I went out for a few hours on Saturday evening and it is the first time Lacey(who is 18 weeks old) has been left for any real length of time and not been in her pen, when she is in the pen she never wees in there. When I returned she had done 2 wees (which I expected) in the house. Thankfully she was on tiled floors so it didn't matter, but yesterday she then had the idea that she could do it wherever she wanted. I am not used to this because she housetrained very quickly and is dry all the time at night, but I am afraid to leave her now because I don't want her to think going in the house is acceptable. Will she learn to hang on as she gets older and am I worrying too much? Also how can I make her tell me she wants to go outside if the door is closed. At the moment I have to watch her all the time to see if she goes to the door or leave it open all the time. If it is closed and I am not there she wees on the floor because she doesn't understand how to tell me to let her out.

Time, and not letting her have such a large are when left.

for her anywhere away from her bed is being clean, and she has learnt to associate the garden with going due to your training. Now she has found she has an alternative when you aren't there!

Most pups do not have full bladder control until about five months anyway.

as regards asking to go out, two of mine don't ask, they just wait for the door to be opened, and if desperate just stand looking at me! so no answer to that one.

Some folk hang a bel or mobile low enough for the dog to nudge. to do this you would need to encourage her to touch it using treats, and then open the door! she will eventually gert the idea that when you hear that sound you will go and open the door!

Ben goes to the patio door and stands looking at me to let me know he wants to go out the back door! He knows he doesn't get a response asking where we can't see him! If you respond to her standing by the door she will learn that this gets her in the garden. Or there is a doggy door chime available you could train her to. Good luck. :)
LynnT

Don't worry too much Bailey wasn't clean until about 5 1/2 - 6mths when we left him but he just learnt to hang on a bit longer until i got back. :)

As for letting you know she needs to go out bailey just sits by the door until we get there or if hes desperate he comes in a sits in front of us & then goes to the door but he was never trained to do this so sorry no help really :)

Tracy

Toby was 2 when I got him. He doesn't make a noise when he wants out but he does go to the door. I've gotten to know his signs but if I miss them or if it's raining! he'd wee in the kitchen and poo in the bathroom! Well, we go there, don't we? He knows how to make me feel cruel because there's no way he'd go out voluntarily if it's wet. Not even if it's only spitting or the pavements wet. I've never known a dog to hate the rain so much!

Funny isn't it Dot how they get these little habbits. Kass isn't too keen on the rain either but not as choosey as your boy:) She did go through a stage too of *going* in the bathroom:rolleyes: I've now got a lock on the outside of the door too- since then she's been fine. It was quite funny really because if I go in while the kids in the bath- I automatically *lock* them in- I'm so used to locking the door behind me:)

Stacey x x x