I thought we were doing great on our progress, but apparently not. I got him Friday afternoon and we started house training on Saturday (he peed twice inside house, not in crate). Saturday I think I woke up at 3AM so he could pee, and he did. Sunday morning the towel had no signs of pee. That afternoon I caught him when he started to pee, stopped him, took him downstairs, said go outside and praised after he went.

Sunday night I went to a friends house to watch the Oscars. He peed at about 11ish. At about 1AM I left and the pup was sleeping. I didn't take him out before we got in the car (my mistake) since it was a 10 min drive and because he had gone 2 hours before and had no water since 8PM. Well, when we got home the towel was wet, and I'm sure it happened during the ride home. He obviously didn't pee when we got home, and he stayed dry until I walked him again at 6AM.

I walked him again at 8:50AM and 11:40AM and no accidents in between. I had class from 3-4:30, so I walked him at 1:30PM and he went, and I walked him again at 2:30, but he didn't go. I feel that I should have walked him at 2PM instead of 1:30, but I was paranoid and didn't want to risk any accidents.

Well I was praying on my way home, but all in vain. Towel was recently peed when I got home at 4:40PM. Damn!

I walked him again at 6PM (before he ate) and he didn't go. Then again at 6:30 after he ate and he didn't go. I put him in the crate for 20 mins and when I took him out to walk him, he had gone. $%*&!

Been walking him every half hour after that, and he has not gone.

When he HAS to go and we're outside, I say 'go outside' and he goes instantly. When he doesn't have to go, I can tell because he gets all lazy, so I put him in his crate.

Apart from Sunday night's mistake, have I done something wrong? He has a towel inside the crate (small enough for him) and I'm not sure if that's making him less willing to hold himself since it's being absorbed. He's never done poop inside his crate, and does not come from a pet shop or puppy mill. He's 8 weeks old. Thanks

Damn it! And I just checked him and he had peed again. Jesus Christ do I feel like a complete failure. I just walked him 20 mins ago and he didn't go.

 Quote: Richard Pryor

Apart from Sunday night's mistake, have I done something wrong?

Assuming that there's nothing wrong with his health -- no UTI, etc. -- then he just doesn't quite get it yet.

Yes, it's you; it's always the owner. The dog does not want to go against you deliberately, so you can assume that he doesn't get it yet.

What I would do is take a couple of days when you can be with him at home and tether him to you.

This way if he assumes the position, you will know it instantly and you will calmly swoop him outside and then praise and treat like a nut when he does it outdoors.

Taking him out often is good. I would stay outside until he goes for a few times. I would not assume that because he didn't go right away, he doesn't have to.

You will look back on all this with a rueful laugh; trust me. It will all work.

So sorry about the frustration Richard.

If I were in your position I'd skip the crate as much as possible and have the pup tethered to me at all times. Take him everywhere with you, in the kitchen, living room, bathroom... wherever you go, he goes.
Have him sleep at your feet when you sit down to work or study.

That way there's no way that you'll miss an accident from him and you can scold him when he starts to go inside (startle him so he stops) and carry him outside each time.

He'll have no choice but to learn the right way

I used that method with my own pup, starting at 7 weeks of age when I got him and it worked beautifully. I never used a crate with him - he constantly followed me like a shadow, everywhere I went. It only took 4-5 total "scoldings" when he went inside for him to understand. His last accident was at 10 weeks of age, and I've always allowed him to be loose in the house (he always stays in my sight though!).

Man, I've seen the pictures of your little baby. He's the cutest puppy in the world. Why don't you just look at his adorable little squishy baby face and you'll feel all better

Thanks for posting his pics by the way; I feel all warm and "Awwww" inside!!

Thanks Yuko

Well he doesn't like the leash yet, so having him tied to me at all times is my main goal, but right now it's just not possible since I would be literally dragging him around the house. I've been teaching him 'come' with food and praise, and making him walk with the leash on by showing food. He also drags his leash around, but he's not yet used to walking with the leash on.

Anyway, I do play with him quite a lot, and play tug with his squeaky toy. He also bites an old shoe, but is not a fan of his Kong with Peanut Butter. I can only have him close to me for some time, then he gets too mouthy either with me or with my furniture ( Evidence #1 ) and tired at the same time, so I put him in his crate. He really likes his crate. Beagles are known to be loud, but this one hardly whines when he goes in.

