12 Week Springer Pup - The Pee Meister

[Tillyboo]

We've had our Springer pup for only 2 days and he's a lovely little chap. Friendly, alert, affectionate BUT he pee's everywhere !

I know it's all new to him and I keep telling myself that but why does he sometimes pee on newspaper, sometimes on the living room carpet and sometimes in the hall.

I take him outside every hour, take him outside after each meal, I keep putting him on his paper as soon as I see him start to pee, I never shout or chastise him etc.
I always praise him when he does pee on the newspaper - which is far away from his crate.

He has only done one pee outside and one poo ! I know it's a tad cold but he's happy to tank around the garden.

I put him in his puppy crate for a while this afternoon, literally after we'd had a run a round the garden for 15 mins (and no poo) and guess what ? He did a poo in his bed. He goes mental for up to half hour if left so I put this episode down to him being a bit upset - he is a big baby and cries when he can't see us.

He was great last night, after he barked, howled and screamed for about 20 mins he slept in his crate all night quite peacfully. We could hear him dreaming and snoring away from upstairs.

So, any tips of the toilet training or ways to get around him getting upset when on his own.

We don't want to shut him in the kitchen but when he spends time with us in the living room you can guarantee he'll have a few tinkles.
Considering the short amount of time he's been here he's doing really well. He was the last of the litter to go, no-one wanted him so he's been in foster homes up until now. His parents and litter were an RSPCA case so he hasn't had the best start bless him.

Hello Tillyboo

Sounds like he's had quite an unsettled start so he might well be confused about where exactly he should do his wees and poos!

At this age they can also, like small children, get so excited by everything else going on that they forget to do it when they're outside.

The important thing is to be kind, patient and consistent. Springers are intelligent and he'll soon pick it up.

Try giving him a teeny treat and masses of praise when he does it where he should, and just totally ignore it when he does it elsewhere.

IMHO training them to pee on newspaper isn't ideal as they can get confused and may always pee on paper, even when they are fully house trained.

As far as leaving him on his own, start with very short periods and gradually work up.

2 days in is very very early days but this time next week he will have made some progress

Thanks Bella, he's such a lovely little chap I can't get cross with him but it's flippin hard work all this mopping up - I've spent most of the day on my hands and knees mopping the floor

He's currently asleep at my feet and very contented.

I'll keep you posted

It will get better, honest. At the start it seems as if they pee more indoors than out, but it does all shift round, honest. One day you will suddenly realise he's done all his wees outside and you will be truly overjoyed.

Ah, the simple pleasures of puppy ownership...