Man this is what i feel like screaming today. We have a new puppy a 15 week old miniature schnauzer bitch. She is gorgeous and gets on with our cavalier wonderfully but trying to train her is proving to be a nightmare!!!!
We've only had her a week so it's very early days but i cant seem to get the hang of toilet training her at all. I take her out every hour and watch her wee or poo, say the word 'toilet' and then praise her - lots! However she is still messing in the house in between times although i am catching her as i am having to watch her like a hawk. I think i expected her to be a little bit better seen as though we got her that bit older.
She's quite food motivated but gets really giddy when trying to do anything with her. I have kind of mastered sit and we are continuing with recall but i just feel a bit out of my depth at the moment.
Play biting is another issue - i stop her chewing on our hands by putting a toy there instead but she just wants to eat us!!! I know all these things are normal and to be honest i just need some TLC today and someone to reassure me that this phase will pass!!
I really want a well behaved obedient dog as my cavalier is such a lovely boy - ok i'll stop rambling. Just needed to let this out!!!

I remember how very time-consuming it is, having to watch a puppy literally every moment it's awake, to avoid accidents! The temptation to 'just peel these potatoes' instead is very hard to resist. Where did you get her from? Was she living in a house beign trained, or in a more dog-orientated environment? Although she's older than the norm for a new puppy, unless her breeders concentrated fully on house-training her she'll need exactly the same regime as any other puppy. Cleanliness comes with training, not with age! ;) So you're doing exactly the right thing by treating her as a younger puppy, and just like an 8-week baby, she'll get there in about the same length of time.

At least at her age she should be fully vaccinated so you can take her out and about for socialisation and lead-training!

Regardless of how old your pup is, if you've only just had her a week i would say be patient and it will come. You're doing all the right things. She is possibly still very nervous and adjusting and settling to another enviroment. Keep up your good work and be patient with her! Good Luck  :-)  

I know how you feel! I have the largest version of yours and yes they can be very wilful. Keep at it and you will get there. Having a pup is always stressful even if you have had them many times before (like babies!!!!)
If you want to do some reading, I advise my new puppy owners  to read the "Perfect Puppy' by Gwen Bailey or "Before and After you get your Puppy' by Dr Ian Dunbar. Excellent reads and help you through those difficult periods. I still refer back to them myself.
And patience , she still is only a baby and some dogs are quicker than others.
Good Luck!

Thank you all for the encouragement. I will keep at it. She did come from a breeder who although cleaned up after them and kept them immaculately, they were kennelled so it's not surprising she doesnt have a clue. It's just i thought she would get the idea a bit quicker being a bit older!! LOL

I have gwens book ' the perfect puppy' had it years now and it's battered and well read - i am like you mud mops and keep referring back to it to make sure i'm on the right track.

I feel a bit better now. Kids are in bed, puppy is sleeping and i can get on with a few jobs!! No wonder i'm so tired lately!!!

I have a miniature schnauzer who is 20 weeks today and to be honest a few weeks ago we had the same as you, the biting, the messing etc but to be honest it quickly passed and she's brilliant now.  I'm no expert but i think its just a case of gritting your teeth and knowing it will pass!!

Daisy was clean from the day I got her - she would go overnight without waking up - Leo was the same but he  arrived at 5 months old.

I have found my Mini Schnauzers to be easier to houstrain than my other dogs - even now when they are adults, when its raining they refuse to go out for 24 hours plus, so must have a strong bladder!!

How is the training going now? Minis really are a different temperament to Cavaliers but are easy to train, they just don't like to much repetition and you need to keep it fun for them.

Have you got your puppy booked into puppy classes? It will really help you to work together and refresh those puppy training skills ;)

Hi Animad

My advice for toilet training your dog is using some good treats, as you said she is quite food motivated. Give her some treats everytime she wee wee or poo on the right place. If you feed her dry food, then you should prepare something wet, such as puppy can food or chicken.  Also, you should reduce the amount of food you feed  her for a little bit, as you going to give her other things as treat to eat. So, she won't be hungry and also make her more motivate.
And the biting, use high key voice to say 'Ar..........' everytime she bites you, normally they will let go.
Good luck!!!! 

The training is going really well thank you. She is clean in the house now and almost dry. She has come on so quickly i am so proud of her. We are still taking her out every hour or so and this seems to be the way to go. She has been clean and dry twice over night now too so i'm very impressed!!

I am looking into training classes. I have a place in mind but am having to wait to get onto their basic obedience course. I am trying the sit, down and stays at home as well as recall. She is doing fine with them but gets bored very easily!!!

Hi Amimad,
Sounds like your doing really well.
Miniature schnauzers are intelligent and very easy to train. You sound like your being very patient, don't forget from what you said she was kennel bred and you got her at 14 weeks, so it will take a little longer, but I'm sure your going in the right direction. Two dry nights. As well as show Mini's do excellent in obedience and agility :-)
Have you got a picture?
Good Luck