[kristi]

I have a beagle pup, about 3-4 months old. I got her around 8 weeks old. We have been crate training her, and we thought she was progressing well, but all of a sudden now she pees when she comes IN from outside. I may have her out for several hours with me, and as soon as we go in, she pees on the carpet. Also, she was doing very well on commands, come, sit, stay, dance, etc, and she won't do any of it now. What's up with this, what am I doing wrong, and how do I fix it? :eek:

[labman]

At that age, likely you will back in to the vet for shots again soon. Discuss the problem and have her examined. No amount of training will solve a physical problem. It doesn't sound like a bladder infection to me.

Getting a puppy at 8 weeks and immediately starting obedience training usually works very well. 3-4 months is a little young for a puppy to challenge you for top dog status, but that is what this sounds like to me. Your obedience training may be too oriented to her performing commands, and not enough about pack status. You have been praising her for urinating outside? The dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/.

[LoveMyBooBooGirl]

Typically, I find this to be an age of challenge. They know what you want, but they are testing you to see if you are still the boss because they are starting to fell all grown up. This is a time for you as the leader to be even more firm. As far as the potty accidents, even though the puppy may have gone at some point while outside, insist on it right before you go in the house. I am a breeder and I currently have a 4 month old male which I decided to keep. He is at that very challanging age. And I do make sure he goes potty just before he re enters the house if the has been out for any length of time. Even if he just squats and dribbles a little, he gets into the routine of knowing he has to go potty in order to be welcomed into the house. Good luck.