We brought home an 8 month old miniature dachshund this weekend. The woman who handed her off said she was potty trained, and crate trained, telling me that her whole family worked or was at school through the day and the little girl did fine.

Well, bringing her home, she seems to be quasi-potty trained. I take her to her potty spot first thing in the morning, after breakfast, first thing when I get home from work, after dinner, and one more time before bedtime. So we've got a little routine going, and she'll usually go (I give her treats and praise for doing her thing, but she doesn't seem to be responding well). However, if for some reason she has to go in the house, she hasn't yet learned how to scratch the door or bark or anything, she simply does it in the house. What would be the best method to help her understand that she needs to be eliminating outside ALL the time? How can I teach her to let me know?

Another problem, that has me much more concerned, is that she pees in her bed. She sleeps in a little doggy bed inside her crate every night, and that's also where she stays for six hours a day while I'm at work. She's peed in it pretty much every night and every day, from what I can tell. She never goes poo, but I can always smell (and sometimes feel) pee in her bed when I take her out in the mornings or afternoons. I even went so far as to buy a brand new bed and scrub out her crate with Natures Miracle, to get rid of any scent and hopefully deter her from urinating, but to no avail. Is this a behavioral problem, or could she be having a true physical problem with her bladder control? Is six hours too long for a nine month old to hold it?

I read up on this stuff and every book says the best way to potty train is to keep them in a 'den', because doggies don't want to mess their bed. So what on earth do you do when they don't mind messing their bed? How do I help her control this?


Sorry this was so long. Any advice or personal experiences would be much appreciated :)

I would schedule a visit with a vet. Take any medical records you have for her. Let the vet build a file on her. It is also about time for a heart worm check and starting preventative. You might also discuss flea remedies. The vets keep the best stuff to themselves, although some of the over the counter stuff works fairly well too. With one healthy young dog in the house, you may not need much.

I doubt the vet will find a physical problem. You will be in much better shape if she suddenly needs treatment. Also she will be in the computer for reminders at a year old and annual shots and check up.

Chances are, it is stress from going to a new home. The older a dog is, the harder it is for them. Everything is different, the house, the people, her routine, maybe food, etc. She should be able to go overnight and 6 hours in the daytime. I will paste in some material meant for younger puppies. It includes ways of reducing problems from the urination and teaching her to go to the door. Exercise is more important with older dogs to stimulate elimination. Do not bring her in immediately. Let her enjoy being out a little more, and see if she does a second urination. She should adjust before long, and stay dry.

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.
Once the dog is reliably housebroken, your carpet may need a good steam cleaning.

Many people strongly strongly push cleaning up all evidence of past accidents. I am slower to suggest that. Dogs will return top the same spot if they can find it. When you see one sniffing the spot, that is your clue to run it out.