I have a 16 week old Daschund. I have been working with her for potty training but she is not getting it. I tried crate training, I've made sure she goes out when she wakes up, after she eats and before she goes to bed. But it doesn't seem to work. She has totally destroyed my carpets and I'm at my wits end. She will go outside and tinkle but then walk in the house and tinkle again. I've tried staying outside longer after she goes the first time but she still does it. I was going to sign her up for a puppy obedience class, but don't know if that will do any good. I want to steam clean my carpets but not sure if she will ruin them again. Please help, I love her dearly but she is really getting on my nerves. Any "grand" advise.

Have you discussed this with the vet? She could have a bladder infection leading to frequent urinations. The other thing is to pay very close attention to her, and crate her when you can't. You might also try things like having her next to you on a short length of chain when you are on the computer. Some people even leash the puppy to them.

Housebreaking starts before you get home with the new puppy. If you don't have
A crate, buy one. I prefer the more enclosed, den like plastic ones. Skip the
Bedding. At first it gets wet, and later it can be chewed into choking
Hazards. A wire rack in the bottom will help keep the puppy up out of
Accidents at first. They are available with the crates, but a piece of closely
Spaced wire closet shelving from a home supply place is cheaper. If you
Already have a metal crate, covering it may help. Just make sure you use
Something the puppy can't pull in and chew. Dogs that start in crates as
Little puppies, accept them very well. Never leave an unattended puppy loose
In the house. If nobody can watch it, put it in the crate. I suggest letting
The dog have its crate all its life.

Choose a command and spot you want it to use. The less accessible to strays,
The less chance of serious disease. If it is a female, choosing a
Non grassy spot will avoid brown spots later. When you bring it home, take it
To the spot and give it the command in a firm, but friendly voice. Keep
Repeating the command and let the puppy sniff around. If it does anything,
Praise it. Really let it know what a good dog it is and how much you love it,
And maybe a treat. Note, being out there not only means you can praise it,
But it also keeps it from being snatched by a hawk. If it doesn't go, take it
Inside and give it a drink and any meals scheduled. A young puppy will need to
Go out immediately afterward. Go to the spot and follow the above routine.
Praising it if it goes is extremely important. If it doesn't go, take it back
Inside and put it in its crate and try again soon. Do not let it loose in the
House until it does go.

At first it is your responsibility to know and take the puppy out when it
Needs to go. It needs to go out the first thing in the morning, after eating,
Drinking, and sleeping. If it quits playing, and starts running around
Sniffing, it is looking for a place to go. Take it out quickly. You will just
Have to be what I call puppy broke until it is a little older.

By the time most dogs are about 3 months old, they have figured out that if
They go to the door and stand, you will let them out. The praise slowly shifts
To going to the door. Some people hang a bell there for the dog to paw. If
Your dog doesn't figure this out, try praising it and putting it out if it
Even gets near the door. A stern "Bad dog!" is all the punishment that is
Effective, and only when you catch it in the act and are sure you didn't miss
It going to the door. Clean up accidents promptly. I mostly keep the little
Puppies out of the carpeted rooms. Still I need the can of carpet foam
Sometimes. First blot up all the urine you can with a dry towel. Keep moving
It and stepping on it until a fresh area stays dry. A couple big putty knives
Work well on bowel movements. Just slide one under it while holding it with
The other. This gets it up with a minimum of pushing it down into the carpet.
This works with even relatively soft ones, vomit, dirt from over turned house
Plants, or anything else from solids to thick liquids. Finish up with a good
Shot of carpet foam. Note, do not let the puppy lick up the carpet foam.

I had a female Sheltie that didn't seem to want to get housebroken. I finally read advice in my pet book that said to enclose the dog in a small area (I used two gates, my closet doors, bedroom door & bathroom door to make an area to keep her in. Then the advice said to feed her in the enclosed area also. Dogs generally will not soil where they eat/drink. When my puppy was not outside I kept her in the enclosed space until she was housebroken. Never had an accident after that. Hope this will work for you & your puppy.

When you are around and can watch the puppy, using a gate to keep it in the same room as you is a good idea. Some people actually leash the puppy to them. Be very attentive if the puppy goes to the gate. It may not yet understand the difference between your little used living room and outside. Both of them may be away from where the puppy and you spend most of your time. When you can't watch it, or following an unproductive visit outside, the crate is much more effective.

Thanks to you who answered this question. I have been beginning to worry about my 4 and a half month old chihuahua... she just doesn't get it. She will do really good once or twice a day by whinning when she is in her crate, then we take her out. But she whines so much, sometimes we don't know if it's the real deal or if she just wants to play. Then the rest of the time, she will just sit in her crate and make a mess and sit in it and eat it. I guess I just need to spend more time with her - I don't know. It is getting a bit frustrating though - so I know how you feel!

SNJFarms

A couple of tips for Snjfarms, look at my first post in this thread where I talk about a rack in the bottom of the crate. There are things you can add to a dog's diet to discourage eating feces, canned pumpkin, pineapple juice or the commercial products Forbid or Deter.

It really sound like the puppy needs to be out of its crate and with you more. I mentioned other ways to control it in this thread too.