Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have never had a dog before, and am at wit's end. I got my Papillon at 5 months of age, from a reputable breeder, although they never spent time with potty training. They used paper and some outdoor time. I want to do indoor training... and yes, I know many feel this won't work. But I work and with communte time, it is just too long to not potty. So I am hoping that someone can help with suggestions, and some encouragement that it will work! I started with crating, and attempted potty pads, litter.... nothing worked. I could not get the dog to use them. She would go for 10 hours without going(until she looked sick), and would never go on command. So then I decided it would have to be outdoor potty. So we were trying that for a week or so, and she was already balking at going out for potty time, and would never go! And then would go in the house! Then I read about the confinement idea for papper training... where you confine to an area, cover the entire floor, and then they will go. And it was working! We were down to two pads, but unfortunately it was right by the gate area. She jumps at the gate, and when I got home, she was covered in stool, it was all over, and flies out into the carpeted bedroom. And then I am covered with it! I think you get the picture. They suggested you could slowly move the papers to the desired location. NOT!!! I tried putting things in front of the gate... such as under the bed containers, her crate, etc. She just goes on them! I think she is so confused and I am so frustrated. I have had her for 2 1/2 months, and have been at this the whole time. I was off from work for the first two months, and I thought we would be well on our way. We keep going backwards. Now I am pretty much back to papering the entire bathroom, and she pretty much goes anywhere! I worry that she will never get the idea of where she is supposed to go, and not go! I use Nature's Miracle by the gallon, and I keep her leashed to me unless she is in the bathroom or has just gone potty. I don't reprimand her unless I catch her, and it is very rare I can catch her(either going where she should, or going where she shouldn't!). We will sit in the bathroom for several hours, and I will walk away to get something, and she will go on the floor! There is so much more to tell, but not enough room. What am I doing wrong? I bought an e-book that promised "potty train any dog" etc... The woman emailed me a few times, but now doesn't respond anymore, as she probably doesn't know what to say either! The people at obedience school don't know either. I thought about going back to crating but she won't go, and I have to go to work!!! Is there anyone out there that can help me? Thank you!

>>I have never had a dog before, and am at wit's end. I got my Papillon at 5 months of age, from a reputable breeder, although they never spent time with potty training. They used paper and some outdoor time. I want to do indoor training... and yes, I know many feel this won't work. But I work and with communte time, it is just too long to not potty. So I am hoping that someone can help with suggestions, and some encouragement that it will work! I started with crating, and attempted potty pads, litter.... nothing worked. I could not get the dog to use them. She would go for 10 hours without going(until she looked sick), and would never go on command. So then I decided it would have to be outdoor potty. So we were trying that for a week or so, and she was already balking at going out for potty time, and would never go! And then would go in the house! Then I read about the confinement idea for papper training... where you confine to an area, cover the entire floor, and then they will go. And it was working! We were down to two pads, but unfortunately it was right by the gate area. She jumps at the gate, and when I got home, she was covered in stool, it was all over, and flies out into the carpeted bedroom. And then I am covered with it! I think you get the picture. They suggested you could slowly move the papers to the desired location. NOT!!! I tried putting things in front of the gate... such as under the bed containers, her crate, etc. She just goes on them! I think she is so confused and I am so frustrated. I have had her for 2 1/2 months, and have been at this the whole time. I was off from work for the first two months, and I thought we would be well on our way. We keep going backwards. Now I am pretty much back to papering the entire bathroom, and she pretty much goes anywhere! I worry that she will never get the idea of where she is supposed to go, and not go! I use Nature's Miracle by the gallon, and I keep her leashed to me unless she is in the bathroom or has just gone potty. I don't reprimand her unless I catch her, and it is very rare I can catch her(either going where she should, or going where she shouldn't!). We will sit in the bathroom for several hours, and I will walk away to get something, and she will go on the floor! There is so much more to tell, but not enough room. What am I doing wrong? I bought an e-book that promised "potty train any dog" etc... The woman emailed me a few times, but now doesn't respond anymore, as she probably doesn't know what to say either! The people at obedience school don't know either. I thought about going back to crating but she won't go, and I have to go to work!!! Is there anyone out there that can help me? Thank you!

