| I have two Maltese pups, and the process of house | | | | mountain lions in the backyard. I was somewhat |
| training puppies was completely different for each one. | | | | resigned to daily spills and had a roll of paper towels |
| Each pup has her own personality, and will respond | | | | and urine cleaner spray in every room. In fact, the |
| differently to situations, just like a child. You have to | | | | problem was so bad, we began considering getting rid |
| have a lot of patience when it comes to house training | | | | of Sophie. This problem was so huge, we felt we |
| puppies. Sometimes it just doesn't go as smoothly as | | | | were unable to solve it despite our best efforts, and |
| you would like! Sometimes, all it takes is a weekend, | | | | had pretty much given up hope. |
| and other dogs struggle for months (and months). If | | | | Later that summer, we had a vacation planned and |
| your puppies spend a lot of time indoors, that might | | | | had asked a friend to pet sit for us while we were |
| also mean a lot of your time will be spent cleaning up | | | | away. I was embarrassed to have explained the |
| messes. | | | | cleanup procedures necessary for the weekend. I |
| For my first puppy, Emma, the house training went well. | | | | showed her how we used the puppy training pads for |
| We used puppy training pads at a couple of spots | | | | one dog, but the other dog wasn't really responding to |
| throughout the house (an first floor and second floor | | | | that. She seemed to be totally fine with it, and asked if |
| option) and she easily adapted to the routine after | | | | she could bring over her dog to play with mine, which |
| crate training. Now she happily goes on her own to the | | | | seemed like a fine idea. |
| designated spot when it's time to go. When I see her, I | | | | When we got home from our trip, I was extremely |
| still praise her and sometimes offer treats, so the | | | | surprised to find that over the course of the weekend, |
| positive reinforcement is still there for her. So that | | | | our second dog had gotten potty trained! What had |
| situation worked perfectly. | | | | happened was my friend took her dog outside each |
| When we decided Emma needed a playmate, we got | | | | morning to use the toilet, and while Emma played on |
| her a little sister. Thinking we'd just repeat the training | | | | the patio, Sophie actually went right alongside the older |
| process and presto! Two dogs perfectly potty trained! | | | | dog, and went potty right with her. Each day we were |
| However, that is not how things went. Try as we did, | | | | gone, my friend repeated this process, and each time |
| the second puppy, named Sophie just didn't seem to | | | | Sophie responded with a deposit. While we had been |
| get the concept. At all. Sometimes she would go on | | | | struggling for months to get Sophie potty trained |
| the puppy training pads, other times on the carpet. It | | | | indoors, it just wasn't working. It turns out that Sophie |
| seemed completely random. As you can imagine, we | | | | just needed a change in the routine to something |
| were frustrated to no end. We kept up the house | | | | better suited for her. |
| training puppies routine we had developed with Emma, | | | | That was pretty much the end of the potty problems! |
| but it just wasn't taking hold for the second puppy. In | | | | It is so funny that it took a simple change in the routine, |
| fact, we had even perfected the routine since we'd | | | | and that made all the difference in the world to her. If |
| learned so much the first time around. I was destined | | | | you are struggling with house training puppies, perhaps |
| to many months of puddles in places I did not want to | | | | you should try to change things up a bit, and see if |
| see them. Does this sound familiar? If so, you can | | | | your dog responds better to a new method. It could be |
| probably agree how incredibly frustrating it is! | | | | the trick that does it! You just never know what one |
| The problem was a constant one, and there seemed | | | | dog prefers, might be different for another dog. If |
| to be no solution in sight. The dogs were clearly indoor | | | | you've been cleaning up puddles for months, you've |
| dogs, too small and fragile to be left outside, especially | | | | probably got nothing to lose, so give something else a |
| as we have deer, coyotes and the occasional | | | | try! |