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New Golden Owner

972 views 20 replies 15 participants last post by  Maxs Mom 
#1 ·
My name is Renee and my husband and I just got our first puppy, a golden retriever. She is 15 weeks old today. We've only had cats, so I know very little about dogs, but we crammed on puppy info and learned everything we can. Unfortunately, things still aren't going too well and the most important thing is that Josie (the puppy) has not been housebroken. I'm trying to do everything right. I've got her crated when she is unattended. I take her outside. We have tried puppy pads, but she eats them. All I can figure is that I am not taking her out frequently enough. At the moment, we are getting the rain bands from TS Hermine and it is awful out there, "Fit for neither man nor beast." So, yeah, trying to do it every couple of hours, but perhaps need to be doing it more? From what I've read, at nearly four months, she should be able to hold it for 3-4 hours, but perhaps that is incorrect? I also read that she will be reluctant to go in her crate, but that is apparently untrue. Can anyone offer some good solid advice? I adore her and she is wonderful, but this new mommy is VERY frustrated. It's not her fault. It's partly Hermine to blame, but am starting to consider taking puppy pads to the garage, walk her out there every 30 minutes, wait with her for 5-10 and then come back in. Please suggest anything you can!

Renee
 
#2 ·
Welcome to the forum. Love her name.

Have you had any success along the way? I'm wondering if she has an ongoing UTI? Not terribly uncommon in puppies.

You say you 'just got her'. At 15 months? What was her background prior to you having her? Housebreaking is more than how long they can hold it. It's more about learning what it 'inside' and what is 'outside'. She may not have any previous training so you would have to treat her like a younger pup. Hopefully, the storm will pass in a couple of days. I suggest then you start taking her out every 30 minutes. Praise Praise Praise when she goes outside. Also after every play session and when she wakes up from every nap. For a while, at least, your life will be centered around watching Josie.
 
#5 ·
She's 15 WEEKS, so almost 4 months. We got her from someone who had her for ONE WEEK and decided not to keep her. Prior to that, she was with a breeder. We've only had her for a few days. Since Saturday. So, I will start taking her out more often! And praise her. When we go out, she mostly just plays, even if I keep her on the leash. Is that ok? I mean, puppies aren't really known for their ability to focus...lol....
 
#3 ·
Welcome! I'm sorry you are going thru this with your new puppy. I promise you it will get better. There is a lot of knowledge on this forum. It sure makes it tough when the weather doesn't cooperate for you. I got my first puppy in the cold winter months and I took her down the basement in the laundry room next to the floor drain and told her to go potty down there. We only did that when the weather was really nasty outside. Your garage may be a good option. Maybe put the puppy pad in a rubber/plastic pan? Make sure you monitor her water intake and pull it several hours before bed time. I'm sure there will be a lot more suggetions here so good luck. We look forward to more stories and pictures.
 
#4 ·
Others have commented in other posts that trying to train them to go outside and also on pads in the house can confuse them, you might want to do away with the pads all together and just focus on outside if you can.

We bought a bag of pads when we first got ours and we wound up not using any of them, they are going in the garage sale.
 
#7 ·
I actually put newspaper down (this was 16 years ago). She did really well. I was very lucky. I would say at least a couple hours before she goes to bed I would stop her water.
 
#8 ·
No matter what age you can always go back to square one in housetraining, it is just harder. Find one place you want her to go. Always go to that same area. Use some special words like go potty. If she doesn't go, go back inside to the crate. Then 10 or 15 minutes later o out again--yes even in the rain and snow. Do the same thing. When she does go be sure to praise and treat her (whatever treat she really likes). Watch for the signs -- walking in circles, sniffing. Don't let her out of your sight. Keep her on a leash tied to you or in the crate (small is better or at least part of it cut off so she can't use it all). Go out at least every hour until you are getting good results and be sure to clean up where she went in the house with water and white vinegar or something like natures miracle or the other enzyme agents. Obviously no one has worked with her on this, so it is like she is a very young puppy, and you just begin at the beginning. She should get it in a week or so, at least in general.
 
#10 ·
Aww, poor girl. She's gotten off to a rough start. I'll bet she's totally confused by now. People have been kind of a big disappointment to her so far.

She'll get it, it just needs time and patience. And lots of love, which you are obviously giving her. :smooch:

Hope your weather is improving. I think Hermine is going to get to Michigan on Saturday...just in time to spoil a day trip to a barbecue festival we had planned.

p.s. Of all the places I've been in Texas, I love the Banderas area the best. It feels like the real Texas deal. Is that near you?
 
#11 ·
puppy pads

My golden, Piper, also ate his puppy pads. He never ever used them, not even once. I also thought they were very expensive.

After trying that three or four times, I gave up and went back to the basics which included always taking him out the same door to the same general spot in the side yard. I took Piper out probably once every hour but always when he just woke up from a nap which I found to be the time he always needed to go.

After about four to five days, he got it !

What size is your crate? If the crate is too big for the puppy, the puppy may be tempted to go inside of it. Might try blocking it off with just enough space for her to turn around and lie down comfortably.

If she has gone from breeder to someone else and then to you all in a span of about eight or nine days, she may not realize that she's home.

Puppies can be so easily confused. It may take her a week or so to feel like she's where she's wanted.
 
