Q: Hello, I’m writing because i'm at my wits end with my dog. She is around 4 months old Bassett/Beagle mix and we are having constant (daily) potty training problems. My boys, the dog and us play outside a lot of the day and yet she still waits until she’s inside to go pee/poop despite the fact that when I see her go outside I praise her like she won the lottery, and punish her when she poops inside. I know there’s a difference in the training, but i've trained other dogs in my life and have a degree in training horses yet this 15lb dog is beyond my last measures. I feed her on a schedule, and let her out after she eats, but its not working. Is there any classes for this kind of thing? Do you know what I can do? I should also mention she sleeps in a crate and is in it if we are not home (which isn’t very often), but I don’t know how to potty train using a crate and have actually heard that you shouldn’t use a crate as a potty training tool. Please point me in the right direction of how to solve this for both our sakes!
Thanks


A: The crate should never be used as a form of punishment . The crate is there "safe haven" or quiet place from commotion. Remember, dogs are den animals. They prefer small confined spaces as apposed to wide large open areas. The crate, is not just used for potty training, it is used  for stability.

The crate can be used in the aid of potty / house training training, but you must keep it a positive thing. The space in the crate that your dog occupies should only be as large as the dog is wide. For instance: look straight at your dog from head to tail, if you measured him or her from left to right now how wide is he? 12, 14 inches maybe.

If your crate is the Midwest Wire type, you can purchase a panel that allows the crate space to grow with your dog. If you have the plastic Vari Kennel or Pet mate type, you can use boxes or cardboard again to block off the back of the crate. You only want enough room in the front of the crate from the door to the blocked portion to allow your dog to stand up and turn around, that's it. Anymore room, and now the dog has room for error. Dogs will seek out the furthest place to urinate and defecate from the places where they sleep and eat.

Always remain consistent with potty training this is the effective key to success. Repetitive routine is what your dog will remember. Anytime you put the dog in the crate, make sure that you take her outside first to allow her to relieve herself.


So if you are outside playing with the dog activity will stimulate the bowels. Return into the house with your dog, then hook the dog up on leash, and now take the dog outside to do her business. ON LEASH, walk her to a designated area where you would like her to consistently go, give her a command, we use the word "potty" 3 times fast in a high pitched tone ( "potty, potty, potty) and then say nothing else ! Keep the dog on leash while she's sniffing an area to go. BE PATIENT, far to often people are in a hurry , lose patience and say " but my dog won't go on leash " and then let them off, and this is where the problems occur because the dog has no concept now of what it should be doing.


Hold your ground and stand still don't let the dog walk you all around the yard Circle the dog  just like you would a horse on lead. Really watch your dog. Look for movements of sniffing the ground quickly, they will start with a large area of sniffing within the length of the leash. Then they will move back and forth very quickly and finally a quick circle and then they are done. Make sure if the dog only urinates, still say nothing until they have also defecated , then praise.” Good Potty" Incorporate whatever command you used in the praise so that the dog understands what they've just done ( Good, marks the actions, potty, reinforces the command) Return to the house and once inside, you may give the dog a treat as a reward.

Accidents happen, so really watch for those signs indoors that she has to go outside. ( the sniffing, circling and fast paced back and forth) keep the leash on her while inside for now until she learns for easy access and try to catch her BEFORE she goes. If you see the signs take her outside immediately and repeat the above process. Do NOT rush over to your dog and start yelling "NO: STOP" this startle effect will now just frighten your dog, and make them afraid to potty in your presence, then she will seek out the furthest place FROM you to go ( like behind the couch or in another room ) Stay calm, pick up the leash and say " C'mon, lets go out" and keep the tone positive.

IF she has an accident in the house, and you did not see her do it, it's already to late to correct her. Dogs have no true concept of time. Do not rub her nose in it, or strike the dog for doing bad. She has no clue what she's done wrong.

Simply just clean it up.