Multiple Problems with Border Terrier.

[spogluv20]

I just recently bought a Border Terrier (last week). He just turned three months old. We've been having a lot of trouble trying to potty-train him, some of which was our fault though.

Here's the breakdown:

1.) First day we got him, pooped on the floor, within the first 5 minutes of being let out. Made no sound whatsoever to indicate that he had to go.
But, then we took him outside, and he proceeded to poop and pee.
That first night, he peed several times in his cage (the cage is smallish, and only big enough for him to turn around in as advised to me)

2.)We had to bring him back to our house (we bought him in a different state). He did fine the whole trip. He used the bathroom at the rest stops, and had no accidents in the car, although he was out.

3.) We were finally back home. We let him get familiarized with his surroundings, then took him out. We stayed out for about 15 minutes, walking him around the yard. He did nothing. About 20 minutes later, he came in and soiled the floor. We took him out, and he finished. Without having eaten anything, 30 minutes later, he soiled the carpet again.

That night, he peed in his cage several times

4.) In the morning, we took him out. He peed. Then, less than 5 minutes of coming back in, he pooped on the carpet. We started doing rigorous potty training. Taking him out every hour on the hour. The rest of the day went smoothly. He had no accidents.

5.) We took him out in the morning again. He peed. Then, when we finally brought him back in, he pooped. That was our mistake though, we should have learned that he'll have to do a lot in the morning.

We got advice that told us for when he's out and about the house, leash him, so that we are wherever he is. We did. After taking him out less than 20 minutes ago, once, he pooped right in front of me (on the leash). The second time, it was nearing his time to go out, he peed right in front of me as well, on the carpet.

Today is Day 6, and we thought we had done everything correctly. We took him out this morning, and waited for him to poop AND pee, then we brought him back in, and he drunk and ate a little. Then, we put him in his cage so we could get ready. Less than 5 minutes later, I caught him peeing in the cage.

I thought puppies weren't okay with going potty in the same place that they sleep in?

Please help us. :mad: My mother is not a dog person, and is threatening to give him away if he is not potty trained in another week.

(Edit: Another problem he has is biting. But we won't go into that)

[Dekka]

Well first of all its sounds like you just got him. A move to a new house is pretty stressful, and a very big change. What was his living situation before you brought him home? It can take a while for some dogs to get house trained, ask her how long it took to potty train you :D! Did that only take a week, and you are a human!! And while yes you are right most don't soil where they sleep, if the crate is too big, or he's still to stressed with the change it can happen.

As to biting...its what puppies do. Check out bite inhibition stuff by Ian Dunbar...there is lots out there on the net about it.

[spogluv20]

Well first of all its sounds like you just got him. A move to a new house is pretty stressful, and a very big change. What was his living situation before you brought him home? It can take a while for some dogs to get house trained, ask her how long it took to potty train you :D! Did that only take a week, and you are a human!! And while yes you are right most don't soil where they sleep, if the crate is too big, or he's still to stressed with the change it can happen.

As to biting...its what puppies do. Check out bite inhibition stuff by Ian Dunbar...there is lots out there on the net about it.

Thank you for your reply! As for his living condition, the people we bought from were casual breeders. Basically, they had a female border terrier and a male border terrier, and they mated them. So essentially, when we got there, the mom, the dad, and five puppies were running around in a little family-pack.

He was supposedly trained to go on Wee Pads (in his previous home).

As for the crate, it is rather big. For now, we switched him to his travel kennel. Well, I hope he gets the hang of it soon. :confused:

[girlbuffalo1]

The crate may need to be even smaller---Wrigley is about the size of a border terrier and when he was a pup we had a crate with a divider in it..I would say he only had around 18 inches by 7inches. Do you have any bedding in it? If so take it all out.
Have you caught him in the act? Do you correct him (say no or uh-uh) and take him out to finish and then praise.
Make sure you are praising every time he goes--seriously lavishly over do it for the first few weeks.

