enough. Generally paly around the house and yard is enough till they are older. They can get a bit of mixed up thinking the yard is where they piddle when out on the lead. She will learn honestly. What you are seeing is all what we all see and do.

I personally am not fussed on the pad thing but everyone does it differently. I always take outside.

At her age it is wise to restrict her free running around everywhere in the house unless you are not busy and can keep one eye on her , this will limit the accidents.

Mines have all been the same. She will learn. I think it is difficult when trying to train them not to forget they are just little puppies and do remarkably well at such an age.

Hope this reassures you a little.

Pam

Hi again

I think the main problem is that because she learnt so quickly and has been so good this far we've been spoilt. But we always make sure we ignore the accidents and praise her when she does well.

When I said we were out for three hours I meant travelling there and back in the car. We're always careful not to walk her too much - she has a ten minute walk every night but it normally takes about thirty as she's so nosey! So I think that's probably about right. Also, she can only get into rooms whilst we're there. We have baby gates on the rooms where she has restricted access (such as the bedroom) so she can only get in when we allow her to. It also gives the cat a chance to escape!

Are you a breeder or just a dog lover?

Hi Claire,

You sound like you have it all under control just natural worry and yes she has been good very quickly.

I would not say I am a breeder as such, I have had one litter only . My main interest is showing and of course my dogs as family pets.

Good luck with her. join in the chat on the board you can pick up some good tips and make freinds on the way.

Pam

When things change in a household, even the most 'well trained' dog can appear to revert , your puppy is still very much a baby, just keep doing what you've been doing (personally I'm not a fan of training pads) and she'll soon be back in the swing......