House training help

[Keepsmiling1]

Hi

We have a 10 week old puppy that has been home with us for 2 weeks. He is my first dog so I'm not really sure what to expect.

He has been doing all poos outside for the past week. Sometimes this is because we have taken him outside and others he has taken himself out (the back door is left open).

However wees are still quite hit and miss. We take him out a lot (after sleeping, playing, when he's sniffing) and often he will have a wee. We then praise him and give him a treat. However he still will go in the house sometimes even if we have just been outside.

Does this sound normal for a 10 week old pup? Do they eventually get that all wees should be outside? I am worried we are only getting so many wees outside because I am taking him out all the time and not because he knows he should wee outside. We are keeping him the back room/kitchen while he isn't house trained and I am getting cabin fever and wondering when we should introduce him to the rest of the house.

Finally, his poos are quite soft and once I've picked it up I have to wash down the grass. Is this normal? I thought it would be hard and easy to pick up.

Sorry for all the questions!

[missbattenburg]

I am worried we are only getting so many wees outside because I am taking him out all the time and not because he knows he should wee outside.

This is right - and how it should be.

He will never learn outside is 'good' and inside is 'bad'. Instead, he will have almost all his wee-ing experiences outside (hopefully) and so it will become habit to go outside and going anywhere else feels wrong, because he's not used to it.

That's what you are aiming for. That's also why it's so important to minimise his chances to wee indoors - because every time he does it builds up a feeling that indoors is as normal as outdoors. You don't want that.

Each dog is different but expect it to take several weeks yet - sometime around 5-6 months old tends to be about when they start to become reliably clean indoors.

[missbattenburg]

Finally, his poos are quite soft and once I've picked it up I have to wash down the grass.

Not totally normal but not unusual for such a young dog. If you are feeding a high qaulity food that suits him, all will be well in time. If it's not then something is up with the food, normally one of...

• low qaulity
• inclues an ingredient that doesn't agree with him
• is fed too much

What are you feeding?

[Wolfiefan]

You need to make sure he’s outside when he needs to go. Not leaving the door open but taking him out on a lead. No treat. Just praise.
Take him out after eating, drinking, sleeping, playing and every half an hour too. If he doesn’t go then keep a close eye and hustle him out when he needs to go.

[Keepsmiling1]

We are feeding him Millie Wolfheart. We changed over from Iams (which is what the breeder weaned him on) last Thursday so he's been eating that for about 4 days now. He seems to really like it and wolfs it down. The feeding guide says between 40g and 120g and at the moment he is having 90g (30g three times a day) and he eats it all. I was worrying about lowering the amount in case he was hungry. His poo has changed from a light brown yellow colour with mucus in to a chocolate brown colour but it is still quite soft and I can't pick it up without leaving some on the ground.

Ok so I should just keep taking him out all the time so he gets the message that all wees should be outside. I think because some friends I know with puppies are saying theirs are taking themselves out for all wees and poos that I worried I was doing something wrong.

[missbattenburg]

All sounds a-ok to me. Millies is a really good food so maybe he just needs time to settle to it.

Agree with wolfie that an open door is no substitute for constant observation and watching the dog for any sign he needs to go out plus taking him out anytime he is likely to go (after sleeping etc etc).

Don't worry, just be consistent and the toilet training will come good.

[Wolfiefan]

Has he had a jab or wormer recently? That can affect tummy! Plus any treats may also upset them.

[Keepsmiling1]

He had his injections and wormer almost 2 weeks ago (due his second set this week) and the only treats I've given him are the Millie's Wolfheart ones. I will give it another few days and see what happens.

Should they be very firm and easy to pick up with no mess left over? If they are then I will mention it to the vet on Tuesday when I take him for his vaccinations.

[missbattenburg]

Should they be very firm and easy to pick up with no mess left over?

That's the ideal. Not least because it keeps his anal glands in good health and prevents you having to empty them. Yuk.

Poos done after excitement and exercise may always be softer.

[Wolfiefan]

Have you kept him on the same food the breeder used? Changing can upset tums. Our breeder also suggested a change in water could upset pup. (We picked her up from the other side of the country!)

[Keepsmiling1]

No we changed food about 4 days ago. We got him from somewhere an hour away so not sure if water would be an issue?

[Wolfiefan]

My pup didn’t have an issue. Did you change straight away? Or gradually?

[Notaboxer]

The poos will firm up, did you change the food gradually? If not it could still be his tummy adjusting. Just make sure he’s drinking lots to compensate.

As for toilet training my pup was probably fully reliable from 5 months. Some days before then were brill others not so much. I was stressing over it but really shouldn’t have done. He’s still so young I’d bet on a good few weeks of the odd accident yet. Mines definitely got the hang of it now and I was just thankful for wood flooring!