Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 3 month old puppy. The first week I had her, she was very scared of the outdoors, so I papertrained her to go in a designated area of the kitchen. She is crate-trained, and I have her on a schedule of feeding, bathroom, play-time, and finally rest time inside the crate. Now she is not scared of the outdoors, so I take her to her outside bathroom area at the designated times (after feeding, playing, etc.) but she never goes. She's too excited and wants to play with everything and anybody outside. After 30 min. or so I'll bring her inside and crate her again for a minute or so to refocus and remind her she needs to go to the bathroom. The problem is, the minute i put her in back in the crate, she messes herself. Help??

>>I have a 3 month old puppy. The first week I had her, she was very scared of the outdoors, so I papertrained her to go in a designated area of the kitchen. She is crate-trained, and I have her on a schedule of feeding, bathroom, play-time, and finally rest time inside the crate. Now she is not scared of the outdoors, so I take her to her outside bathroom area at the designated times (after feeding, playing, etc.) but she never goes. She's too excited and wants to play with everything and anybody outside. After 30 min. or so I'll bring her inside and crate her again for a minute or so to refocus and remind her she needs to go to the bathroom. The problem is, the minute i put her in back in the crate, she messes herself. Help??

Hi,
It sure sounds like you're on the right track for all her training. I think she's probably getting distracted when she goes outside with more interesting stuff than taking care of business. If it's possible, take her to an area where she won't be distracted by any people or intersting things to look at. If she has a favorite treat, take one with you and as soon as she takes care of business praise her and give her a treat. If it looks like she just isn't going to go, take her back inside for five minutes or so and then take her back out. She may just do it the second time out now that she's seen all there is to be seen. Good luck to you and I'm sure she'll come around soon. Sometimes it just takes a little time for the "light to go on" inside her head.

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Mary Lou & Katie

Thanks for the advice. The housebreaking sessions go very well when it is late at night...i.e. quiet with little distractions. But during the daytime sessions she still gets too excited to do her business outside and waits until she returns to the crate to pee. Isn't it bad having her get used to sitting in her own mess?

You said that within a minute of her being back in her crate she messes. Maybe you could try just leaving her out to play etc and then taking her back in but just before you put her in her crate take her out again and see if she does does it outside. Obviously if she does then praise praise praise and reward and then she'll get the message.