Behavior/Potty Training

Question
I have a 6 month old female boxer Isabella, she broke her leg at 8 weeks from jumping off the couch, she is now all better! But her broken leg slowed potty training down,I have been crate training her consistently since about 3 months, I allow her to come out after I take her outside. For some reason she still ends up going to the bathroom even after a few minutes from coming inside. I usually crate her at night but I allowed her to sleep with me the other night and she urinated in my bed. When she does urinate or poo in the house I take her outside and directly put her in her kennel. I praise her constantly and give her treats for going outside. She is very smart I have taught her to sit, shake and lay before the age of 4 months so I know she is capable of getting this. I really want to get her out of the kennel, and she would be free to the house if she could just get this pottying out of the way. Oh something else, she hates going outside I literally have to pick her up and sit her outside? Please help I love her so much im just out of ideas.

Answer
Hi April,

It sounds like a few things are going on here.

I don't know your weather conditions, but weather has a lot to do if they like to go outside or not.

Rain, cold, etc., can cause them to dislike outside.

In order for her to associate "outside" as safe and inviting, you might want to schedule 20 minutes (15 minimum) outside play daily. Take a tug-of-war, a ball, and a frisbee outside with you and play with her. That "fun" will be associated with outside.

Yes, the broken leg "undid" the potty training.

Next time she pees inside, mop it up with a paper towel. Take the paper towel and her outside. Place the pee-soaked paper towel on the ground in the spot you prefer her to pee. Each and every time. Stay with her. Show it to her. If she pees there, at any time, praise her and give her a treat.

If she poops in the house, scoop it up with a paper towel or cat litter scooper, and take it and her outside again. Place the poop on the ground in the spot you want her to poop. Show it to her. If she pees or poops there, praise her and give her a treat.

You can scold her with a "bad girl" and "no, bad" where she peed and pooped inside, but follow my directions above immediately. Never shout or raise your voice at her. Just stern.

Keep a cookie jar of treats near the back door, and when she comes inside, give her a treat.

You will need to supervise her outside to be sure she is peeing and pooping outside. Not just going out and coming back in without doing her business.

Do not use the crate for discipline. You do not want her to associate the crate and crate training with any negatives. It needs to be a positive association to her. Use the crate for when you need to leave the house only if possible.

Leave the crate door opened and some toys (I prefer Nyla bones and Kong toys only when unsupervised) inside the crate. That way, she can come and go in and out of the crate at will in order to create a pleasant and safe place for her, that is not forced.

Obviously when you need to leave, you will have to shut the crate door.

Try these things and let me know how it worked for you.

Good luck.