[Tadsa]

Hi All

I wonder if anyone can help with my problem? I have a 4 month old Golden boy who has been house trained since 10 weeks. However, we have left the door open since having him and he has taken himself outside. Well now that the weather is getting worse we would like to shut the back door but he just will not ask to go out. If the door is not open he just goes anywhere! Any ideas?

Thanks in advance

 

[dlassell]

I know several people who use a bell at the door. You hang the bell (you know the type used at Xmas time) on the door knob and every time you take your boy out you ring the bell. Eventually he will associate the bell with going out and he'll "paw" the bell when he needs to go.

Hope that helps

 

[LucysDad]

We have a bell at the back door and have even moved that bell to various doors and Lucy goes up and hits it with her nose. It's in a side laundry room, so she'll hit the bell and then run out and wait for us and if no one comes, she runs back and hits the bell again. It's so cute when she does it. To get him to ring the bell you can first teach him to hit the bell and give her a treat. Then hang it on the door and when he hits it, let him out and he'll associate a little faster.

That's what works for us. She usually just has to see grass through a sliding door or window at other people's house now and she'll sit and wimper at the door.

Hope that helps; good luck!

 

[LibertyME]

He hasnt been trained to 'ask' and his bladder hasnt been trained to hold it until someone with thumbs can open the door. He has had the luxury of coming and going when he had any sort of urge...

Gotta start at the begining and treat him like an 8 week old puppy..

Keep him in sight...watch him like a hawk...can almost guarantee he is giving signals...but they might not be obvious enough for you to notice-yet, in all likelyhood he is sniffing for a couple of steps... or circling.. or glancing at the door...or coming to you for a second before wandering off to pee...start studying him...
If you catch him with the pee coming out of his body...interrupt him and scoot him outdoors...Have a happy-party when he pees outside....
Clean up his indoor pee with an enzymatic cleaner..

 

[NuttinButGoldens]

If the yard is fenced and well protected, any chance of putting in a Dog Door? That's what I did. It has completely negated any potty issues at our house.

And as far as asking, Gilmour has no issues with this LOL

He is gated in the bedroom with me at night. He's still too young, and far too destructive to let run the house on his own.

If he has to go, he thumps himself on top of me. He folds his legs back and puts his chest on top of mine. Looks kinda like a big seal coming up on the beach

And he starts doing "happy breathing" right in my face until I wake up.

 

[Tailer'sFolks]

Good Luck! I liked the comment...ya have to start training him like he's an 8 week old pup...watch for the signals...small body movements are all I get with Tailer...we are very tuned to each others movements!

When I have combed my hair in the morning, just finished braiding it and put the clip on to hold it all together, Tailer's up n dancing to go out...He know's I"M ready! Silly Dog!

Sometimes I wish he would give me a little bark or whine if he has to go...especially if I am sleeping...poor guy has gotten sick (~6x's in 4 years) during the night and goes right to the door...leaving me a package of one kind or another...I'd be happy to go out anytime of the day or night...if I just knew!

Routine, schedule, repetitive habits...that has worked for us!

 

[NapaValleyGolden]

Good Luck! I liked the comment...ya have to start training him like he's an 8 week old pup...watch for the signals...small body movements are all I get with Tailer...we are very tuned to each others movements!

Routine, schedule, repetitive habits...that has worked for us!

I agree, this is what works for us also. Cody doesn't let me know by a bark, whine, etc. I have learned his body language and also his schedule. If he is in the room with me he will stop what he is doing and walk over to the entrance, sit down and stare at me. That is my cue to let him out.