Potty Training Help!

[Kathy74]

Marlee has been with us for almost a month, and we've had a lot of accident free nights, but none lately. I don't want to crate her b/c all 3 girls sleep together. How do I teach her to wake me BEFORE she goes, instead of after? I don't mind getting up at an insane time to let them out, but by the time I've cleaned up, I can't get back to sleep, so I'm getting reaaaalllly tired! Jersey wet the bed for forever and a day, and at least Marlee is going far away from their beds, so I'm not doing laundry every day! Does anyone have any ideas beyond crating, or do I just have to wait it out and keep getting up before the birds until she grows out of it?

[Carrie]

There's really not much you can do other than crate her at night. She won't tend to go in there. Or you'll have to wak up and take her out and try to do it before she goes, but that's guess work, isn't it. If you don't beat her to it, she goes and then that behavior is reinforced each time she makes a mess inside. There's no way that I can think of to teach her to wake you before she has to go other than your making a habit or schedule out of it. When she goes, do you attach a command? If you get that in her head, "go pee pee" or whatever, when you wake up to take her out, you can ask her if she has to go pee pee, ("go pee pee?") and try to associate waking with going pee pee outside. You can give a treat when you say pee pee and wake her and also when she goes pee pee. But I don't know if she'll connect that with actually coming to you and waking you up. Maybe Kit will have a better idea on this. Good luck. They do eventually figure it all out and are able to hold it through the night. But avoiding accidents is important so that doesn't become habit.

[Kathy74]

While I'm cleaning up, I say "pee outside" in a firm voice. And when they are outside I tell them to go pee and she does immedialtely and after she eats I say go poo and she does. While I'm cleaning up, she sits right by my side and licks my face. I know dogs don't understand if they haven't been caught in the act, but she always seems like she feels bad when I'm cleaning up, and she has never been scolded if not caught in the act. When she's been caught mid pee, we say " no. Outside." She stops immediately and finishes outside. I know crating is the best option, I just can't stand the thought of her sleeping alone instead of curled up in a cuddly ball with the other 2.

[Carrie]

I know crating is the best option, I just can't stand the thought of her sleeping alone instead of curled up in a cuddly ball with the other 2.

I hear ya. I'd feel awful too, especially when she's use to sleeping with her little pack. So, I guess all you can do is wake up and take her out until she gets mature enough that she can hold it through the night. She'll get onto it eventually. My Dobe wasn't trustworthy about that till he was about 9 or 10 months old. He was a late bloomer. LOL.

[Kathy74]

Like I said, Jersey took forever and it didn't kill me! I don't know how people do it with human babies b/c it lasts so much longer! And I know Marlee is trying. Like I told Greg, puppyhood is so short, I want to appreciate every minute of it, even the bad ones!

[Owned by Lucy]

Have you tried restricting water intake in the evening? I leave the water dish down and full until about 7pm (about 1 hr after dinner). At 7pm I take up the dish and we go out 2 or 3 times before bedtime at 11pm. Since I started doing this I have not had any night time accidents (or waking me up at 5 in the morning).

Is it possible to confine all of them say in an ex-pen or something at night? We have a extra large crate that both dogs can fit in and if left open I occassional find them curled up in it together.

[Barrett]

I set my alarm for every 3-4 hours when my pups were really tiny (8-12 weeks) because they had such small bladders and couldn't hold it. Later, each month I did it every 5, 6 then 7 hours and they were sleepiing through the night by 6-7 months old and I was getting enough sleep.

[flyndog]

Where are the dogs sleeping now? How old are they? You mentioned Marlee goes far away from the other beds. Do they have separate dog beds or do they sleep together? I'm confused.

BTW, if the dog watches you clean up and you say in a firm voice "Pee Outside", the dog doesn't "feel bad" about peeing *inside*, just feels bad about you and pee inside together at the same time. It's best to say nothing and not let the dog see you clean up.

[Kathy74]

They each have their own "blankie", but they are all together in our sunroom, and she goes about 10 ft from the blankies. There isn't a way to confine them to a smaller area as our kitchen, dining, family and sunroom are all open to each other. Marlee is 6 mths, but has only been here since Apr 1st, also, b/c of the poor way she was treated in her first few mths, she might be a little behind developmentally. We empty their water dish after their last big play time in the evening (about 2 hrs before bedtime). I think setting the alarm for 4am is probably my best course of action. I only work half time, so I can always nap! Thanks for all the ideas. That's why I love the forums...So much experienced input!