I find it hard to believe that he is having so many accidents if someone is staring at him constantly. I mean staring!

I would say when we had Wrigley--if he went to the other side of the chair and I couldn't see him I was telling him to come or moving myself to see what he was up to.....I know it gets annoying as you can't even watch TV or go to the bathroom yourself--but it's worth it!

[spogluv20]

The crate may need to be even smaller---Wrigley is about the size of a border terrier and when he was a pup we had a crate with a divider in it..I would say he only had around 18 inches by 7inches. Do you have any bedding in it? If so take it all out.
Have you caught him in the act? Do you correct him (say no or uh-uh) and take him out to finish and then praise.
Make sure you are praising every time he goes--seriously lavishly over do it for the first few weeks.

I find it hard to believe that he is having so many accidents if someone is staring at him constantly. I mean staring!

I would say when we had Wrigley--if he went to the other side of the chair and I couldn't see him I was telling him to come or moving myself to see what he was up to.....I know it gets annoying as you can't even watch TV or go to the bathroom yourself--but it's worth it!


Yup. Especially this morning, I caught him red-handed. And he continued to pee.

Yes, staring! He'll squat right there, while I'm staring at him. I don't know what to do. I don't want to put him back in his other cage, because he may pee in it again because of the smell. I don't want to let him out yet, because he just had a bathroom trip. Obviously though, I have to let him out sometimes. I can't keep him caged all day.

[girlbuffalo1]

Most folks on here won't agree with this approach but with Wrigley if I caught him in the act I immediately picked him up by his scruff, sternly said "NO" and went outside with him put him in the grass and let him finish--to which I would praise. You do pick him up when he starts his squat, say some sort of correction and take him outside right?

[Herschel]

Yup. Especially this morning, I caught him red-handed. And he continued to pee.

Yes, staring! He'll squat right there, while I'm staring at him. I don't know what to do. I don't want to put him back in his other cage, because he may pee in it again because of the smell. I don't want to let him out yet, because he just had a bathroom trip. Obviously though, I have to let him out sometimes. I can't keep him caged all day.

He doesn't know that he isn't supposed to go to the bathroom in the house because you haven't taught him.

Don't give him the opportunity to have any accidents. Keep a notebook and log each time that he eats a meal and each time that he goes #1 or #2.[B] For now, [B]take him outside every 30 minutes. Each time he goes to the bathroom outside, give him some treats and a lot of praise. It might be good to mark the behavior with a command such as go out. Try taking him out every 30 minutes (on a timer) for a week, you will quickly see that he has a schedule and you just need to respond better to that. Make sure you walk him when you take him out, don't just stand there or let him off of his leash. No playing until he goes to bathroom (#1 and #2)--and don't let him come back inside without going.

For example, you take him out at 8:00 a.m. He goes #1 and #2, you say "Good go out! Good boy!!!" and give him a treat. He comes inside, feed him and interact with him, and make sure to write that he went #1, #2, and ate. At 8:30, take him out again. After he goes #1 (quickly), say "Good go out!! Good boy!!!" and give him a treat. Then walk him until he goes #2--he will most likely go after 15 minutes of walking. Again, "Good go out!!! Good boy!!" and a treat. Then bring him inside and write down that he went #1 and #2. Take him out again 30 minutes after you get back inside.

Rules:
-No hitting
-No yelling if he has an accident inside. It is your fault for not preventing it.
-Every 30 minutes. Seriously.
-Never in the crate for more than 3 hours at a time.
-Pick him up and carry him outside as soon as he gets out of his crate.

By the way, "casual breeder"? :lol-sign:

[spogluv20]

He doesn't know that he isn't supposed to go to the bathroom in the house because you haven't taught him.

