Am I Doing Something Wrong??

[Pollylod]

I am trying to toilet train my 4 month old puppy, he spends most of the time in the kitchen with the back door open to make it easier for him to go when he needs to, he's an intelligent dog and seems to know what to do which is encouraged by a lot of praise, but then every time I go out of the kitchen and shut the door from the rest of the house, he gets upset and wines and cries until I'm back, and he will wee or poo in the kitchen knowing he shouldn't, it almost feels like he's doing it to punish me for leaving him!

Does anyone have any advise as to what might be going on here please??

[rsvp]

pollylod he's not trying to punish you - dogs don't think like that - he also doesn't 'know' yet that he shouldn't make a mess in the kitchen so don't punish him for this - he's very young is getting anxious when he's excluded from your company. Suggest you completely ignore the behaviour and continue with his house training by keeping the kitchen door closed but going out with him into the garden on very regular occasions and praising him when he gets it right. Certainly take him out immediately after his meals as this is a likely time for him to void.
He's very, very young still and there will be mistakes for a while yet - ignore these.
He needs to get used to being alone at times so try and do this very short periods only, maybe when he's had a play and is tired - make sure he has a safe comfortable place to sleep in.

[woofgang]

well I think you are getting it a bit wrong. here's what is called no error housetraining, fast, easy and kind to the dog.
Housetraining is fast and easy if you do the no error method. Basically you take pup outside on waking, before and after eating if he wakes at night (keep him with you in box or crate) during exciting play and by default at about half hourly intervals while he is awake. If he has an accident indoors you wont get excited or angry it is because it is your fault not his. watch pup and you will earn what he does immediately before he goes (sniff the floor, walk in a circle, crouch and shuffle, go to a corner and so on) if you see that behaviour, cheerfully take him outside, carry at first then call him to go with you. If you carry, folding the tail in over his bum can help to "cork" him so you don't get peed on.
when you take pup outside, stay with him till he goes then praise lavishly and give a yummy treat. While he is out there, don't interact with him until he has gone, just stand calmly and wait. Once he is starting to get the hang of it, you cn add in a trigger word so that he will at least pee on request, its useful when taking him in the car or going out and leaving him when he is much older.
He will quickly get the hang of this and start to go to the door when he needs to wee/poo. Praise and encourage this but save the jackpot praise and treats for after he has been. Still take out very regularly as he won't be able to wait for long and still stay with him till he goes.
I do no error because i hate cleaning up mess. if you do get messes in the house, clean up thoroughly with a specialist product( I use zybax from advance burt you can get others) to get rid of the smell as the smell will make him think its where he should go. personally I think pads are a waste of money and confusing to pup as you are telling him its okay to go indoors then you have to tell him it isn't.

Please don't leave your four month old puppy alone. He will get anxious and turn into an anxious dog who can't be left alone without messing in the house or wrecking things.

[woofgang]

oh PSthis was written to start training at seven/eight weeks old but its exactly the same whatever age you do it, works with adult dogs too although it may take a bit longer.

[Islay]

Woofgang regarding the trigger word -we used piddletime - still use it now and even with aged dogs they still know that its time.

[woofgang]

yes Islay, once learned it sticks. Mine have also learned that when we are going out in the car, I need to see them wee when asked as one boy learned to run around the corner in the garden and come bouncing back without going. The result of this is that i now need to be ready to move fast to avoid splashed shoes lol.

[Islay]

We would let ours out at night for their last piddle before bed but they were waking us up again a few hours later, we discovered they were not peeing at night because they new they get a treat at bedtime so they were just standing by the door!!
We now go out an watch them!

[Canary42]

Cruel IMO confining him to the kitchen - why have a pet then shut him out of your life when it suits you ?

[Pollylod]

Hi mark thank you for your very prompt and sound reply, I will take on board what you say and go with that, I do still feel like it's a bit of showing off on his part because he does go outside most of time, I've brought him and his siblings up from a week old, he's the only one left, they are from my sons dog, so they visit most days, and he does this straight away every time they go!! I'll take what you say on board, see how I go

Thank you for your mark

[Pollylod]

Don't criticise unless you know the circumstances, best you read my first message again properly, I've brought this dog and his siblings up from a week old, not knowing anything about dogs!! But decided to keep him, because of his odd toilet habits I shut him in the kitchen when I'm doing something, but who even said that he was only aloud in the kitchen to begin with. You should really think about what you are saying before you start an argument not knowing what the hell you are talking about.

[woofgang]

Pollylod, you are making your dog anxious by shutting him in the kitchen and that is why he wees and poos. Please stop doing it, and housetrain him properly! You have said you knew nothing about dogs please take advice from people who do, otherwise why ask the question?