Oh, and I've caught him in the act and was successful in stopping him and he went right away as soon as I said go outside 3 mins later. I live in an apt., so I have to take an elevator.

He obviously doesn't get it yet. Is the towel ok or is it maybe making it easier for him to pee since it'll be nice and dry in a couple of mins (he doesn't pee much)? Maybe with plastic he'll think twice before he goes (poor thing if I'm not right, though

Took him out 20 mins after this last accident and obviously nothing. No poop either, and he ate half a hen since he last went. Could he be pooping in his crate as well and eating it after? Although I smell the towel every time and it never smelled like, well, shit.

If he did poop in his crate, there's no way you'd miss it

Again, dogs on raw don't poop very much so it might seem odd to you at first. You'll get used to it - the poops will grow along with him. Haha.

Hmmm. Ok you've got me stumped. I've never had a beagle and have certainly never had a dog (especially a puppy) that wouldn't follow me around everywhere and sleep on my feet. I think I just got really really lucky with m current pup. He's been following me around since day 1 like I'm his mother.

At least your pup understands half the training, since he goes outside when you tell him to! That's a great start. It would be so much more frustrating if you couldn't get him to go outside.

Sounds like you're doing everything right, teaching him to walk using treats and all. Does he like marrow bones?
I hear that beagles are food vacuums... maybe chewing on a soup bone will keep him busy and prevent him from using you or your furniture as chew toys

How about if you just move the crate around with you when you leave the room so you can watch him while he's in the crate? That way you could still correct him for peeing in there, and you wouldn't have to worry about dragging him around the house on a leash.


That's all I can think of, sorry!

Love the Evidence 1 photo.
Is that pup for real??? I can't believe how cute he is!!

I know, if you don't mind, why don't I just me come over to your place and watch him for you?
Seriously, I'll stare at him all day long while he's sleeping in his crate, I don't mind

Yes, he's for real, and my hands can prove it! He's got some sharp teeth, and good amount of prey drive. Deadly combination indeed.

11PM: Go outside. Good outside!! Lots of praise. Waited 20 mins to see if he pooped. Ate leaves, tried to drink from a nasty puddle, didn't poop.

Now he's sleeping.

The marrow bones is a good idea. I'll see if I can find some tomorrow.

If I'm around when he's crated, he will whine a little. Besides, he needs his beauty sleep, he's a growing boy!

I have a thought, Richard...take that towel outside with you and don't put it back in his crate. Let him see and smell the towel on the ground...sort of a training pad in reverse if you get my drift.

Also, don't give him too much room in his crate to get away from a "puddle" if he goes again in his crate. Some dogs don't want to stand or sit in their waste and if he's one of those you can use that to your benefit. If it doesn't bother him to do that, you're just going to have to be vigilant about not letting him go in the crate.

I'd definitely agree with Yuko and Connie that the more he can be really with you, the better. In his crate you have him controlled as far as movement, but there's not much chance of correction inside it other than ignoring whining or something like that...

cute puppy, though...enjoy him He won't stay like that for long! My first dog was a beagle "Rascal".

Richard, I would take the towel out until he doesn't go in his crate anymore, and spray or wipe the crate down with Nature's Miracle which will remove the urine odor. Since the odor is in there (even if you clean it with something other than Nature's Miracle), the pup (cutest puppy in the world!) will probably continue to go potty in there.

You can get Nature's Miracle at pet stores like Petsmart. Just be sure if you take your pup in there with you, don't put him on the floor, hold him in your arms the whole time. My opinion is best not to take him at all, he's very young and vulnerable to diseases yet.

Good Point Sandy. I love Nature's Miracle, and it not only cleans and deoderizes, it removes stains from defecation, et cetera.

But if you're just cleaning out urine oders out of the crate, White Vinegar will do just fine and instead of $25 to $30/gallon it is about $4/gallon.

I do almost all of my house cleaning with White Vinegar and/or Baking Soda. And the Vinegar stops smelling once it is dry.

Good Luck!