New puppy advice please!

Piglet85

Hi everyone,

I'm new around here and so excited to be, because myself and my partner are the owners of a beautiful 11 week old Jack Russell. We got him when he was 8 weeks, and we're mad about him. However, I've never had a dog before (wasn't allowed as a kid and always lived in apartments as an adult up til now). My partner has had dogs, but only adult dogs, never a puppy. Anyway, due to lack of experience, I'd love some feedback on what you think of how we're doing with him, because I'm really not sure and I've nothing to measure his progress against.

I have two concerns: Toilet training and also being with him too much.

As far as the toilet training goes, we're using a crate and it's working fantastically in the night time. I don't even have to take him out during the night anymore - for the last week he's been sleeping through, which I'm thrilled with. However, we're three weeks in exactly now and he's still having some accidents in the house in the day time. Here's my routine:

He goes out first thing in the morning, after eating, after playing, and every hour also. I sometimes think I'm bringing him out too much, because often when I bring him out after the hour he has no interest in peeing (oh, and I've been using a key word to train him, which I think he recognises already, and it does give him the nudge to pee sometimes, but not always). If he doesn't go, I put him in the crate when we go in, or else hang on to him and bring him out again shortly after. When he does go, it's praise praise praise, treat.

He did pee in the crate during the daytime in the beginning a couple of times, but I think that's because it was too big. We've partitioned it for the last week and so far so good.

Thing is, I don't want him in the crate all the time when we're not outside (obviously). I was letting him wander around the kitchen after he peed outside for a good half an hour or more, and this seemed to work fine the majority of the time, but the only two days we've gotten through with zero accidents are the two days when he's been in the crate a lot more than usual. I don't know am I giving him too much freedom or what? I never scold him when he goes in the house, and he seems to completely understand the routine when we go out (pees in one particular spot, has his poo place elsewhere), yet he goes inside sometimes, usually anywhere between 1-3 times a day. I watch him really closely but I can't have my eyes on him literally every second. I just feel bad locking him up too much. Thing is, though, I think I'm doing what I should be doing, and yet we're still having accidents. I don't know am I expecting too much too soon? I just can't see what's going to change to suddenly stop him going indoors, when he already seems to understand where he's supposed to go outside.

The other thing is I'm not sure if I'm around him too much. I'm working from home atm, so I literally work in the kitchen all day, where he is. He's rarely alone (apart from when I go for a quick shower or put a wash on or something). I'm wondering is that a bad thing? I don't know how else to get the training done right other than to stay with him all the time, but I may be going overboard... I've hardly been out of the house since we got him! I'm conscious that he needs to be alone more, but I'm not sure what's normal at this stage. In the evenings, we bring him in on the couch with us, but periodically leave him out in the cage alone too. He does howl a bit when left. Not always, but probably more than he should (except at bedtime, when he quietens down a minute after lights out).

Anyway, sorry for the essay. I'm just head over heels with this pup but really don't want to be laying the groundwork wrong for him. Thanks for any thoughts!

ABajaninCork

I think you're on the right track. But you need to be patient for a little longer. The puppy's only 11 weeks old, and still learning. He knows when and where he needs to go, and knows the words you use to tell him to go. That's brilliant!

It's also great that he has his crate, and likes to go in it. I think you're right - Maybe it's time you loosened the reins a little bit. You need to start building the puppy's trust that when you go out, you'll be coming back to him. You could start by taking him out for a short walk, bring him back, and then pop out to the shops for a while. Maybe 30 mins tops to begin with and build it up from there. If he toileted while you're gone, do as you've been doing and clean it up without comment.

Hope this helps!

Piglet85

ABajaninCork wrote: »

You could start by taking him out for a short walk, bring him back, and then pop out to the shops for a while. Maybe 30 mins tops to begin with and build it up from there.

Thanks! When you say leave him for 30 mins or so, do you mean leave him have the run of the kitchen, or put him in the crate? I kind of have it in my head that I shouldn't risk leaving him run around the kitchen alone for more than maybe 10 mins (and only after we've just come in from a toilet trip), because I think that every time he goes in the house, it's kind of a set back... But maybe I'm wrong about that. I've been seeing the goal as having no accidents in the house at all, but if that involves keeping him in the crate loads then we're probably not even making genuine progress... Sorry, I'm rambling, just not sure what I'm at!

ABajaninCork

Let him have the run of the kitchen at first. If you allow the dog upstairs (I do), then you could slowly extend it. The aim would be to get rid of the crate altogether, and to let the dog know he will be alone sometimes. I tell mine he has to mind the house.

