House Training

Question: Help! trying to house training my new pup in the snow...?

(Posted by: minnie5000 on 2010-02-10 08:43:55)

I live in Maryland and we have had two major snow storms the past week. I got my new puppy right before the first storm.. The snow is about 3' high by now and climbing. The problem is house training her. She will not go to the bathroom outside. She persists going on the floor of my apartment. She apparently hates the snow and throws a barking fit when I bring her outside to go potty. And to top it off, the minute I put her down in the apartment, she relieves herself on the carpet! Anyone have any helpful tips?! I am about to pull my hair out...

Posted by: Chelsa on 2010-02-10, 08:49:14

Shovel out a "potty area " in the yard where the pup can trot around with out having to walk around in deep snow. I have to do it for my full grown dog. He likes to play in it, but potty in it is a different story.

Posted by: Dog Lover on 2010-02-10, 08:49:44

Take her outside in the snow and set her down walk a few feet away and let her follow continue to do so until she at least pees which she will as long as she walks for a bit, ignore the barking you would bark too if you were barefooted in the snow :)

Posted by: chococat on 2010-02-10, 08:50:50

Awww just be patient with your new pup. Maybe you could consider crate training her.

Posted by: anniebnanie on 2010-02-10, 08:58:38

Purchase a kennel and lay out newspaper in one section of it. Eventually she will learn to go on the newspaper, and then not at all in her house. She may cry but that's a sign that she doesn't like being in her mess, which is good. If you also set out times in your day to play with her and take her outside, routines often help in training. I hope this was helpful

Posted by: Haley B on 2010-02-10, 09:01:23

I think you should get a crate - but don't keep her in it for more than a few hours a day and at night while sleeping. You picked the worst time of year to get a puppy! You're going to have to shovel an area for her to potty. If she's cold, try a jacket. Also, puppy paws are so new that the snow might hurt her feet, there are booties you can buy at PETCO for $10 for 12 booties! She may also be too young to be in the snow if she's less than four months. It's all about patience, if she wants to potty inside, try getting peepee pads from the pet store. They have pee scent on them to make them more attractive potty places for puppies. When she goes potty NOT on the pad, you have to catch her mid-potty and pick her up (whether shes done or not) and put her on the pad. Make sure you're not angry or mean when doing this, or she'll be afraid of pottying and not understand that you're merely trying to encourage her to do it in a more appropriate place. Eventually she'll get it, it just takes time. The pads are easy to clean up as they have a plastic backing and are super absorbent. The great thing about these is that once you get her start using them regularly, you can put one outside to get her to move her potty location. Take her immediately from her crate in the morning (when you know she'll have to go the most) and put her on the potty pad outside. This is after you get her to use them well of course. It's all about taking puppy steps, I'm actually going through the EXACT same thing with my puppy right now. It's driving me crazy too, but keep in mind they're babies and don't learn as fast as we wish they did.

Posted by: mom tree on 2010-02-10, 09:02:22

Sadly the only thing you can do is what I have done for years. Central PA here so I understand. What you need to do is take a shovel out every time and plow your pup a place to go that is nearly snow free and do NOT bring her back in until she does her business. Trust me, she may not like the snow right now but she will adjust in time. It's better than the alternative and having her think it's okay to do her business in the house every time the weather is not what she "likes ". It's up to you to be persist ant enough to stick to your guns. She only learns what you are willing to teach her. I currently have a 10 year old dog with arthritis and I too have to go shovel paths for him so I understand.