#12 ·
I currently am training my foster pup who is abot the same age as yours. I have 2 Golden's that are both less than 2 years old, so I have gone through the housebreaking 3 times. I would suggest you bring her out much more often at first. No matter how old she is, she is new at housebreaking. I would also get rid of the puppy pads. Take her out every hour at first, then try slowly cutting back as she beconmes sucessful (more frequently if she is unsuccessful). Make a HUGE deal when she pee pees ot poops outside, with treats. 3 hours is too long to expect her to wait during the day. At night you could wait alittle longer. If she doesnt go in her crate, then wait 4 hours and take her out beofre putting her back to bed.
 
#13 ·
Aw, he'll get it! Just try to be consistent.

I hate to say it, but I took Baxter out every 30 minutes for the first day, then every 45 minutes for a few days after that, and then every hour for a little bit after that. I was a little over the top...but I set my alarm to make it happen and even carried Baxter outside in my pajamas at times. :)

Hang in there! It'll happen! Make sure to praise and use the key phrase as Ian'sgran suggested. I also announced [cheerfully] "let's go outside!" and he eventually connected "outside" with going out.
 
#16 ·
Yep, every 20 minutes for Molly after meals and drinking water until she did her thing. Always said "Let's go potty" when going outside and LOTS of praise when she did what she was supposed to. During the day I kept an eagle eye on her and if she so much as did half a circle with her nose to the ground we were outside. If we were outside just playing and she went potty I would praise her for "going potty". During the night I would get up every 3-4 hours and take her out and then put her right back in her crate. I did this with Mosby as well. They both caught on super quick and the only time there were accidents was when I wasn't around and depended on other family members to watch them. ;-) I swear it took less than 2 weeks for them to be fully trained although I continued taking them out during the night until they were well over 4 months old. Good luck!
 
#17 ·
I'm sure everyone already said this but as Emma is almost 4 months old the potty training is fresh to us. We took her out very frequently. Almost every 20 minutes. Take her to the same spot every time. Say "go potty" when she goes we always praised her and gave her a treat afterward. It seemed like Emma might not ever "get it" but she did!!!! We never bothered with "pads". Don't give up. Goldens are the very BEST. I was/get discouraged too as our first Golden was so easy. But it's all worth it....
 
#18 ·
Hello!! My puppy is also a Josie!!! I have 2 suggestions for the potty training - make sure her crate isn't too big. It should be just big enough for her to turn around. Also, try clicker training. (A clicker costs about $2 at Petsmart). It really worked for me. Take her to the potty spot and as soon as she's done, click and treat. Make a really big deal about it too, like a party. Pretty soon, she be looking right at you while she goes, waiting for that click, treat and praise.
Just be patient, and consistent, and she'll pick it up. Good luck, and please post some pics!
 
#19 ·
Oh, I didn't say before but while we got the puppy we have now as a baby, our first Golden we got when he was 4 months and he had been through something like your baby. He was pretty much not house trained when we got him, and was doing quite well within a couple of weeks. Just took lots of constant attention. Oh, he you see her starting to pee or poo shout no, pick up and go outside as fast as possible. She will most likely stop as soon as you shout in a high voice and pick up. Don't be discourage by set backs, I think 6 months or more is the time you can say they are really house broken. Never correct for accidents you are not actually seeing happen. They have such short memories they don't get it.
 
#20 ·
Congratulations on your new puppy. Just reconfirming what everyone else has said - take her out often. I agree with every 30 minutes at first, then maybe move to 45 min. This way she gets into the routine of going out the same doors, going to the same spot etc. Don't do a lot of playing, or anything to get her excited so she forgets why she is out there. Just say - "let's go potty" (or whatever your cue word is), take her out to the same spot, repeat the phrase. If she doesn't go within 5 min. take her back inside and try again a short while later. For the next few weeks you really won't be able to sit down and enjoy TV, etc., as you will always be getting up to take her outside. But don't worry, it will get better. Also, don't be surprised if she is outside playing for a long time and then the minute she comes into the house she pee's on the floor. She only has one thing on her mind when she is outside - that is playing. As soon as they come into the house, they relax a bit, and then the accident happens. I use to give them a few minutes after bringing them in from play, and then quitely take them back outside to go pee.
 
#21 ·
Sorry you acquired a pup just before a hurricane, that would NOT be fun. Oh but your puppy will be.

Using the crate, all that is the right thing. Unfortunately whatever she knew before you got her, probably went out the window with her new home. However if she had any understanding before, she should adjust and catch on quickly. One thing, I know you have the storm so that is going to make things hard for a while. Do whatever you can under the circumstances. However when the storm passes, be consistent about when and where you take the pup. Always use the same door, the door you want the pup to use. And of course... make the silly fuss when they do their duties where you want them to. Yes your neighbors will think you are nuts, unless you have dog neighbors like we do.

If you get that pup out at LEAST once an hour, and more if she is playing hard, it will get better quickly. At 4 months my pups can go longer, your pup just needs to learn and adjust. Once you get into a routine you can start to stretch it.

Someone suggested a UTI. Not something to rule out. Frequent peeing, or trying to pee without luck can be signs of a UTI. Pretty common in female pups due to the style in which the pee.

Good luck... The pup does not want to go out any more than you do. She would rather go inside where it is dry. Sorry....
 
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