Don't give him the opportunity to have any accidents. Keep a notebook and log each time that he eats a meal and each time that he goes #1 or #2.[B] For now, [B]take him outside every 30 minutes. Each time he goes to the bathroom outside, give him some treats and a lot of praise. It might be good to mark the behavior with a command such as go out. Try taking him out every 30 minutes (on a timer) for a week, you will quickly see that he has a schedule and you just need to respond better to that. Make sure you walk him when you take him out, don't just stand there or let him off of his leash. No playing until he goes to bathroom (#1 and #2)--and don't let him come back inside without going.

For example, you take him out at 8:00 a.m. He goes #1 and #2, you say "Good go out! Good boy!!!" and give him a treat. He comes inside, feed him and interact with him, and make sure to write that he went #1, #2, and ate. At 8:30, take him out again. After he goes #1 (quickly), say "Good go out!! Good boy!!!" and give him a treat. Then walk him until he goes #2--he will most likely go after 15 minutes of walking. Again, "Good go out!!! Good boy!!" and a treat. Then bring him inside and write down that he went #1 and #2. Take him out again 30 minutes after you get back inside.

Rules:
-No hitting
-No yelling if he has an accident inside. It is your fault for not preventing it.
-Every 30 minutes. Seriously.
-Never in the crate for more than 3 hours at a time.
-Pick him up and carry him outside as soon as he gets out of his crate.

By the way, "casual breeder"? :lol-sign:

Thanks for the wonderful advice. We followed it yesterday and today. He has done fairly well. He only had one accident in his cage, and that was our fault. We had to go somewhere for 3+ hours, so he probably couldn't hold it.

Yeah, casual breeders. That's what they said at least. To be honest, right off the bat, I thought that the Border Terriers were little wolves at first, because they were running around in a little mob. When we entered the breeder's house, they followed us around, in a giant mob. :lol-sign:

[squirtsmom]

Herschel you took the words right out of my mouth.

[SuperNova]

can you put some pictures up?

[spogluv20]

So, this is day 9 of attempted potty-training. I've done everything you guys on here told me to do, I bought a book, and all that. He is still having accidents everyday. We took him out about 30 minutes ago, then we came inside to play. He was running around, and then proceeded to poop on the carpet. The thing is though, the DOOR WAS OPEN (the door to the outside). After he did that, we put him outside, and he immediately pooped outside.

My mother is going to give him away this upcoming Sunday if he is not potty-trained.

[Herschel]

So, this is day 9 of attempted potty-training. I've done everything you guys on here told me to do, I bought a book, and all that. He is still having accidents everyday. We took him out about 30 minutes ago, then we came inside to play. He was running around, and then proceeded to poop on the carpet. The thing is though, the DOOR WAS OPEN (the door to the outside). After he did that, we put him outside, and he immediately pooped outside.

My mother is going to give him away this upcoming Sunday if he is not potty-trained.
http://emoticons4u.com/mad/011.gif

You're expecting far too much. Say goodbye to your dog because I guarantee you he won't be potty trained by Sunday. I hope he goes to a great home because he deserves far better than your unreasonable expectations and lack of leadership.

That being said, you need to prevent accidents from happening at all. Each time he has an accident it is your fault. He doesn't know that he isn't supposed to go to the bathroom inside and until you teach him otherwise, he will never learn. It's the equivalent of me placing a puzzle in front of a 1 year old child and wondering why he doesn't know where to put the pieces.

Do you catch him having accidents? If so, how do you respond? Does he have accidents when you aren't watching him?

Do you use an enzymatic cleaner to clean up his accidents? That is the only way to eliminate the smell and prevent him from going in those same spots again.

You should be doing anything in your power to prevent this puppy from having accidents if you want to keep him. Take him out every 10-15 minutes while he is playing, and every 30 minutes while he is resting. Don't just expect him to "walk out into the yard, go to the bathroom, pick it up with a bag, bring it inside, and drop it into the trash." He's a puppy. Put him on a leash, take him for a walk until he goes. Then bring him back inside.

