GSD potty problems

[GSDlover]

I have a 10 week old puppy named Grizzly, and I'm having a few problems with his housebreaking. He knows that he has to go outside, but take yesterday for example. It was around 1 in the afternoon or so, and I was playing with him, when his does this weird crouch (he's not a girl, mind you) and he pees. I scold him, take him outside, and clean up the mess, adding some vinegar on in the end. Later that evening, I go upstairs, and he knows he's not allowed, and when I come back, there's a puddle on the carpet next to the stairs.

That's not all. He also dribbles a little every time my dad comes in and gives him some kind of attention. Submissive urining?

When I take him out, and it's hot in some way, he will REFUSE to come with me, even if he really needs to use the potty. If it's cool outside, he won't come back in.

[rmci]

My dog went thru a phase of submissive urination also. Scolding only makes it worse. Unless your dog has a medical problem he's showing submissiveness. Build his confidence level: get down to his level, take him outside a lot more than usual and praise, praise, praise when he pees where he's supposed to. Also, keep his excitement level under control until; ignore him for a while when you get home and greet him outside (to avoid a puddle inside).

There are some helpful articles at Dr. P's Dog Training Library http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/dog/lib-prob.htm#su (unfortunately not all of the links work).

[MazieDog]

I'm having the same problem with my little 7 week old pup. About 20 minutes ago, she peed on the carpet in the living room and my mom and brother believe that it is appropriate to haul off and punish her by rubbing her nose in it and tossing her outside. Seems to me that every dog that we've had that they've done that to grew up to be completely afraid of everyone and lacked a social life. I want my dog to be able to grow up knowing how to catch a ball or even a frisbee. I'd like her to go swimming with me whenever I'm down at the river. *sigh* .... Perhaps I should train my mom too? lol...

[Kade]

I recommend:

* not playing with him until after he's pottied. Puppies can get caught up in the fun of play and "forget" until it's too late. Also, play becomes a reward for pottying.

* never scolding him after the fact. If you catch him at the deed, say "NO!" and take him outside. (If you scold him, rub his nose in it, etc., he assumes that you hate it when he pees or poops. So he'll try never to use the bathroom around you -- and that includes outside. So as soon as you get inside, he'll run someplace "safe" and potty.)

* Most male puppies squat to potty until a certain age. A lot of them do it all their lives. Don't scold him for it or assume he's "girly".

* to get him back inside after being outside, shake a bag of treats. When he follows you inside, have him do a "sit" or "down" and give him a treat.

Keep in mind, you can't teach him by your mood -- only by what you do. An angry reaction will just scare him -- a firm, calm one will guide him. And what you do cheerfully will help him be a happier, more confident dog.

[MazieDog]

Thanks for the advice, Kade.. I will use this bit of knowledge to my advantage.. Mazie has pretty much mastered the "sit" command... Right now, we're trying to get her to learn the "crash" command, which is equivalent to "lie down"

[rmci]

Crash, that's soooo cute

[GSDlover]

Thanks Kade! I'll keep those tips in mind next time I can't get him inside, or if he soils the carpet again.

[IceyBlueSibes]

And remember... both puppies are very young. 7 weeks and 10 weeks is too young to have potty training down pat so you're going to have a few accidents here and there!

[flyndog]

Rubbing a 7 week old puppy's nose in urine or feces and tossing it outside is about the equivalent to doing the same to a year old human infant. Not an effective way to teach bowel and bladder control, but a very effective way to create a screwed up adult.

Clean urine spots on the carpet with an enzyme cleaner to remove the odor so the puppy can't smell it. Otherwise he will keep going there. Vinegar won't work.

If your puppy urinates inside it is because he *doesn't* know he is supposed to go outside. He's still learning. He's a puppy. Some puppies are 6 months old before they are completely house trained.

Please have patience and understanding.

PS Read the article "Every Puppy Poops" about house training in the Puppy Forum

[MazieDog]

Thanks for the tips flyndog. Can you recommend any enzyme removers? I've slowly started to train my mom not to use excessive force on the pup.

Often when I catch Mazie urinating on the floor, I'll yell, "No!" and put her on the line outside and proceed to clean up the mess. When she goes outside, I praise her and sometimes give her a treat... Thankfully, she hasn't defecated on the floor yet... Hope she learns that outside is the place to potty before she does that... I don't do bowel movements very well...

rcmi: "Crash" is used by my uncle for his dog and I've grown used to saying it... Our other dog's lie-down command is "Park it!"