Hello all
Thanks for your advice on my other threads - can I ask some more advice please?! Peggy is now 10 weeks old and we are in the midst of toilet training. I have been following a routine in a book of taking her into the garden every hour (from 7.00am til 11.00pm). She is being a dream at nightimes now (after some great advice on this forum I now have her sleeping in my room in her crate) and she is going to sleep at 11.00pm and waking me up for a wee between 5.00am and 6.30am. I am just wondering - if I am taking her out every hour wont she become dependent on this and not learn that she at some point will need to learn to show me that she needs to go out? We still have occasional incidents in the lounge (we have a lovely deep rug that i think she mistakes for grass!) but other than those she generally goes outside. I have not been giving her treats when she does go outside (as she has had runny poos which are now clearing up - thank god!) - should I start to give her food treats as she ignores my whoops of joy and vocal praise looking at me like im an idiot!!!
Would it be a good idea to start to leave her longer than the hour to see if she heads for the door? She loves her food so maybe food treats will work for her?
Any advice would be great thanks!

Hi womblewoo,

I'm toilet training a pup at the moment too (not much fun in this weather LOL).

I don't take him out hourly - but regularly when he wakes from a nap, after meals, immediately after playing (mid-way if he's going at it hammer and tongs ) etc so no definite time spans in between, more a judgement call and watching in between for any tell tale sniffing, circling or strange tail carriage LOL.

Personally I've always found this the easiest way to go about things as the puppy is pretty much ready to go immediately when taken out rather than mis-timing things and maybe being distracted by playing in the garden etc rather than making the connection that it's toilet time instead :)

As for food treats on performance I don't treat - just verbal praise (squeaky. embarassing voice etc :-D ) as IME they "go" so often at this stage that even the strongest metabolism would fail under the strain!

HTH, Teri :)

At 10 weeks your puppy is just starting to feel their bladder- so when they have to go they just go lol

I would use the leash method every where you go so does puppy- when you notice your lil one doing alot of sniffing, circles then scoop up and say outside go pee and take to the same spot each time and use the same command word, you can use praise, play (fav toy maybe tug rope) food for treats I have done that worked like a charm. If puppy has done business outside then allow some free time off lead but only when you are able to give 100% of you time. I always took out upon waking, after eating and play. You can also use a shake can or clap your hands if you catch your pup about to pee on the floor to stop them then just scoop up pup and out you go and don't make a deal about a mress just ignore it and clean up- I read some place you shouldn't allow them to see you clean up their mess either.

If you do a quick search on here you'll get loads of tips on house training and different methods- I always say it takes a good 6 months to a year to fully house train a dog and that totally depends on you and how watchful you are- kinda like potty training a child ... Best of luck :)

Hi Womblewoo,

I've also been there and done that - so have my dogs - LOL

I have to agree with Teri, I look for the signs that they need to go and react accordingly :) Pups body language is a dead giveaway.

I used to food treat upon evacuation but found that my pups started fooling me into going outside just so that they could have a treat, so I soon stopped it!

Relax, they soon learn :)