[spogluv20]

http://emoticons4u.com/mad/011.gif

You're expecting far too much. Say goodbye to your dog because I guarantee you he won't be potty trained by Sunday. I hope he goes to a great home because he deserves far better than your unreasonable expectations and lack of leadership.

That being said, you need to prevent accidents from happening at all. Each time he has an accident it is your fault. He doesn't know that he isn't supposed to go to the bathroom inside and until you teach him otherwise, he will never learn. It's the equivalent of me placing a puzzle in front of a 1 year old child and wondering why he doesn't know where to put the pieces.

Do you catch him having accidents? If so, how do you respond? Does he have accidents when you aren't watching him?

Do you use an enzymatic cleaner to clean up his accidents? That is the only way to eliminate the smell and prevent him from going in those same spots again.

You should be doing anything in your power to prevent this puppy from having accidents if you want to keep him. Take him out every 10-15 minutes while he is playing, and every 30 minutes while he is resting. Don't just expect him to "walk out into the yard, go to the bathroom, pick it up with a bag, bring it inside, and drop it into the trash." He's a puppy. Put him on a leash, take him for a walk until he goes. Then bring him back inside.


I don't think you understand the situation here.

And please don't judge me, or my home based on this one post. You may have unlimited time to get a puppy trained, but I don't. I have a job, that I have to go to every single day, of course. I'm taking time off my job to help him get adjusted and to train him. I can't just take unlimited time off. Sorry.

But anyways, my puppy know what "Go Potty" means. And when I tell him to "Go Potty", he does so.

Usually when he has accidents, I'm right behind him, or next to him, and he knows it. Once, he was on the leash, and I turned around to get something. When I turned back around, he was pooping right there, and looking at me. I tell him "No!", grab him, and take him outside. When I do this, he always finishes, and I praise him and give him treats.

Where can I get an enzymatic cleaner? Are they sold at Petsmart/Petco?

[Dekka]

The thing is would you be saying the same thing about a human baby learning to be toliet trained? Of course not. Some of these things take time. If you don't have the time, don't get the puppy-adopt an older dog that is already house trained.

[Herschel]

I don't think you understand the situation here.

And please don't judge me, or my home based on this one post. You may have unlimited time to get a puppy trained, but I don't. I have a job, that I have to go to every single day, of course. I'm taking time off my job to help him get adjusted and to train him. I can't just take unlimited time off. Sorry.

Please. I've house trained two puppies without taking any time off. Don't make excuses.

But anyways, my puppy know what "Go Potty" means. And when I tell him to "Go Potty", he does so.

That's great, but he doesn't know that outside is the only place he should go.


Usually when he has accidents, I'm right behind him, or next to him, and he knows it. Once, he was on the leash, and I turned around to get something. When I turned back around, he was pooping right there, and looking at me. I tell him "No!", grab him, and take him outside. When I do this, he always finishes, and I praise him and give him treats.

Where can I get an enzymatic cleaner? Are they sold at Petsmart/Petco?

Try this: each time he has an accident in the house, hit yourself on the head with a rolled up newspaper. You'll learn soon enough that you need to prevent him from having accidents.

You're obviously not supervising him closely enough if he's still having accidents. Is he on any sort of routine? For example, with both dogs we:

-3 mile walk/run first thing in the morning (#1 and #2)
-Back inside, they eat breakfast
-We get shower and get ready (When Herschel was a puppy we took him out immediately after eating)
-Then we take both of them out again to go #1
-Crated until we come home for lunch
-As soon as we let them out, they get a walk to go #1 and #2
-Back inside, we eat lunch
-They go out for #1 again
-Crated until evening

Additionally, they both have to go to the bathroom before we play. Nala, who we've only had for a month, already knows this. She's had a total of 3 accidents in the house since we brought her home.

House training requires diligence and a lot of patience. If you don't have the time or energy for it, that's OK, maybe someone on this board can help you find a more suitable home for the puppy.