Does anyone have any tips for toilet training we have a 4 month on Weim and he will pee and poo anywhere and everywhere - we have tried everything but nothing seems to work. We are out for approx 4 hours a day which is when the problem occurs the worst however he will do it when we are at home - but we know he can hold it as at night he will go all night in his crate without going. We think he may be doing it in protest!!

We have tried food reward and the spray stuff - nothing seems to be working

Anyone any tips?

Hi and welcome to CD :)  Have answered this under your Guest post already!

> We think he may be doing it in protest!!<

It's easy to feel that way :P but fortunately dogs don't bear grudges etc :D  It is more likely that he is anxious when you leave him during the day - more often than not, in those circumstances dogs eliminate almost immediately after being left but due to stress rather than "I'll make them suffer!" ;)

Before beginning to leave him for 4 hourly periods, did you try to get him used to short periods on his own?  Also, when crated overnight, is he in the same room as you?

Teri

He is in the kitchen on his own overnight in his crate. When we got him we took time off work to sepnd with him and started him getting used to being on his own for 30 mins an hour etc......

It sounds as though he's not really got the full message about housetraining yet - I see JG has asked about you using a "command" word and you've not done that.  This is something you should introduce immediately - everytime he toilets outside as he *begins* use a word such as "busy" or "hurry up" - whatever you feel comfortable with that's brief ;)   As soon as he finishes his business, lavish lots of praise on him.  At his age he should quite quickly associate the word with his peeing/pooing and will in time learn to do so when you use the command - a great bonus if you're in a hurry to go somewhere and the dog isn't :D

Most people take time off when they get a new puppy, but because that is initially a very intense period of being with them, the puppy naturally feels totally abandoned and insecure when left - which is how separation anxiety comes about.  You may have to put up with this for a little longer but it will help if you can try and go back to basics with the house training and also short periods of time on his own while you're all at home.  When he is left during the day, it's best to restrict the area which he has (say only in the kitchen), leave his cage open for him to go in and out of (hopefully he'll use that to sleep most of the time) and give him something interesting to play with such as a food stuffed kong.  When going anywhere without him, try to leave him with minimum fuss - equally don't over fuss him when you come back in.

Regards, Teri :)

Sounds good what is a food stuffed kong?

Its a funny shaped rubbery, bouncy, hollow thingy (technical terminology obviously :D )  You can buy them at Pets at Home in different sizes and no doubt lots of regular small pet shops by now too.  They are a (virtually) indestructable toy which you can stuff with any kind of food - there is a hole at the bottom  - either dry kibble from his diet or something soft like cream cheese, pate etc is good because it takes them a while to lick it out ;)  Again, if you use the search facility here and put in "kong" you'll find lots of ideas about how best to make it interesting and keep your youngster busy doing something rewarding for him that doesn't involve destroying things!

Teri :)

When you're at home I suggest that you and the rest of the family take turns at concentrating entirely on him. If someone's always watching him, he can't wee or poo unnoticed. The person 'on duty' must take him outside at least once an hour - have you taught him a 'command' word for 'performing'?

no command words yet - do you do this as he wees or to make him wee?

http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2001/housetrain.htm

Do you leave him for 4 hours in a very large crate or a large area?

If so the dog will be more likely to eliminate indoors.

I very much doubt if your dog is doing it on purpose, Weimaraners are generally extremely fastidious.

The main thing is to NEVER chastise your puppy for mistakes as he may decide it is too dangerous to eliminate in your presence (inside or out) and save its toileting for when you are not around.

He has the whole of the back of the house - Kitchen , dining roon and conservatory i think we may be beeter restricting him to the kitchen

If he is crated at night in the kitchen, is there a reason why you are leaving him loose in the "whole of the back of the house"?  As long as he is outof his crate for a couple of hours in the morning and is toileted and fed and has a play in the garden he should be ok in his crate for the 4 hours you are out but I wouldnt leave any dog longer than 4 hours in a crate.  They are extremely clean dogs and I found crates invaluable when I have housetrained my "gang".  Now if I have a bitch in season I put a crate up and they all try and get into it. 

If you would like to talk I am happy to help if I can. E mail me and I will send you my phone number.  e mail:  kidmal.weimaraners@ntlworld.com  or you can go to the weimaranerclubofgreatbritain.org.uk and find me on the rescue pages under Lynn as I am part of the rescue rehoming team for the WCGB.

Lynn