Need Advice -- House Training Two 3 1/5-Month-Old Black Lab Puppies

**Alberta4Me** · 08-03-2011, 01:35 AM

Near the middle of June (2011), I adopted a little female black lab puppy (10 weeks old). House training was actually going very well with "Ella". She would even whine to be let out to poop. (Which surprised me due to her young age.) Two weeks later we ended up adopting her sister, "Cinder". Cinder has a level 4-5 (out of 6) heart murmur, and I was concerned with the kind of home she would end up in. The vet had said that she would probably not survive the surgery when she was spayed. I decided that if that ended up the case, I wanted to make sure Cinder had a great home for the time she was here. (**Side Note** Cinder saw the vet last week again and he is VERY pleased with her. She is growing very well and is very happy and content. He now believes she may just make it through the surgery if things continue as they are now.)

When Cinder arrived, it was obvious that the breeders had not spent a lot of time on house training with her. She would relieve herself anywhere and at anytime (even after I had just taken her outside). In the meantime, Ella's training started going backwards. In the past few weeks, things have been getting better, but I am hoping for some additional advice on things I could try. Here is some additional information so you know what I've been doing.

The puppies have been crate-trained from day one with me. (They each have their separate crates, and they love them, especially Cinder.) Initially, when the pups were first with me, I was getting up every two hours during the night to take them outside. Gradually I increased the time. Now I wait for one of them to whine to let me know they need to go out. They currently go to bed at 9pm and sleep until approximately 3am. I put them both outside at that time and they go back into their crates until 6am.

The girls get fed just a little bit after they get up at 6am. They are put outside immediately after I get them up at 6am, and they will both pee at that time. Within 15-20 minutes later, they are put outside again as they usually both have to poop. The next three hours are usually the best three hours of the day. The girls eat and play with each other. They also each spend a bit of time cuddling with me. I put them out every hour or whenever I can tell that one needs to go outside. Occasionally, one will go to the back door and whine. I'm a teacher (and currently on summer vacation) so the pups and my 6-year-old daughter are usually with me all day. (I am a single parent...with the other parent not involved.) Sometimes I find a pee spot somewhere and sometimes one of the pups will just squat right in front of me with no warning. When I catch one of them, I do hold their nose near it and say, "No. Outside." I then take them outside.

Both pups are excellent when I do take them outside as they will pee right away (and poop if needed). I just can't seem to get the accidents in the house to stop. (Some days, I deal with 5-8 accidents.)

Since I am a single mom with a young child, I can not see how I would be able to adequately tie the pups to me with their leashes. (I do restrict their movement in the house as they are not permitted in the basement or upstairs where they both REALLY like to poop and pee.)

Both pups also LOVE water. They would gladly drink litres upon litres per day. For the first time with any dog, I am not "free watering" with these two. They get drinks regularly (every 30 min or so) throughout the day, but I put the dish down then remove it after a bit. (They are definitely not dehydrated as their pee is almost always clear or very, very pale yellow.)

Any tips??

**Tanya** · 08-03-2011, 08:58 AM

please do not hold their nose to the pee and scold. this is old school training and, clearly not working. If you catch one going then you need either just let them go OR make a loud sound in attemps to stop the flow and carry them outside adn reward when they go.

They need to be supervised more if they are having accidents you do not see. YES this is going to be ALOT of work with two puppies AND a young daughter but...that is what raising a puppy is all about. If you cannot superivse them crate them.

They are both still young so it isn't all that unusual for them to have accidents, especially with two puppies.

Make sure to use the proper cleaning products (nature's mirecle, vinegar, etc) to clean teh accidents otherwise the smell lingers (even with most household products) to the dog's nose.

Also, make sure to seperate the puppies and take them on seperate walks/outings and hopefully seperate obedience classes. You need for them to develop into their own dogs and not always rely on one another. Raising littermates to be well rounded dogs is ALOT of work because of this but it ist he KEY to raising them properly. OFten littermates bond to each other first and family second, which creates exagerations in their personality (one will be more submissive, the other more alpha) and the inability to "deal" when the other is out of the house.

They need to be socizlied both together AND seperately so the learn to take on life without their siblings.

