My puppy is doing well with potty training. She is 3 1/2 months, and we have only had her just over a week. I also watch her very closely so I can catch her when she starts sniffing or when she is sitting by the door.She is doing well she is already starting to go to the door when she wants out,but only for pee. Ok now for the problem, so far I have not caught her going poop, we crate her at night but when she goes out at about 4 or 5 then she don't go back in the crate cause she barks so much and we live in an apartment so we cannot have the barking. She sleeps with my youngest daughter and this keeps her from using the restroom,except now she can get off the bed and poops in the same spot even when I scrub the spot with odor control cleaner, but how do I let her know its not OK to poop when I do not catch her. She does not pee anywhere that I have found, and she will bark or whine when she wants us to wake up and take her outside,but the poop is already there! What are your ideas? Thanks for the help!
Connie

Hi Connie, I have copied some really great info from another post made from Shazamataz, it has all the basic house breaking info you need in it. If you are still at a loss, let us know what you have tried, and we will brain storm some more ideas for you.

Toilet training.

When toilet training a puppy you have two options...
Start training the puppy to go do their business outside from the start, or get them to use puppy training pads.

Puppy training pads are cloth pads with a plastic backing, they encourage your dog to relieve themselves in one area only without damaging your carpet. You can use something like newspaper but unless you have it on a hard surface it will soak through.



You can usually tell when your dog needs to go to the toilet, even puppies. Most pups will 'sniff out' the perfect spot to potty so if you catch your pup sniffing the ground and walking in circles this is the perfect time to rush them to your designated toilet spot!

If you happen to catch your puppy urinating or defacating on the floor and not in the designated area then just tell the puppy "no" in a growly voice and pick them up and move them to where they are allowed to go.

Soe pups will be naturals and catch on very quickly, others can have quite a few accidents before finally learning what is expected of them. Never lose patience with them, they are not doing it to 'spite' you, they just simply don't understand what is expected of them.

When you dog does go in the correct place, whether it be on the paper or outside on the grass the most important thing is to praise praise praise! Make them think that they have just done the best thing in the entire world. Dogs respond a lot better being praised when they have done something right than scolded when they have done something wrong.

The biggest misconception when it comes to toilet training is to rub the dogs nose in its own excrement. DO NOT do this as it has no benefit whatsoever other than to show the dog that you are just being plain mean to it, they do not understand the concept of this sort of punishment.

The best time to take your dog out to urinate is after every nap time. Whether it be a designated nap time in a crate or the pup has just fallen asleep, you need to rush them to their 'spot' as soon as they are awake.

As for defacating, the best time would be around 20-30 minutes after eating, although this does vary a lot depending on the dog.

All though I will mention now, I am NOT a fan of puppy pads, I prefer crate training method. If you allow your dog to use pee pads, be prepared for more house breaking issues to follow. If you allow your pup to pee and poop on one soft surface, than why not on all soft surfaces. It leads to confusion and more accidents in my opinion.

Aurora_Bell
This information is all very good information, and stuff I have been doing, which works. What my question is, is what to do when you don't catch them pooping on the floor? Do you just clean it up and forget about it? Thanks for your answers
Connie

Hello Aurora_Bell
I am doing all these things mentioned in your post, and with great success. My actual question is, however, what to do about the poop accidents that you do not catch them in the act. Do you just clean it up and forget about or is there something you need to do with the puppy? Thanks for your help!
Connie

Unfortunately if you don't catch them "red pawed", then essentially all you can do is clean it and forget about it. If you "bad dog" them or punish them for it after the fact, they understand that you don't like the poop, but not the act of doing it. Of course I mutter one heck of a lot of bad dogs when I am cleaning up "accidents" too. Of course it doesn't hurt to put them out side when you see the mess. They can relate the poop to going out side.

Sorry missing the question :).

Ditto Aurora Bell on catching them 'in the act'. If we scold a pup for this, why would they associate the scolding with going in an inappropriate spot? Why not that we are just unhappy with them doing that natural act, regardless of where? More likely, they do pick up on our displeasure, but are just as likely, the next time, to simply go in a different place, hopefully one we are not apt to find.

Most dogs prefer to do their eliminations in areas where they won't track through them. This is the foundation of successful house training.