Well, Jenga is pretty well housebroken (not 100% but definitely on his way), but he's discovered the joys of whining at the door when he needs to go out...and when he just WANTS to go out.

It's driving me crazy, every 5 minutes he goes to the door and whines. I don't want to NOT take him out because he's still not 100% reliable in the house, but I also know that 90% of the time he goes to the door it's only because he feels like exploring the backyard.

So, is it possible to teach him to only go to the door if he needs to go potty?

Thanks in advance, everone.

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So, is it possible to teach him to only go to the door if he needs to go potty?

No. that's the reason for not teaching a dog to "let you know" - it WILL drive you crazy.

Set a schedule for his potty times, and crate him or tether him to you in between.

I completely agree with the schedule and crate. This is all part of the groundwork. From your post, it sounds like he's already trying to "call the shots" (I think puppies tend to do this naturally ).

My pup has not had one accident in the house, but I have been very stringent and "tuned in" to his pee/poop schedule. We go right outside when he comes out of the crate and will go on command where I allow.

We have been having some freetime in the house, tethered to me or in the kitchen, and I've noticed if by chance a random pee/poop does come up for him, he gets a specific walk to the door, then the whimper. I've taken him out on those times.

Does your pup get off leash playtime outside? I'm wondering because if that is a "free" zone for him, he will naturally gravitate to that...

My pup has, to this point been tethered at all times, of course loose line outside when playing. I did try off leash a couple times, and view this as a major set up for, like I said earlier, the dog getting into the habit of "calling the shots", it happens so subtley, ok, sometimes blatantly. I'm back to tethered at all times. It's not worth it to have him develop bad habits.

Thanks, guys.

I started out crating/tethering, but he's just so well-behaved and spends most of the time sleeping, that I decided to give him a little freedom.

He's had very few accidents, most of which under my mother's watch (she takes him out for me while I'm at work)...and the ones under my watch were actually while he was tethered to me and I lost track of time. I know his schedule very well. He goes immediately when he gets out of the crate, immediately after eating and then again 40 minutes later, and roughly every 2 or 3 hours in between those times.

The thing about him going to the door is that it is almost always in the "poo time-zone"...meaning he very well might have to go, and eventually he will if I just stayed outside.

While I see the theory behind not teaching them to indicate, I'm a forgetful person. My dogs wouldn't go out except for walks unless they told me they needed to. I guess if the tethering is the only option then I'll have to start setting alarms for myself. hehe

Heather, out of curiosity, how does your mom handle him when you're gone - does he do the whining thing at the door with her or just with you?

Sandy,

I prefer that my mom doesn't watch him other than taking him out to potty, because he's had accidents every time she's in charge. He's bossy with her - pulls on the leash, nips excessively, all the things he knows not to do with me.

He's pretty submissive with me, and a very soft dog. I made the mistake of giving a verbal correction that was just a little more than he needed and he spent the rest of the day moping.

I think what I'll do is make the outside trips business-only when he whines. Out and back in if he doesn't go straight to work. I think I've partly contributed to the appeal of getting outside by taking him on pee-walks instead of pee-breaks.

HEather - sounds like you need the ebook I wrote titled COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS TO HOUSE TRAINING PROBLEMS. http://leerburg.com/housetrainingebook.htm

Thanks Ed, I hadn't noticed that e-book.

Schedules are definately key ... and knowing your pup.

Since making the move to Canidae, our pup has a bowel movement before and after the morning meal, and then again before and after the evening meal.

As for urination, if he drinks, he needs to pee. If he doesn't have free access to water (i.e. while he is crated) then he doesn't have to pee so often. He always goes pee before and after every crating time. He understands the command to "go pee" very well, which has been very helpful.

If I am with him and he whines, then I know it is bathroom break time and I must have lost track of time. If I'm in the next room, or he is in his crate, and he happens whines because he wants to be with me, then he gets ignored. Like children, you learn the different whines.

So long story short, I'd go back to crate training and a regular schedule.

Good Luck!

 Quote: anne vaini

 Quote:

So, is it possible to teach him to only go to the door if he needs to go potty?

No. that's the reason for not teaching a dog to "let you know" - it WILL drive you crazy.

Set a schedule for his potty times, and crate him or tether him to you in between.

That is why we have a dog door!