**xkill911** · 08-03-2011, 01:39 PM

I was in your shoes a few weeks ago, here's a 7 page thread about it if you want to read

so I messed up and got 2 puppies at ounce

my only advice is to try to re-home one. my puppies life and my families life has drastically improved since re-homing one, if do keep both, congrats to you, I couldn't do it

**Alberta4Me** · 08-03-2011, 08:34 PM

Thanks for the advice!

I should mention that I am aware of the fact that I need to encourage "separate" identities in the pups. I did my research before adopting the 2nd one. The girls sleep in separate crates, and I do things with them separately. I take them for walks together and individually. I spend time working on obedience training separately. The girls are very comfortable being together or away from each other. The girls are also used to going to "gramma's house" separately on occasion. One will go and visit for a couple hours one day and another day, the other pup goes for a visit. (When they go to obedience classes in September, they are each signed up for classes on different days.) From all my reading, I saw that this aspect of raising littermates was extremely important so I've made it a priority.

Today has actually been an awesome day for house training. We've only had one accident, and it was at the back door. Each night I was vacuuming the floors then washing them with a bleach-mixture. Last night I used two different things -- Mr. Clean with Fabreeze along with a House Training Aid spray (that helps eliminate odours). We'll see how the next few days go, but this could have been my biggest problem.

Again, thanks for your input!

**maloneandme** · 08-03-2011, 10:47 PM

sounds like things are getting better! you sound well educated!! welcome from SASK!

**lisa** · 08-04-2011, 07:37 AM

Originally Posted by Tanya

please do not hold their nose to the pee and scold. this is old school training and, clearly not working. If you catch one going then you need either just let them go OR make a loud sound in attemps to stop the flow and carry them outside adn reward when they go.

They need to be supervised more if they are having accidents you do not see. YES this is going to be ALOT of work with two puppies AND a young daughter but...that is what raising a puppy is all about. If you cannot superivse them crate them.

They are both still young so it isn't all that unusual for them to have accidents, especially with two puppies.

Make sure to use the proper cleaning products (nature's mirecle, vinegar, etc) to clean teh accidents otherwise the smell lingers (even with most household products) to the dog's nose.

Also, make sure to seperate the puppies and take them on seperate walks/outings and hopefully seperate obedience classes. You need for them to develop into their own dogs and not always rely on one another. Raising littermates to be well rounded dogs is ALOT of work because of this but it ist he KEY to raising them properly. OFten littermates bond to each other first and family second, which creates exagerations in their personality (one will be more submissive, the other more alpha) and the inability to "deal" when the other is out of the house.

They need to be socizlied both together AND seperately so the learn to take on life without their siblings.

^^^
That

**zoesmom** · 08-04-2011, 12:39 PM

does Mr. Clean contain ammonia? if so, it may attract your pups to pee where you cleaned.

Whatever you do, don’t use ammonia. A dog’s urine contains ammonia, so if you use ammonia, it is likely to encourage your dog to continue going on your carpet in that same spot – which is not what you want.

Canine House Training

**BigBrownDog** · 08-04-2011, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by zoesmom

does Mr. Clean contain ammonia? if so, it may attact your pups to pee where you cleaned.

Canine House Training

Agreed - not sure what the contents of the "House Training Spray" are but if you have vinegar, peroxide or a product called "Natures Miracle" those will eliminate the urine odor so that your dog will not get a scent message to pee there again.

**Jes** · 08-06-2011, 01:54 PM

I browsed through your post quick and had to add.. have you tried giving them a small treat every time they go potty outside? I have a 9 week old and that seems to help a lot. Treat + lots and lots of praise. Sorry if that was already suggested

It sounds like you're off to a great start!

**Alberta4Me** · 08-06-2011, 02:27 PM

I appreciate all the tips.

The House Training Aid spray is designed to cover up the smell of urine. It definitely seems to be helping. (Mr. Clean does not contain ammonia. I checked.)

We've actually had a few really good days. Because Cinder doesn't usually make any noise whatsoever, I'm attempting to teach her to use a little bell that is attached to the backdoor. (She likes to "bat" at things so I thought she might like this.) Ella is really good at whining when she needs to go out.

The treat idea is great! Both my girls would definitely be up for that!

Again, thanks!