okay, I thought that I was doing the correct thing to help my puppy learn that outside is THE place to go. I watch him carefully, and if he starts to look a little apprehensive, I put him on his leash, and take him to his spot, and tell him, "go potty", and when he does, I always praise him with a very happy good boy Dexter, you go potty outside!! Well, 95% of the time, he pees, then, sometimes within 20 minutes. he just randomly goes on the floor. The places are always random, and away from the door. I know that he gets enough praise when he does go outside, because even the neighbors know when he went potty like a good boy!

He has been in our home for two weeks now, and is 9 weeks old. I know he is still very young, and I expect SOME accidents, but why so many even after he has just been out? I limit his water availability all during the day, to hopefully try and quench, (haha, pun intended), this problem. He even seems to GO for a bit when he does go, like it seems like he should be empty, from the time that he pees.

Now, I have gotten SO paranoid, that I have been taking him out every 30 minutes. sometimes he goes, sometimes not. AND, he never does BOTH of his duties, at the same time, (a problem that I hope he grows out of). I know that he can last longer because, he can go for the entire night, from 9PM, to 4:30/5:30, without a problem. He also stays in the crate when we are out, sometimes 3/5 hours, without any problems in the crate.

I was regularly taking him out every hour or two, no longer than that when he is in his play area in the living room. I'm just worried, that if I now keep taking him out every 30 to 60 minutes. how will he learn to last longer when in the house, not just in his crate? Sorry to post such a long question, it's just that I want to give ALL information that I can, so that maybe somebody can give me some insight. This is the first time that I have had such a handful with housebreaking a pup.

thanks:o

Well, my 9 week old is doing about the same. I think she is just too busy to empty her bladder completely. I did talk to my vet, and he said we need to watch for a bladder stone. She does 4-5 urinations in about a half hour at times. She has made it through the night every night for 2 weeks. She has also gone to the door part of the time from day one.

You might look over the sticky at https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/information-articles-our-dogs-expert-labman-53153.html#post251809 It sounds like you are already doing most of it. I am, and still cleaning up lots of puddles.

Zadars, I think it is important to understand that this training can take a few months for a puppy to understand. It also takes a good few months for puppies to begin to have the capacity to exert control over their bowels and bladder. Please read labman's link. It is chock full of great advice.

Please don't limit his water during the daytime. He needs it and it can create medical problems if he isn't getting enough water intake. If you haven't done so already, you might want to bring him in to the vet for a health check to make sure he doesn't have a UTI (urinary tract infection) or a bladder problem. Although I will say that most males have a tendency to urinate in small amounts a number of times. As he grows older, and his hormones kick in, it might grow worse due to the males natural tendency to mark their territory. When he closes in on six months old you should talk to your vet about neutering him. That usually helps with the marking issues, along with any aggression tendencies he may develop as he ages.

If I were you, when you have two days off in a row put them aside and stay home. Keep the puppy with you at all times. If you need to, tie his leash or a long rope around your waist and attach the other end to his collar. Watch him like a hawk. When he begins sniffing around and appears to lift his leg, or if he starts circling (which indicates he is looking for a good place to poop), immediately say "ah, ah, ah, NO" in a short and sharp staccato to get his attention focused on you, pick him up and get him outside. Then walk him until he does his business and praise him as you have been.

Just remember, do not say a word if you don't catch him in the act of doing his business in the house. Just clean it up. He won't make the connection that what he has done is wrong. Follow the advice given regarding catching him in the act. He will eventually realize that he only gets your (positive) attention when he does his business outside, and doesn't receive this reward when he does it inside. As he grows more attached to you and recognizes you as the pack leader, he wants that positive attention that the leader will bestow upon the lesser pack members.