I take my puppy out about every 4 hours to use the bathroom as well as
with my other dog. However, she waits until we get back into the
house to use the bathroom. I don't get upset about it as I read in
the manuals. I clean it up, wait for her to look at the spot or
return to it and then put her back outside and praise her for using it
-- which she doesn't. How can I break her of this habit of using the
bathroom indoors?

In article . com,
wrote:

I take my puppy out about every 4 hours to use the bathroom as well as
with my other dog. However, she waits until we get back into the
house to use the bathroom. I don't get upset about it as I read in
the manuals. I clean it up, wait for her to look at the spot or
return to it and then put her back outside and praise her for using it
-- which she doesn't. How can I break her of this habit of using the
bathroom indoors?

Every 4 hours seems like a long stretch. If she doesn't eliminate as
expected outdoors, she gets NO FREEDOM indoors. Wait 5-10 minutes, try
again. Repeat as necessary, crating or tethering her to you when
indoors so she doesn't have a chance to "go". Praise to the hilt when
she does "go" outdoors. You can't give her the opportunity to eliminate
indoors. Eagle eye or confinement, preferably eagle eye.

--
Janet Boss
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com

wrote in message:

the manuals. I clean it up, wait for her to look at the spot or
return to it and then put her back outside and praise her for using it
-- which she doesn't. How can I break her of this habit of using the
bathroom indoors?

Besides what Janet said, make absolutely sure that you are *taking* her
outside with you. Preferably to the same spot. Have a cue for potty, so
she gets to figure out why it is she's outside. When she is successful,
throw a party, give her treats, pets, whatever makes her happy. Clean up
her mistakes inside with an enzymatic cleanser like Nature's Miracle. And
keep in mind that every time she eliminates in the wrong place, you're
taking giant steps backwards in terms of housetraining the dog, so
supervision and confinement (in addition to a regular schedule) is highly
important.

Suja

I take my puppy out about every 4 hours to use the bathroom as well as
with my other dog. However, she waits until we get back into the
house to use the bathroom. I don't get upset about it as I read in
the manuals. I clean it up, wait for her to look at the spot or
return to it and then put her back outside and praise her for using it
-- which she doesn't. How can I break her of this habit of using the
bathroom indoors?

Take her out alone so when she does urinate she knows the praise you are
flowering on her is just for her - not the other dogs. Four hours is too
long a stretch for training. Frequent trips with heaps of praise is the
trick. Also -and this *seems* harsh - hold off praise inside the house
during the training. You really want her to connect praise with positive
behavior. Sometimes with puppies, people are so happy to have them that they
lavish them with praise and happiness (they're praise for just looking cute)
so much that when the praise comes for proper elimination either the big
bang of the praise isn't felt, or the connection is confusing.

So - much more frequent trips.

Make the trips out solo.

Save the praise for when there is that proper elimination, and heap it on
immediately!

"Sharon Too" said in
rec.pets.dogs.health:

So - much more frequent trips.

Yes.

Make the trips out solo.

While the new puppy here makes lots of solo trips (Rocky and
Friday certainly don't that many outings), the new dog can learn
*where* to go by following the others. At least, that's the way
it's worked out here, two new dogs in a row.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.

While the new puppy here makes lots of solo trips (Rocky and
Friday certainly don't that many outings), the new dog can learn
*where* to go by following the others. At least, that's the way
it's worked out here, two new dogs in a row.

Works for most puppies, but for some it's overwhealming. Too much going on
around them - confusing commands and praise for a little one still learning
about the world. Clearly for the OP, what they are doing now isn't working
and after frequency, I'd start with solo trips with no confusion.