Last Thurs we brought home a 17 week old mini dachshund who was somewhat paper trained by the breeder. I say "somewhat" because she said he was, but it doesn't appear so. Anyhow, we want him to be trained to go outside. We take him out first thing in the am (7am or so) and feed him. We'll let him out for 20 min or so following breakfast. Then he eats around 1pm and goes out, followed by 6:30 feeding at outside. We also let him out periodically throughout the day. The problem is, we NEVER see him go outside so we can't praise him. If we are there he stays with us and rarely goes. We'll wait 20 min or so and come back in where, wouldn't you know it, he relieves himself, in whichever manner he has the urge, on the carpet! Too add insult to injury, this is our first house, its new, and we've only been in it 4 months or so. If we're not there, there is some evidence he goes (remnants on the side of the house) but he still prefers inside. I know we've only had him 5 days andit could take several more weeks, but I'm not seeing the signs that all the "experts" and books talk about. There simply is no rhyme nor reason to his bathroom schedule. HELP!!!!!

if you do not see him go on his journey outside, assume he didn't and don't let him loose on the carpet.

This is a problem with you, not the dog.

Ed covers housebreaking in great detail in the Q&A section of this site. http://leerburg.com/qahouse.htm

A small thing you may keep in mind - wash and rinse the carpet very well. I used to add a bit of vinegar to 'fool' the dog's extraodinary smell. The puppy would no longer feel the attraction to pee on the same spot.
And don't be angry with the puppy, he is really young and moving house may be a difficult task for hime as well.

You gotta feed the dog on schedule so the dog uses the bathroom on schedule. YOU know when it eats and YOU know what should be coming out. YOU have to see if the dog goes when you are out side, if it doesnt come back in and put it in a crate and waite about 15 minutes and back outside again until it uses the bathroom after it does you can let it loose in the house keeping an eye on it and when its time again repeat it all over again. You gotta take responsability and not look for reasons why YOU cant do it.

Don't think I was making excuses, thanks though. I realize he is a puppy and will do what puppies do. I know its up to me to train him. You people like to jump on people a bit, don't you?

Play nice kids!!

I think the best way to deal with house training is with crate training. That way you can try to have more control over the pup's elimination. With a proper sized crate the pup shouldn't pee in it. They don't like to wet where they sleep.

Then the dog is in one of three places at all times. . .

1. With you. . .watching him every second poised to strike if he starts to look like he is going to piddle or doo doo. Get him outside before the accident occurs if possible!! (should be because we are eyeballin' the little Oscar Meyer right?)

2. Outside. . .with you keeping an eye out and praising when he tinkles or plops on the lawn.

3. In the crate with a chew toy (no more than 12 hours a day in my opinion. . .including sleep at night.)

Thats it. . .just those three places till he gets the picture.

You have to work out when you are going to let the dog out of the crate at night to wizz till he gets to the point where he can sleep for 6 to 8 hours.

I'm sure there are loads of places to find more complete information on the web for cratetraining.

Consistant care is the key. . .always correct for accidents (don't beat the poor little sausage) and always praise for correct potty behavior.

Cleaning correctly is BIG. . .as was mentioned.

As the dog gets to be 100% you can phase the crate out of the picture if you want.

Thanks Robert. What is the best way to correct him for an indoor accident? I have been catching him in the act and he stops when I give a stern "NO", but what about the ones I missed?

Also, we haven't been putting him in the crate unless we are gone. When I am home, I watch him and he hasn't been sneaking any in on me (I catch him when he tries). However, my fiancee is home during the day as she is beginning a new career and is doing some home study. She lets him out of the crate but doesn't keep an eagle eye on him due to studying. She feels bad keeping him in the crate and I think this is when he gets away with an occasional indoor mess (she does take him out a few times during the day). I guess she should leave him in the crate and deal with the whining?

Finally, he is not in the crate at night. Once again, she feels bad to leave him there and she lets him sleep with us. He doesn't have a problem holding it all night as I take him out right before bed. I then take him out at 7am and he goes. What do you think of that?

If he is fine all night then it itsn't a problem to not have him in the crate, but you better catch the little bugger the one night he drinks too much water and sneaks out of bed to water your carpet.

As far as the missed times, that is just it. . .you missed the opportunity, the dog can't remember that far back and associate a correction to the urine on the floor.

You have to correct the very second they start to pee. . .or at lease while they are peeing. . .if you don't catch them forget about it.

Your wife-to-be is sabotaging the process.

Why don't you get a little pen and the dog can play in the pen next to where she studies, or whatever. That way the dog is right there, and you should be able to catch him in the act. If that doesn't allow you to watch him then you HAVE to keep him outside or in the crate. Every time he leaks inside you have just lost a battle in the war.

If the NO works then you are fine. I don't think you want to put a prong collar on the little smokie and yank him out of his skin. . .so if he stops when you shout NO you're good.

Actually "stop making excuses for your dog and start training it" is automatically at the bottom of all my post. It wasnt put there for your problem specifically. VC telling people to play nice is kind of entertaining , kind of.