Max won't go potty outside in the heat

[Max's Dad]

Well potty training was going very well - no accidents for 2 weeks - until this morning. My mom takes Max out in the morning when she wakes up, before work. I came downstairs to a note saying Max refused to go potty outside this morning, and instead went right when he came back inside.

I've been taking him outside every hour now, and he's only given me a few courtesy tinkles, but nothing major. We just got back in from a potty trip, and were playing in the living room and he decided the floor would be a good place to go. I corrected him (saying "Ah ah! <clap> Outside!"), but he paid me no attention at all.

With the heat index reaching 105+, with 90%+ humidity, for several days now (today's the start of it) I'm at a loss as to what to do with this setback. Right now I'm just limiting the amount of free roam he has - he was to the point of being able to be alone in the living room without any problem - and taking him out more often.

Any suggestions are welcome. Is this just something puppies go through, or is there something else going on?

Oh, and the basic background: Max is a 15 week old Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Came from a nice breeder in southwest VA. He's crate trained, and was very reliable in house manners until today. He gets fed twice a day, and gets water whenever he wants it.

-Tim

[Bear Luv]

Hmm, I am no expert on potty training. Rush is 5 months old, and she still sometimes goes in the house(but thats my fault for not letting her out as often as she needs).

I taught her to pee on command. I started basically by giving her water at night (yeah I know, bad idea! but no dog wants to pee where they sleep). And I would be waking up at 5am, to let her out, and the minute I let her outside I would use the command "go potty" and when she went, I praised her. She really knows she isnt supposed to go in the house because of her correction word(which is no). She hates that word, and when you say it, she knows what she did, and runs to the back door.

She refused to go outside in the rain, or at night. So sometimes I would stand outside with her, or get dressed up and sit outside with her until she went to the bathroom. Then plenty of praise, and back inside was her reward.

I dont know what would work for him (I am in MD, near DC -- so we have that massive heat wave hitting us as well). Maybe make being outside more enjoyable? Like water! Put on some shorts, lots of sunscreen and introduce him to the hose! lol.

Sorry I could not be of more help. I hope it works out for you!!

Diane

[Max's Dad]

I wish I had access to a hose, that would be fun for us both, but I live in an apartment complex with no access to outside faucets. He's been good so far about pottying on command, it's just today that he's been being stubborn.

We did have a bit of a breakthrough though. I just fed him an hour ago, and took him on a long walk through the woods nearby. He'd been crated until then, and guess he had to go bad enough so he went potty in the leaves. Hopefully now he'll see the heat isn't so bad to go potty in, and we won't have any more accidents.

Let's just hope this heat wave stops soon, cuz I know I can't stand it.

-Tim

[PWCorgi]

I'd keep him crated, taking him out only every 20 minutes or so to see if he will go to the bathroom. Once he goes to the bathroom I'd let him have free roam in the house as a reward. If you take him out later to potty and he doesn't, repeat the crating.