Of course the goal is no accidents at all, but that will never happen. Circumstances get in the way. My dog's done his business twice in the house since he was potty-trained. Once I think was a dirty protest, as we were painting at the time, and his routine was upset. Little sh1t went upstairs, into our room, and did a No2 right by my side of the bed - Not my husband's side by the door. Mine!!

The other one was last week. Went to a funeral, and took my dog to my SiL. He and her dog had a whale of a time doing their business all over the downstairs!! They knew, as the minute we got back, the dogs were in full crawler mode. Both dogs are now 5.

Piglet85

Haha, I can imagine the guilty heads on them!

I know there will be accidents sometimes, but we're quite a way from being house broken in the first place I think... he still goes on the floor most days, and I wouldn't mind only I can't see what's going to make him stop. As I said, he usually pees outside when I bring him. He seems to have no problem understanding what's expected, and that he'll get a treat after. So I just don't know why he'd ever stop going in the house as well! If he'd just bark or stand at the door or something when he needs to go that'd be fine, but the only signal I've noticed is that if he's wandering around, he'll sometimes come and plant himself beside me and stare at me before he pees in the house. As you know though, puppies are inclined to stare at you all the time anyway so it can be hard to tell!

Thanks for the help. More patience needed, and maybe more willingness to just leave him to it and deal with the consequences after...

ABajaninCork

He will let you know when he wants to go - eventually! Mine growls if he wants to go out...

aonb

sounds like you are getting there - he is only 11 weeks and bound to have accidents for a while yet. He is still a baby, and will soon start to ask to go out for toilet. Its normal that he wont have to pee EVERY time you bring him out, so dont worry if he doesnt sometimes, but keep bringing him out in any case.

I would start to let him have the run of the kitchen - with his crate door open - for a bit when you go out. You want him to get used to being on his own. Id put the radio on, make sure he has his fav cuddly toy in his crate. Maybe a little treat in there too to distract him, and as already recommended, leave him there for a little while, building up to a longer time. Will he be in the kitchen when you go out, or have you a smaller utility/whatever he will be in?

Most importantly remember your puppy needs to be socialized too! (I didnt somehow do this so well with with our youngest terrier - we 'pay the price' now )

The puppy phase is so lovely and cuddly, dont worry too much about being with him too much - it will be a bond between you, and make him happier and more confident in his new home

oh and even more importantly - post a pic!!

coathanger

Congratulations on your new puppy. Love jack Russell's such great characters ! Along with other tips , I would advise, introducing him to noises, hovers, fireworks , gunshots & sirens, alarms that sort of thing .To help him grow into a confident dog & not to react to loud or sudden noises. Post some pics!

Piglet85

aonb wrote: »

Will he be in the kitchen when you go out, or have you a smaller utility/whatever he will be in?

Most importantly remember your puppy needs to be socialized too! (I didnt somehow do this so well with with our youngest terrier - we 'pay the price' now )

Yep, it'll be the kitchen I'm afraid, but our kitchen is relatively small at least. You're right, I should let him have the run of it and go out...I'm just so sure that he'll have peed when I get back, and then I think that'll disrupt his progress. I need to get over that...

Thanks for the socialisation tip - probably haven't done enough of that yet! He did great at the vet though when we went for vaccinations. Cool as a breeze throughout, and although he seemed a bit nervous about the other dogs, he didn't whine or anything, just stared at them all wide-eyed! Other than that, he's made friends with the postman, and a friend of ours who has a Great Dane! I held on to him around the Great Dane, but again he was very calm. Still though, better get him meeting more people/animals before its too late!

coathanger wrote: »

Congratulations on your new puppy. Love jack Russell's such great characters ! Along with other tips , I would advise, introducing him to noises, hovers, fireworks , gunshots & sirens, alarms that sort of thing .To help him grow into a confident dog & not to react to loud or sudden noises. Post some pics!

Thank you! I've been doing a bit of that and so far, so good. He's fine with the hoover, hairdryer, dishwasher, cooking timer, those sort of things. To be honest he's doing great when I see think of it all that way, it's just that I've no experience so it's hard to know if we're on track or not.

We had two accident-free days (but I had to lock him in the crate slightly more than I'd like during that time, as work was mental for me). Then this morning, my partner brought him out and he peed but didn't poo. So inevitably he pooed on the floor after a little while. That' s totally our fault though. My partner should have stayed out with him until he pooed, and I should probably not have let him free reign when I knew he hadn't. Still, you live and learn. I don't blame him for not wanting to go outside in that weather anyway!