We have a Cocker Spaniel we toilet trained him on newspaper and he was fine. But lately he seems to be doing it everywhere else but the paper. Is there any other way to train them apart from just moving him to the paper when he starts to go and them praising him when he does do it? We praise him when he does it but it doesn't make any difference and also when we move him to the paper when he starts to go somewhere else but he doesn't finish on the paper he just stops. Or do we just have to keep on trying?

Hi Brindley,

my good lady and I have always had Cockers and now ESS...we find the best way is to reward with a really good treat, say a Smacho "excuse the spelling if incorrect" gets their scent and taste buds going mental. Anyway we take outside and stay with pup until it does pee or pooh and then say "COME AND GET A TREAT" and give them a Smacho. If they do it in the house and ONLY if you catch them doing it say firmly NO and do not socialise with pup for about 30-60 mins, but don't smack.

It will take a few days to notice but beleive me they soon learn better to pee and pooh outside and get their treat than do it inside and get sent to the doghouse.

We have found it works every time, only downside is our girl now thinks it's great fun making on long pee 3/4 wee ones.

Good Luck.

Scott

Has he been checked by a Vet for a urinary tract infection as this can bring about the change in behaviour you describe and it would be unfair to try and correct it without establishing it doesn't have a medical reason.........

No we haven't had him checked by the vet for a urinary tract infection but he is going for his second injection this weekend and we will ask the vet then.

He does however go to the paper and sniff it but then walks off and does it on the carpet, would he still behave like this just because of an infection? Even though we are cleaning the carpet will he still smell it and is this why he is doing it on the carpet, if so can you suggest something that will get rid of this smell?

We are trying to treat him and praise him when he goes on the paper and ignoring him when he does it on the floor but he still doesn't seem to be grasping this at all. It seems that he doesn't know what he is doing wrong, we are only punishing him when we catch him.

Claire, thanks for any advice.

You should notice that every time a pup wakes up they want to pee, and normally after each meal. The trick is to take them straight out after they wake then when they pee outside praise them highly.
As soon as i brought our dog home i took the paper away (apart from night-time) and immediately got her used to the garden. The neighbours must have thought us loonies shouting at midnight "You having a wee wee, gooooood girl"!

Hi,
what we used to do was fill a tray with dirt and grass,leave it in the corner of our kitchen,this worked a treat, but got over excited in the morning when he knew he'd done good and dug out all the dirt lol GOOD BOY!!!
We had the same problem with the paper trick,its worth a try
Gary and Louise
i'm sure its not a health issue,don't worry