Hi, I would appreciate some advice on how to get our puppy to "ask" to go out.

Dre is a 19 week old Husky pup and is coming on very well in the training department. He is 90% (we hope) toilet trained inside the house and will now take himself out if he needs to "go" although we do still take him outside often and give him treats etc. However he will only go out on his own accord if the back door is left open, not when the door is closed when he gives no indication that he needs to go out, i.e. no circling, sniffing etc. We have been taking him out still every hour or so when the door is shut so we dont have any accidents. My question is has anyone got any ideas how we can get him to ask to go out, or even venture to the back door so at least we have some hint that he wants to go (we want to start shutting to door now as weather is turning chilly - typically British). Can we train him to ask or will this just come naturally to him and it will just come to him one day.

Advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Sam

Don't know whether teaching them to 'ask' to go out is necessary :) I find with mine that they are let out first thing in the morning and then get 4 walks a day and don't need to go at other times. If the weather is nice then they might go in the garden with me for training or gardening etc, but should only go out in the garden when I want them too - not when they choose :) (If they are ill they soon make it pretty obvious that they need to go quickly :) )

Daisy

Think the problem may be that you have trained your dog to go inside, I would remove all litter trays, pee pads paper etc. and start again from scratch taking him out at frequent intervals and praising when he performs. Now I ignore a puddle in the house but some will say scold, seems unfair if it has been allowed up to now, the choice is up to you, but most dogs would rather go where they will be praised than where they are ignored, he will soon catch on and start to ask.

EDIT: think I may have mis read your post, sorry if I did, but I would still keep up the training he will catch on. He may just go to the door and then walk away you will have to try and catch the moment and praise lots to let him know he has got it right. He will learn to make himself clear at some stage because it pleases you.