Another tip I got from videos are that beef liver treats are the golden standard of treats for dogs, so from day one I've used those and only those for potty treats.

Whatever your dog likes the most, that's what they get for going potty outside. Be strict about not using that treat for other rewards.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you all for the really great advice. We will definitely implement!

The crate is just large enough to fit his little bed which doesn't seem too big for him...maybe the crate is too wide? We can adjust how long it is but not the width. I'll have to look into that. I haven't actually caught him in the act of peeing in the crate, so I don't know what the habit is (e.g. trying to curl up into a corner and pee vs. just peeing right where he is).

I will watch his pre-pee behaviors (I also notice the sniffing followed by the squat to pee) but he also sniffs around in general, so it's sometimes hard to tell which is pee associated.

It's maddening, but I've been erring on the side of caution with that meaning I swoop puppy up when it's a maybe pre-pee sniff instead of wondering. The 3 times I thought eh no she's just sniffing the ground, bamm, accident.

I saw a video where the guy said it's ok if your dog doesn't go every time you take it outside it's better to take it out more than needed at first, which made me feel encouraged that false alarms in terms of going out are better than doubting myself.

OP here. Thank you all for the really great advice. We will definitely implement!

The crate is just large enough to fit his little bed which doesn't seem too big for him...maybe the crate is too wide? We can adjust how long it is but not the width. I'll have to look into that. I haven't actually caught him in the act of peeing in the crate, so I don't know what the habit is (e.g. trying to curl up into a corner and pee vs. just peeing right where he is).

I will watch his pre-pee behaviors (I also notice the sniffing followed by the squat to pee) but he also sniffs around in general, so it's sometimes hard to tell which is pee associated.

Lab, 10 weeks old. At night she sleeps 2 or 3 hours then she would need to go. It is exhausting for me. Your post gave me some confidence that she will do better every week.

Anonymous wrote:To tag along OP’s post, I have a question about night time potty training. I take my puppy out to the backyard to go potty in the day. However I hate to go out at night two or three times every night. It’s too cold, and my deck has a few stares to the yard, and yard is slippery with the recent rain weather. So I let my puppy pee on a pad by the door. I think my puppy is confused and ends up having accidents in the house. What would you do? Thanks!

How old, what kind of dog, and what times are you taking your puppy?

2-3 times a night seems like a lot unless you are counting a 9/10 pm last pee of the night outing. From early on (8 weeks), we would take puppy out at around 9/10 and then once before morning. I would take him out at 6:30 am when he was really young but he was comfortable waiting until 7:30 am by the time is was about 14 weeks old if not sooner. We stopped the middle of the night pees before he was 12 weeks old, he just started sleeping through (or at least not whining to go out).

Can you take him out the front at night on a leash, meaning are there fewer steps? It is just a quick pee, not a walk in the middle of the night.

^stairs

To tag along OP’s post, I have a question about night time potty training. I take my puppy out to the backyard to go potty in the day. However I hate to go out at night two or three times every night. It’s too cold, and my deck has a few stares to the yard, and yard is slippery with the recent rain weather. So I let my puppy pee on a pad by the door. I think my puppy is confused and ends up having accidents in the house. What would you do? Thanks!

I'd have the vet check him out. Use belly bands in the house. Outside, tell him to "go pee pee" or whatever your word is. Praise and treat when he does. Inside get a tin coffee can full of coins and shake it if he starts to pee in the house with a loud "NO". I also use a spray bottle of apple cider vinegar to train my dog about NO things. Works like a charm. Don't spray it on their eyes/nose mouth, just in their general direction, again with a loud "NO".. Between the noise, the smell and the sight of the spray bottle, works great to deter behavior.

Inside puppy should always be on a leash and next to you or in the crate. Make sure the crate is small enough that he doesn't want to pee the blankets.

I actually attach two cages for puppies - one with the bedding and one with peed pads. I connect the crates so puppies can leave the bed area and go to the pee pads.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really important that if you catch them having the accident you pick them up mid-pee and take them outside to finish.

I also kept our puppy (now 10 months) on a leash attached to me and watched for any sign to go outside. I also did every 2 hours like clockwork. I downloaded an app that tracked his pees, poops and accidents and it would send me reminders base on past behavior when a pee was expected.

Good luck.

What's this app called??

Puppy potty log. It is super simple.

Anonymous wrote:Really important that if you catch them having the accident you pick them up mid-pee and take them outside to finish.

I also kept our puppy (now 10 months) on a leash attached to me and watched for any sign to go outside. I also did every 2 hours like clockwork. I downloaded an app that tracked his pees, poops and accidents and it would send me reminders base on past behavior when a pee was expected.

Good luck.

What's this app called??