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Hello i have a 7 month old toy fox terrier and i've had her since she was 3 months old. She is still having difficulty learning potty training. I take her outside and she pees right away but doesn't always poo. I know she's not going to have to go every time she's outside. But if i let her run around the house she will find a place to poo. Yesterday i took her outside after eating and she pee'd and pooped so i praised her and she got to play. But then i went into the kitchen 5 minutes later and found out that she pooped under the kitchen table and as soon as i looked her at and called her she ran and hid. It's like she knows its wrong to do it because when she does it she goes and hides. How can i teach her to go to the bathroom outside, its like she's learning but it hasn't clicked yet. She goes poo wherever its convenient for her to go. Any suggestions on what i should do? Thanks in advance! (link)
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Crate train the pup now while she's still young.
Crate training is a lengthy process. You'll have to withstand hearing the little one whimper at night. It works though, completely, and you won't ever have another accident again if it's done right.
It starts by purchasing a dog crate that is slightly too large for the puppy. This should be fairly easy since your dog is small. Don't get one that is too big. Just enough so she can stand up in, really.
You put her in there when she comes inside from potty. You can put a bed in there and some toys--and her food and water. It is vital you put her food and water in the crate with her.
Dogs don't like to go potty where they eat and sleep. She will learn to hold it so that she doesn't have to sit in her own potty mess.
She'll probably whine during the day and some at night for the first week or more since she won't be with you. They're social creatures. You can "visit" every now and again but don't allow her to have full roam at the house, especially unattended. Limit your visits to short periods of time so that she knows you DO come back but that she needs to be a "big dog" and get along in her own little space.
Eventually the dog will learn to stop marking territory in the house. This usually takes about 1 month to complete. Make sure you take her out for good walks before you bring her in so that she gets her exercise. Make sure she goes potty at least once while outside before putting her back into her crate. Give her enough potty breaks in the day but, again, supervised!
Look up dog crate training online. It's really a miracle when you need your dog to stop going potty in the house. Nobody wants to live in a dog's filth.
The little dog here has been crate trained for years. It's heartbreaking when they whine for you and you look at them through those crate bars. You have to be strong though.
If she potties her bed in the crate then put a fresh bed in (purchase at least 3 to keep on hand for these 'accidents'; you can wash the dirty bed as needed). Wipe out the box well, put the fresh bed in, wash the puppy, and then put her right back inside the crate. Don't check the box too often for potty messes because if she messes you'll want her to know she just messed where her food is. Check the box only when you bring her out for walks for potty messes, usually, and that will give her enough time to say, "OMG I just pooped where I eat! MISTAKE!"
Praise her if you go to get her out and she hasn't pottied. If she has a favorite treat (I recommend cheese Pup Corn) then you can give her a SMALL treat and tell her that she's a good dog. Don't get too excited though or she might "lose it" right there out of the box. When she comes in from pottying you can give her scratches and lovings the praise her before putting her back into her crate.
Seriously. Crate training. It's the only way to go. In the end you won't even need the crate. It's great.
Last note: She is NOT too young to learn!
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Rating: 5
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Thanks for the advice! I'll definitely try that!
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