Hi,

Yes, the weather here has been awful this year,that much is true. She was only five weeks old when we got her. I am very against puppies being taken away from their owners that young and I know the problems associated with it but she was *disposable* to her former irresponsible owner and I did not want her to meet a terrible fate. I did not push the outside issue (in other words, expect miracles) then because of her age and weather conditions but have been working diligently in more recent weeks with her and failing miserably. (And scolded myself)

I have two other full-grown dogs who went the standard gamut with training so I have been down this road before and don't have delusions of grandeur but she is like no puppy I have ever trained before.

As far as engaging outside, I have gone in all directions...playing, walking, and standing in one spot telling her to potty.

We did buy her one of those longer, retractable leashes to give her some more room to run around.

The weather was horrible when we first got her and she was so tiny that she stood out there and shivered herself senseless. I bought her sweaters to try and keep her warm but she froze anyway. The weather is a bit milder now.

Thanks for all of your input, it is appreciated.

take your time and be patient. Accidents will happen at that age, the best thing you can do is provide as much of schedule for bathroom brakes as possible. Take them out before and after everything (exercise, play, crate, food, sleep.) Don't leave the pup unattended ever.

My dobe hated to go out side when i got him during the winter. It actually got him revealing himself sooner because he didn't want to be out there a second longer than he had too.

Remember house training takes time, but when done well with lots of structure it will happen eventually. 5 weeks is really young i have never cared for a pup that young so if i'm wrong somebody please correct me

Good luck

Rob

Hi Connie,

Thank you for the great advice. I agree that she does not get it! LOL I appreciate your encouragement, I sure need some right now. My last puppy took time to get it but more in terms of how long it took before he was pretty much diligent and accident-free. That wasn't a problem...I have patience. But this little one....I can't even seem to get her started. Going to keep at it...I will keep ya posted.

Coleen

This weather sucks. You'll only have to suffer for just a little longer. Then she'll have it down pat by the time it gets nice and pretty outside and you actually WANT to be out there.

That's the way this works.

Hi Robert,

Time and patience I have for sure...just wish she would throw me a bone.

She really was very young. They do not recommend puppies to leave their mother until a minimum of 10-12 weeks because they learn so much from their moms and litter-mates during that time. But this lady that had the litter wanted them out the door....now. Didn't want her to end up at the pound and I have raised young puppies without a mom before so I threw caution to the wind and grabbed her because I could give her a better home then she was going to have at the moment. Didn't expect much from her in the form of training at that point, she went on the paper pretty well so I was happy for that.

I bottle fed her as a supplement for a while and ground up her food in a food processor. And now she is over 14 pounds and doing well....the little princess that she is.

Thanks so much for your response and help.

Coleen

Hi Michael,

OMG..I so hope you are right. This winter HAS sucked! I can't wait to get out more with the dogs....hope spring is on it's way. It would make things so much easier.

Thank you!

Coleen

I got Dexter last year in late fall early winter.

He hate the cold and would not go out. I got him coats from the horse store. They are warmer, wind and water proof.

I had to get 3 during the cold season while he grow. Today he is 1.5 yo and still need one or 2 coat when it is cold.