JordanReagan

My wife and I got Killian from a reputable breeder when he was a little under seven weeks (I know, it's early but the breeder was having leg surgery and would not be able to make it around the house to care for the puppy into 8 weeks) and he has been doing very well with housetraining. We're trying the bell method and he has been pretty good at ringing when he needs to go out and his schedule has been pretty consistent (we take him out right when he wakes up from a nap and a few minutes after he's done eating) and for the most part he pees right away and poops a little after. When Super Storm Sandy came through, the pup was brave and was just fine going into the grass outside and doing his business in the rain and wind. He obviosuly didn't like it, but he did it.

Now, this morning he is two days to nine weeks and just in the first two hours being awake he has had three accidents (all peeing). I took him outside before every accident but he refuses to step onto the grass. The grass is wet with dew but the weather is nice (warm and sunny) so I can't see why he would be scared. This is the first time he has seemed reluctant to relieve himself on the grass and instead, waits to come in to pee.

We have him an a regular watering and feeding schedule and he doesn't seem to be exhibiting any signs of sickness or upset tummy or anything that might lead to believe it might be a medical issue.

My question is...is Killian simply becoming a willful Doberman and trying to tell me he's not going to do what I say quite so easy? Or is there something else going on (ie. normal puppy behavior)? What are your recommendations? We don't want these accidents to become habit.

Thanks.

smudgeid

He's not being willful or obstreperous. There is something else going on.

Dogs, especially young puppies, aren't spiteful or mean & don't pee where they aren't supposed to in order to be willful. They just do - without thinking. It's up to us to figure out what's wrong & how to help them learn.

It could be something happened on his usual grassy spot, it could be something there smells wrong, it could be he's got a uti. (Have him vet checked if he's peeing more than usual.)

Make sure that you clean up his accident place really well so he can't smell any remains & think it's a good spot to go. I'd be tempted to treat, reassure, & make sure he's comfortable in his toilet area.
Kate

PatchworkRobot

Oh, you didn't know? Dobes melt when water touches them, especially their feet.

My boy, who is potty trained and almost two years old, will do anything he can to avoid going out in the rain no matter how long it's been since he's eliminated. In the mornings when the grass is wet with dew he is obviously unhappy about that fact as soon as he steps on the grass and his toes get wet.

Anyways, it could be that, lol. It could be something weird about the spot that he usually pees in.
If he starts acting weird for other reasons and/or this continues then I would take him to the vet.

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barb0604

SO True!! KC will hold it forever, and then when he goes, he really goes. I don't think that's particularly healthy, so there I am, standing in the pouring rain, with him on a leash. He's learned that I will stand in that rain forever, and is much better about going quickly. Good thing I live in California; we seldom get rain...

Julie W

If you took him outside each time before he had an accident in the house that just says that yes, he needed to go, or at least you stimulated that thought by bringing him out, but you didn't stay out with him until he did go. If you think he needs to go, and you bring him out to do it, then you need to stay out with him until he does, or he WILL come back inside and go there.

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falnfenix

so, so true. and INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING at 5am, letmetellya!

Patches Mom

Puppies are not willful gee he might be going through a fear period Google fear periods in puppies which are a normal part of being a puppy. Then of course he might have a UTI ( Urinary tract Infection) There is a reason people should understand puppies /dogs do not have human emotions they do not make plans to get even with you,or be spiteful that is very old school thinking.You can train a puppy /dog in positive ways no crank & yank of back in the old days.Good Luck with you r baby.

Jenn

i heard this about dobermans not liking water!
As its wet season here, i have brought fin out everytime it rains to get him used to water.
He follows the other dog into the water see his reflection and starts playing with his shadow
Have u a command set in place? We say go quick and most the time he will.
Saying that he is 9 weeks old so accidents can happen.
I would stay outside till he goes.

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JordanReagan

Thanks to everyone who commented. I was worried it might be a UTI but later in the day when the grass had dried, Killian went out quickly on the grass with no further problems. I guess he's just going to be a little prince and not want to get his paws wet.

I will be more patient with him outside but I'd read that if your puppy doesn't eleminate within 3-5 minutes, you should take him back inside and wait a few minutes before taking him out again. I've tried a dew marathon sessions of waiting outside but at those points all Killian wants to do is bite at leaves.

9 weeks old is a beautiful, whiny, nipping, fun loving age.

Sceptre

lol...Mayhem is the same way with the dew on his paws. I have found that I actually have to go out into the grass and have him follow....this speeds the process up.

missloulou77

Too funny! My girl Lucy never fails to pee or poop on the sidewalk if there is any chance the grass may get her little toes wet. And if its raining, forget about it lol They are such little stink pots !

Patches Mom

This might help have been doing it this way for about 30 years or so works for all ages & breeds learned it from a dog show person..
House breaking 101 :
If you take them out on about a 6 ft leash it helps keep them focused tell them go potty ,hurry up or what ever words you want to use just use the same words each time. Stand in one spot let them go all around you till they find the spot then Praise like it is the greatest thing you ever saw. If they do not go in about 20 minutes go back in and crate them or tie them to you them go back out in about 30 minutes.pups need to go out after naps,playing, eating & drinking 1st thing in the morning last thing at night depending on the age of the pup you may need to take them out at night too. Always use a pet urine enzyme to clean up all traces of urine or feces you can use a black light to find all traces. It takes about 3-6 months of contestant training to house break a pup the more accidents they have the longer it takes. Hang a bell on the door you go out you ring it until the pup gets the idea how to ring it yes sometimes they ring it to go look at a squirrel but its a phase they go though you just have to go though it with them. Do not forget to praise each time they go to reinforce the potty training. If you are consistent you will also have a pup/dog that will go potty on command comes in handy when it rains,snow, is icy, on a trip at night . People will think you are a amazing trainer too. Good Luck with your new baby.