I'm having a horrible time with potty training our little Peanut. He's not quite 4 months old yet, and the first week or so we had him, he did PERFECT with the puppy pad....NO accidents at all. Then we had to leave him overnight b/c we had to take my husband back to the airport after his leave (he's in the military). Ever since then things have gone downhill.

I'm constantly cleaning up dog pee. My hands are raw from being in water so much the last 2 weeks. It's not a question of whether or not he knows how to use the pee pad. He knows. He just refuses. Most times, he'll pee a huge puddle on the floor, then when he sees me coming, he jumps into the litter pan and pees a tinkle or two on the pee pad. He knows.

I've cleaned up pee so much that I'm becoming angry and frustrated. I flew off the handle a little bit earlier b/c he peed in the floor again, after I had scrubbed the kitchen down earlier (b/c it smelled like dog in there...and I can't stand a house that smells like dog...sorry.).

I am VERY frustrated right now and it's getting to the point that I don't even want to hold Peanut much any more or play with him b/c I'm so mad all the time from cleaning up his pee messes.

Does anybody have any sage potty training wisdom for me? Please?? I feel like I'm about to lose it over here and I know my tension is not helping this problem any, but I honestly don't know what to do anymore.

I'm so sorry. I am hoping to read others advice to you.

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Welcome to the board!

First of all you need to keep in mind that he is just a baby and will have ups and downs for quite some time. It sounds like something has confused him, I am thinking you let him have free alone time run of the house to soon and in doing so he has pottied in the house and probably left his urine scent. The thing is you cannot clean this up with just soap and water. You need something to take the urine scent out, I like "Nature's Miracle" you can this at PetsMart, Petco, etc... Find all spots he has used and clean with this thoroughly then work from there and start all over again. Invest in a crate and if you leave the house keep him in his crate (a small crate with only enough room for him a bed and to turn around in). Also supervise him when you are home and he has free run, if you have to, teather him to you so he will have to go where you go and watch for signs for him needing to go potty. He is still a baby and you will have on and off relapses and he will feed off of your stress and frustration and this can make it much worse. Do not shout or punish him as this will worsen the behavior as well. If you feel you are getting frustrated or stressed then pop a breath mint or some gum in your mouth and this may help. Lots of praise when he does go potty where he is supposed, make a huge silly excited deal out of it and then give him a treat. He will eventually get it that it pleases you that he is pottying there and it will set that behavior in.

Please just be patient with the little guy as he is still at an age like a tiny human baby and just needs a little love and understanding Good luck and keep us updated

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The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten....

Yes, yes Yoshismom is right on!!!

Crate if you are out of the house or cannot actively watch him. When he is out of his crate he needs to be tethered to you by a leash. When you see him start sniffing to turning circles or if he starts pulling you towards the pad then rush him over there and praise like crazy if he goes in the appropriate place!

Clean with Nature's Miracle all the places he has pottied.

I know that potty training is hard and can be very frustrating. If you start to feel that you can't handle it then put him in his crate and take a break for yourself. Don't feel guilty for using that crate to keep you from going nuts!

Good luck!!

Olivia

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I would like to say "well done" to your reply.. So many times these little ones can and will turn into trembling, fearful pups purely as the result of the manner and tone of correction they are given as babies. My kids were raised with discipline but in a loving and compassionate manner, and I have found it works with chis as well. I never turned away from my children because they made mistakes and can't imagine looking into the loving, trusting faces of my pups and making them feel rejected. To them, we are their world, their safe place and that is a tremendous responsibility.

I am sane enough to realize that all will not agree with my approach, but then I am also sane enough to know that house doggies are just not for every family. Blessing, Deb

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If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man. ~~Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)

Everything Michelle said..lol she is genius.
Also maybe try the spray to attract him to wee on the piddle pad..ther are sprays to repel him from weeing in areas that you don't want him going in, sprays with enzymes to remove the urine scent, and sprays to encourage him to we where he should.. Tha is a lot of sprays..but I'd try some and see if it helps. definitely don't give him free run of the house if he is piddling evrywhere. Confine him to one room when he isn't tethered to you.

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Rubia -y mi perrito que Rico

FIRST: Get a nice big tub of udder cream. Not for your pup, for your hands =) http://www.uddercream.com/. This stuff is great. It moisturizes and protects far better than your ordinary hand lotion without any of the yucky chemicals. Moisturized hands will be much happier hands and hopefully reduce your stress.


I had similar experience with pee pad training with my little one. She was PERFECT for the first week or so and then...then the peeing everywhere started.

I decided to start all over as some others have suggested. And instead of pee pad training (which I think teaches them to go inside), I started training her to go outside. I took her out every hour and made a huge deal out of her pottying outside. If she pottied inside and I caught her, I would very sharply say "NO!" scoop her up and bring her outside. Now, she walks to the door to tell me she needs to potty, because we do the same thing every time. I also didn't let her have free run of the house. She is crate trained (you can read more abt this online) and also is never allowed more than 1 room of the house when I am gone. I am so proud of her walking to the door when she needs to go. It makes me feel like all the hard work was really worth it.

You can do it and don't give up on your little guy. He loves you and needs you!

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Thank you Jan & Chico!!

well ur using water...that doesnt take away the smell of the pee/poo for the dogs. they can smell it still on the floor and will continue to pee on there till you can either mask/or totally get rid of the smell using the dog sprays they have at petsmart/petco. i like the one with the green liquid, it take the spot away from the carpet. also u dont need to use ur hands to wash the floors as well i use a swiffer cleaner mop thing...its much better than going on ur hands and knees and creating more work for you goodluck!

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