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Maisie, my five-month-old puppy, has been completely accident-free in our large kitchen for several months. (She's never had an accident in her crate.) We introduced her to the rest of the first floor of our house where she had two accidents, but then seemed to "get it" that she should go to the kitchen door and jingle her bells to let us know she needs to go outside. She even had perfect behavior during a small dinner get-together we had with friends in the dining room.
But, a few days later while my husband and I were in the dining room, she went into the adjoining living room and pooped. We should have been watching her more closely -- she clearly isn't ready to range freely, but she didn't give any sign that she needed to go out. So, we took a few steps back, confined her (and us) to the kitchen, then allowed her access to other rooms on the first floor under close supervision, sometimes tethered to one of us, sometimes with one of us watching her by trailing after her. She peed on the dining romm rug, I think because she couldn't get to the kitchen door fast enough. I caught her, said, "No," swooped her up and she finished outside where I praised her and gave her a treat.
I'm planning to re-introduce her to just the dining room (adjacent to the kitchen) under supervision. And then when she's completely solid there, add on the living room, then the family room. Is that the right way to approach this? Is there a better way?
I should add that we're very careful to completely clean up the few accidents she's had using an enzyme cleaner. She's not re-visiting any of the accident spots. Also, although she's 5 months old, she's a bit petite at 35 pounds (if that matters). And, I think she's fairly smart -- she's solid on sit and down, good on come, working on heel, wait and leave it, and has learned to shake paws.
But, a few days later while my husband and I were in the dining room, she went into the adjoining living room and pooped. We should have been watching her more closely -- she clearly isn't ready to range freely, but she didn't give any sign that she needed to go out. So, we took a few steps back, confined her (and us) to the kitchen, then allowed her access to other rooms on the first floor under close supervision, sometimes tethered to one of us, sometimes with one of us watching her by trailing after her. She peed on the dining romm rug, I think because she couldn't get to the kitchen door fast enough. I caught her, said, "No," swooped her up and she finished outside where I praised her and gave her a treat.
I'm planning to re-introduce her to just the dining room (adjacent to the kitchen) under supervision. And then when she's completely solid there, add on the living room, then the family room. Is that the right way to approach this? Is there a better way?
I should add that we're very careful to completely clean up the few accidents she's had using an enzyme cleaner. She's not re-visiting any of the accident spots. Also, although she's 5 months old, she's a bit petite at 35 pounds (if that matters). And, I think she's fairly smart -- she's solid on sit and down, good on come, working on heel, wait and leave it, and has learned to shake paws.