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GSPIowa

Posts:4

08/14/2012 5:03 PM
Hello all, I've read some really great advice on this site, and am hoping some of you can offer some to me. I am the very proud owner of a 3 month old shorthair that I've had since he was 7 weeks. He is well behaved, potty training is going well, and overall, he is an excellent pup in excellent health. About 2-3 times a week, when I get home (at lunch or at the end of the day), he has peed his crate (on the towel I leave in there for comfort)- at what point in the day I'm not 100% sure. Other than that, he never pees in it. I think it may be some anxiety from me leaving, but he is also so small he may not have great bladder control yet. I have been crate training him since I got him, and for the most part he is comfortable in his crate. The only time he doesn't like it (that I know) is when I have to put him in there to do some housecleaning, or eat dinner. I've followed the crate training suggestions closely - not giving him too much space, giving him a kong to play with, making sure he pees before going in there, restricting water before going in the crate, etc. During the week, I work 8-5 - I come home for work at noon to let him out, pee and play. A neighbor lets him out at 10:00 and 3:00 to pee and play; so he is let out about every 2 hours. Has anyone else experienced this? Do you have any advice? Is it something he will grow out of? I am concerned that he may make a habit of peeing in his crate.

smatulewicz User is Offline

Michigan

MH
Posts:1194

08/14/2012 10:23 PM
Hi there, and welcome! At 3 months your pup is still learning to control his bladder. Most accidents at this age aren't a result of lack of wanting to go outside or out of the crate, it's a result of a physical inability to hold it. Most dogs innately do not want to mess in their "den" (their crate), which is why crate training works so well for most. But, he may just not be quite able to go the full 2 hours just yet (even though he is probably lasting that long during the night hours...he is more inactive, mentally and physically...vs just being physically inactive during the day). Having a neighbor help out is a great option...and he will build his bladder control with time! At that age, when she was active...Bella still needed a potty break every 15-30 minutes...and maybe ever hour to two hours if she was napping. I worried for a while she wasn't giving herself the chance to learn to "hold it"... but like a switch, one day she just seemed to grow up on me and the control was there. Don't fret. It sounds like you are doing everything right. Make sure you clean up accidents immediately. Never make him rest or wait in a mess (once you have found it). Wash bedding, and don't leave anything in there that may retain any urine traces...as the smell alone can trigger them to need or want to go. Try giving him a little more space with a puppy pad in the back that you can transition out after he builds more control. He's just a baby! Hang in there

GSPIowa

Posts:4

08/15/2012 9:12 AM
Thank you for the advice and reassurance. Some other people have told me similar things, but I think it's best to hear from a person that acutally owns a shorthair.

DoubleR

Northeast FL

Posts:17

08/15/2012 1:05 PM
Wow....VERY similar to what we were experiencing with our 3 month old (3 months old as of 8/10/12). He was definitely potty trained, and would only pee in his crate during the workday. He also would only pee on the towel and/or shirt that we left in there for comfort. We knew he could likely hold it for longer than we were leaving him in there, and we actually left him in there for about four hours. On a whim, I decided to take out the towel/shirt and see what would happen. He's only had one crate accident since, and unfortunately I knew it was going to happen. He was in there for about 4.5 hours in the afternoon and had a large amount of water during the lunch hour when he was out of his crate. SO - since your pup is only in his/her crate for two hours or so at a time, the bladder should definitely be developed enough by three months to hold it for that period of time. Try taking out the item that your pup is peeing on and see if that works for you. It did for us!

smatulewicz User is Offline

Michigan

MH
Posts:1194

08/15/2012 5:04 PM
Most research I read while potty training as I too wondered what my expectations should be, believed that most puppies begin developing the ability to have some control at 12 weeks. So you're just at that transition, which is why I say give it a little more time. All dogs mature at their own pace. @DoubleR. If your pup was soiling just the items that smelled like you I wonder if there was some separation anxiety. Most dogs I have known with cases of SA usually soiled or chewed only items that were the owner's. My nephew dog used to chew up my sister in law's clothing... Anything that smelt like her. Sounds like what you did helped. Hope he is doing better now! Mine chewed up her first non toy item today (couch pillow) as I have gone back to work after being home with her all summer

dgsorensen User is Offline

JH
Posts:27

08/16/2012 8:25 AM
Have the same problem with mine who's 17 weeks. We tried some things which helped for a while but he's reverted back to going in his crate. We didn't get him till he was 10 weeks and I think he picked up some bad habbits at the breeder that we are going to be difficult to break. He's a beautiful dog from a good bloodline but I have a bad feeling the breeder cleaned the kennel because he knew we were coming. It probably isn't kept as clean as it was when we were there (we had to bath him 5 times before to get the smell off him). Talked to the vet and he's got a perfect bill of health so it's just a mental thing at this point. Vet said just give him times, once he matures he should grow out of it. Right now he just acts on impulse when he feel he has to go.

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7850

08/16/2012 10:46 AM
dgsorensen - I agree with your vet, time and consistency on your part will eventually get you there. Unfortunately if the breeder didn't keep them in a clean area he has learned to live in his own mess. That makes it so much harder for the puppy buyer. Puppies are allot of work for breeders, but that is absolutely no excuse for keeping them in filth. I used what amounted to litter boxes for my litter and those little stinkers went home pretty close to housebroken. They are very smart and learn quickly, so I don't think it will take your pup long to figure it out.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

DuckFever

Central Oregon

MH
Posts:321

08/16/2012 8:55 PM
As has been said, he's still learning bladder control. 12 weeks (3 months) is about the time they start to gain full control so it shouldn't be too long before it stops. I'm pretty sure he doesn't enjoy sitting in a crate with his excrement, so as soon as he can control it, I'm sure he will. Good luck.

The worst day of hunting is better than the best day at work.

therozypozy User is Offline

MH
Posts:470

08/17/2012 8:11 AM
I work too so it always seems t take me a bit longer to fully train my dogs. My youngest puppy just got so excited when the other dogs would bark because they could hear my car drive into the driveway. She just could not hold it and put all that effort into dancing around her crate in excitement. And I am a believer that you train a dog to go potty on command. That takes time, but it can be done. We train our dogs for obedience and agility and you do not want them to soil in the rings because you will be disqualified, not to mention you just don't want it to happen anyway. So teaching them the "go potty" works great. It is one trick my friends who are pet owners are in awe about, that and that they will load up in their crates on command and are really excited about that too. Time and patience will pay off in the end.

smatulewicz User is Offline

Michigan

MH
Posts:1194

08/18/2012 4:27 PM
SO glad Bella picked up on pottying on command. We didn't initially actively train it, but once I realized she put two and two together...I used/use it a lot. She just "got it" because every time she went outside we'd so "go potty" and then "good potty" after the deed. To differentiate, "good poop" for pooping. She now pottys on command which does come in very handy (and you're right...does impress people lol). Every now and then I can even get her to poop on command (but not always, because obviously summoning up a good poo isn't as easy as urine lol). Watch out for the fake squat though! She thinks she's so clever sometimes

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