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A dog hiding from you to potty has often become confused and thinks you are angry about her elimination. I have several articles about how to housetrain a dog at the link below my signature. Of course I expect you've figured out that the difficulty you have had in making up your mind what you want from the dog has terribly confused her.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Thank you for your response. I have read lots about housebreaking and the importance of not "punishing" a puppy for mistakes(which are my fault, for giving too much freedom!), and I have tried to be very careful about that! I have never corrected her, unless I catch her (which is SELDOM!!!), and then use a loud "no", pick her up and put her where she is to go. I suppose I have been exasperated a few times, and she has probably picked up on it! But I have never punished her! I have read that Papillons are very sensitive dogs, so maybe that makes a difference too, although probably all dogs would react that way, I don't know. But even from the very beginning, it was difficult for her to go on command, and I could NEVER get her to go in the place I wanted, no matter HOW MANY times I took her there. That is why I resorted to the floor papering. She can go for hours before going, and I can never figure out when she will go! But I am also concerned that she won't learn to discriminate from just going anywhere in the bathroom, to only going on the papers. I really am still not sure she "gets it", to only go ON the papers, as she will just go on the floor too! I am so confused by now, so of course she is too. We are back at square one, papering most of the bathroom, and hopefully she will just somehow learn that THAT is where I want her to go, and not elsewhere in the house. I have talked to dog obedience persons, but I find the very few know how to train for "indoor" potty, so I have much difficulty finding anyone to help me. I want her to be a good dog, and I want to do the right things. I am a very dedicated pet owner, but for all my life I have only had cats, and dogs are very different!!! But my little Amelie is an adorable little love, and I absolutely adore her. I just hope I can train her to go potty in the right place! Thanks again. Your site has loads of wonderful, helpful info!

>>Thank you for your response. I have read lots about housebreaking and the importance of not "punishing" a puppy for mistakes(which are my fault, for giving too much freedom!), and I have tried to be very careful about that! I have never corrected her, unless I catch her (which is SELDOM!!!), and then use a loud "no", pick her up and put her where she is to go. I suppose I have been exasperated a few times, and she has probably picked up on it! But I have never punished her! I have read that Papillons are very sensitive dogs, so maybe that makes a difference too, although probably all dogs would react that way, I don't know. But even from the very beginning, it was difficult for her to go on command, and I could NEVER get her to go in the place I wanted, no matter HOW MANY times I took her there. That is why I resorted to the floor papering. She can go for hours before going, and I can never figure out when she will go! But I am also concerned that she won't learn to discriminate from just going anywhere in the bathroom, to only going on the papers. I really am still not sure she "gets it", to only go ON the papers, as she will just go on the floor too! I am so confused by now, so of course she is too. We are back at square one, papering most of the bathroom, and hopefully she will just somehow learn that THAT is where I want her to go, and not elsewhere in the house. I have talked to dog obedience persons, but I find the very few know how to train for "indoor" potty, so I have much difficulty finding anyone to help me. I want her to be a good dog, and I want to do the right things. I am a very dedicated pet owner, but for all my life I have only had cats, and dogs are very different!!! But my little Amelie is an adorable little love, and I absolutely adore her. I just hope I can train her to go potty in the right place! Thanks again. Your site has loads of wonderful, helpful info!

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Dogs tend to stay confused for life about housetraining with indoor methods. It's just not clear to them what is wanted. It's too complicated. As far as specific instructions, Purina has a website for their dog litter that tells how to train to it.

What you need to know is that cats use litter boxes easily without actual training because a litter box is right in line with a cat's instincts. Using a litter box or other specific "target" indoors is NOT natural or instinctive for dogs. A lot of dogs lose their homes over housetraining, so how you do it is life or death in some cases.

To a sensitive dog, a stern voice IS punishment. Any sign of disapproval will influence a dog's behavior, and the dog will never actually understand housetraining. Dogs have submissive body language that makes people think "she knows she did wrong," but no, she does not know that. She only knows you are mad, and she doesn't want you to hurt her. She knows she is at your mercy.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Hi Icy,

I have a 6 month old Papillon and he goes on his weewee pads and outside. It was not easy to train him to do this, and he still has accidents, but it can be done!

We also were very inconsistent at first too because we were confused on what we wanted him to do. First it was outside only, then it was litterbox only, then we decided on both.

But we followed the crate training as much as we could and if he wasn't in there he was right with us watching him 100%.

He is pretty good now. He holds it to go outside, even if we are gone for 7 hours. He has the option of going on his weewee pads but for some reason he only goes on them at night. And if he has to go poop he will go anywhere, doesn't connect the pads with pooping- only pee.

Anyway, I know it is frustrating but don't give up. Your pap will get it eventually and then she will be the best dog ever! Papillons are so great!