hi!i am new to the boards and new to puppy ownership too!!i have a four week old pomerainian female.house training is going great!she really gets that she goes outside.the only hurdle im facing is that the only door is down a bizzilion steps that she cant climb yet,then through a hallway and bifold doors etc.so my problem is,aside from me just always taking her on schedule,what can i do to teach her an alternate way to tell me.if i had a door there,she could scratch at it,ring the bell hanging from it etc.i know shes still very young ,maybe too young to tell me,but atleast i could start teaching her how.should i try hanging a bell at the top of the stairs or something else ?any advice would be greatly appreciated!!thanks!!!

Noelle, Is that a typo or is your dog 4 weeks old?

Noelle,

At 4 weeks if your pup is consistantly "going" outside be proud of that alone <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> For now be sure to crate her and restrict her access in the house (if you are not doing it already). Be more strict with yourself and stick to a schedual! When you take the pup out for elimination, carry her down the stairs to avoid the potential for accidents.
As far as a signal for elimination you can start to imprint that now. If you would like to use a bell as your dog's signal, ring it softly (so you don't startle her) just before she squats to pee, and a little bit while she is peeing, everytime she "goes". When your dog is actually housebroken, ring the bell just before you open the door to let her out. Once she starts to get the idea, hang the bell by the door within the dog's reach. When you know it is one of her "go times" stand with her by the door and wait a few moments to give her the opportunity to ring the bell herself. 1) If she rings it (mark if using marker training) and immediatley let her out with lots of praise. 2) If she doesn't ring it after a few seconds ring it for her, then pause to she if clues in to that, if not ring it again, tell her good girl in a normal tone of voice and let her out. After a while she will start to get the idea and be ringing to go outside anytime she wants <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
This is how I thaught my own dog to respond with a bark when I asked "go pee?" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Why is this poor pup home at 4 weeks <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />? I have 2 toy dogs (chi and peke), and breeders usually hold dogs that size until at LEAST 8 wks because of size and fragility. My peke's breeder wouldn't ship him until he was 16 wks, and if people pick them up, they go home at 12 weeks! 4 weeks is ridiculous. The poor little thing sounds miraculous for 4 wks old.