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I'm starting to go crazy, honestly. Thor is, by far, the hardest puppy I have had to housebreak. No matter how many times I take him outside (even though he pees outside before I bring him in) he still goes right to the kitchen and pees... He can make a huge puddle in my kitchen within 30 minutes. He's only about 10 weeks old so I know he can't hold it, but he goes from outside to the kitchen and puddles! I have tried newspaper, taking him out every 30-45 minutes ( ging him plenty of attention when he goes outside), and puppy pads. Nothing I do seems to make a differnce. Is there anything else that I can do that might make things easier, and for me to keep my sanity?
I agree. If he's going in the house, take him out more often.
Yes, take him out more often. Get an egg timer and every 10-15 minutes bring him out. When he first comes out of his crate, bring him out. When he does what he's supposed to do, praise him and bring him back inside, do not play, right back in when he's done. After that you can go play outside.
As far as paper and puppy pads, to me, your just teaching him to go in the house. You want to teach him that "outside" is where he does that.
He's still young and will make a mistake but if you watch him and give him the chance to do it right, he will catch on quickly.
When he's out there tell him 'go potty' and praise him greatly when he does it, then take him in. Repeat - there's no top secret way to potty train them, all dogs learn it differently. If he doesn't go when you take him out no praise, just take him back in.
You can't punish a 10 week old puppy for peeing in the house but you can say 'NO' if you catch them doing it and immediately take them outside. you have to find a way to show them what you expect of them, they don't know...they just realize they have to pee and they do.
If he's going right back to the same spot in the house every time, that tells me that you haven't cleaned up the smell well enough, he's marked that area with urine and the smell tells him that it's ok to go there again. You need to clean it up with a cleaner specific to cleaning up puppy pee or he'll continue to think it's ok to pee in the kitchen.
Like everyone else has said, you have to take him out more often and keep it all business like so that he learns that his being outside is for a specific purpose, not for play.
Keep it up, he'll learn soon enough, Phin was the same way and it's like a lightbulb went on suddenly and he understood that peeing in the house was a no-no.
Thor has been doing a little better, I've been taking him out every 20 mins. I don't play with him until after he goes, which seems to make it easier. It's been a rough week but its worth it. Thanks for all the help.
So glad it's beginning to 'click'.. Be patient.. it will pay off in the end..
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You might try taking him out more often.. thirty to forty five mins. is way too long for a ten week old..
Rule of thumb is every twenty mins.. and be sure to get every bit of the puddle and the lingering-only-to-a-dogs-nose-odor up. Puppy pads won't help train Thor, he'll still think inside is the best place to go.
Good luck and be patient.. it won't take that much longer if you're consistent with the twenty minute and praise thing
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