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August 01, 2011

I have 2 puppies and they sleep in their crates all night without accidents. During the day they do not tell me when they need to go out even though I’ve put bells on the door for them to ring. What am I missing?

Full Question:
I have two maltipoo puppies. One is 7 months old, one is 8 months. I am still having trouble getting them house trained. They are in the crate at night and sleep all night without accidents. They are taken out first thing in the AM and usually both go pee and poop. Once they eat, they are taken out again within the hour. Sometimes they will both go pee and poop again... sometimes just one will. Here is the problem. They do NOT tell me when they have to go out. I have them confined to the family room, kitchen, mudroom area. I always let them out through the mudroom door. I've hung bells on the door which they WILL use intermittently (the older dog is better at it than the younger one). I have two young kids and two puppies so there are times when I'm distracted. Too often I will walk into the mudroom and there is a pile or a puddle and they have not rung the bells. What am I missing? When we go out I ring the bells and say "outside potty" and then when they void outside I say "good potty."
Cindy
Cindy Cindy's Answer:
It’s unrealistic to expect puppies to tell you when they need to go out. While some will, expecting them to tell you is just not realistic.

When I am housetraining a puppy, if I can’t keep eyes and attention on them they go in a crate or an exercise pen. Controlling the environment is the most effective way to create good habits. We have a section about housetraining.

By allowing them to use the mudroom as a bathroom you are letting them practice the wrong habits. You are allowing them way too much freedom.

Cindy Rhodes

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Expert Dog Trainer Cindy Rhodes
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