I have a 10 week old minature smooth haired dachshund and I am having problems toilet training him. I am a new at owning a pet dog (having previously had cats) and even though I read several books etc before getting Rupey I am having problems. The breeder told me he would be trained to paper when I got him, but this didn't seen to be so, I assumed it was because everything was new and exciting for him. Had a bit of sucess at the beginning when Rupey would wee and poo on paper, only occasionally having accidents (was never scolded etc when this happened) but he has forgotten all he has learnt. Rupey is crated at night and he is very good, he doesn't whine etc also he doesn't mess in his crate even though paper is down. In the morning I let him out and he is very pleased to see me but then will pee on the carpet, even when I pick him up and put him on the paper he stops and will run off, play and then finish pee on carpet. This goes on throughout the day, also he poos on carpet but it is easier if caught in the act to lift him on paper, I give plenty of praise when he does go on paper for pee and poo but this rarely happens. Decided to start taking him in yard first thing in morning but he does nothing (even after long time), have tried taking him in yard during the day as well. Sometimes when it is cold he justs shivers and whines around my legs and I feel cruel because he is so tiny. Sorry to go on but I'm not sure what to do next, I have zero experience at toilet training a pup but plenty of time and commitment.

Paper training is really not helpful, more a stop gap method of damage limitation. You use paper when you cannot be there to ensure he goes outside! It is easier to clear up the mess with paper, and sometimes limits the area used, acting as a cue. what he needs to learn is that outside is the place to go. Trouble is he will tend to go where he has had accidents, so you need to clean the area with a biological cleaner to remove any trace of scent for th4 pup.

You should aim to take him out straight away on waking, after eating, or having a game, and every hour in between time. Praise lqavishly when he goes. Stay with him until he does go, and use a word to go with the action, wee weee, busy, be clean or whatever.

Compared to cats puppies are much harder to train. You should bear in mind that physically most pups do not have full bladder control until 5 or 6 months of age, so when they have to go it is like now!! Bowel control comes sooner!

We had similar problems with our Cocker puppy and we got around it by taking her out every hour on the hour and after every sleep, meal and play session.

It does take time but it will get better. 10wks is still very young.

Fiona

Holly still wees on my feet in the morning when she comes out of her crate. She gets so overexcited she can't control herself. I just take it as proof that she loves me.

I think a major mistake was made by putting paper in the bottom of the crate.
This must have confused him, because when you crate train a puppy you don't want to encourage him to go in his crate. The material in his crate should have been something different, so that when he would see paper he would remember that is where you want him to go. You need to learn the proper method and stick with it. Try Purina.com they have helpful advice.
Good luck!

Have tried all sorts of training methods over the years and then developed my own. I was finding stressfull to try and train by the more usual methods, so with my last 4 puppies I have not even tried to 'train'. Just make sure that they have access to the yard and if I see a toileting in the right place I prase it also I give it a name 'be quick' apart from that I do nothing and they all became clean as quick as the ones I had expended lots of effort on. Now I do have other adult dogs so this must make a difference, what I'm trying to say I think, is not stress yourself, you pup will get the message sooner or later. As Brainless said he wont have much control for a while yet.
Reminds me, I paper trained my first two puppies, the elder being 4 when I had the next, when she went on the paper in her play pen I would lavash praise. When we had had her for 3 days I let her and her big uncle out into the yard to do what good dogs do and the 4 year old dog ran back in and squatted over 'her' pee paper and let go what looked like 8 pints. He was quite put out when I did not prase him. Never used the paper method since as it seemed daft to encourage the use of it and then retrain to go out side. Sure that is no help, but thats the way I do it. Jackie H

Jackie I did not post on toilet training as I felt no one would believe me how I do it I do exactly as you , I find the dogs come clean naturally MARI

I did that too with my last litter (I have a dog flap) and by 5 weeks I hardly had any accidents, in fact it was mostly puddles they always went out for the other! I thought I've got an easy clean floor (no carpets) so if the make a mistake well its easy to clean up why stress!

My bitch wasn't trained until about 6 months, she had no control of her bladder at all!

I guess we all have different methods, but i personally feel that with paper, although as someone said, it is easier to clean up for the owner, the pup is basically being taught "yes it's good to go inside".

It is important IMHO to take the pup out every hour, after games too, and sleep, and praise when pup does go outside. I think going with the pup does make a difference .... after a while the pup will start to want to go out on its own. But there may still be accidents for quite a while:)

Have fun!

Lindsay

Thanks to everyone for the advice. On Monday I removed all the paper from the house and started taking Rupey outside to wee and poo. Every day he is getting better and I can usually notice the signals when he is about to do something (except when he is out of sight). Having the occasional accident but not to worry as he seems to be learning quite fast. Only query I have is when I take him out after he has eaten/been alseep/played with, how long do I wait for him to 'perform' before bringing him indoors again? Also, if he is giving the signals that he wants to go and I take him outside how long do I wait with him, is it until he has had a wee/poo? Sometimes we are outside for up to 20 mins and he is wanting to go back inside but if I let him in he runs off and wees on the carpet. I am not sure if I am distressing him by making him stay outside so long, especially when it is cold and wet, as soon as he has a wee/poo I praise him etc and let him back in. Would appreciate advice on the length of time I should wait outside.
Thanks
RachelC

As long as it takes following meals, waking and games, as those are the times his body will need to go. He will eventually figure out that until he goes he won't be allowed back in, and will quickly do it so he can go back in if it is raining! :D At other times go back in afer 15 minutes and try again in another hour, but watch for those signs! Use a word like go wees or what ever, the Americans seemm to like saying go potty, which I find amusing, as it has the conotation of going mad!! We must be :D