Puppy seems to be going backwards with housebreaking

Question
QUESTION: I have an almost 4 mos. old Havanese.  We crate him at night (he can go from 10:30pm-7am) and when we are out during the day (no more than 2hrs).  We primarily keep him in the kitchen, so he only has run of the house when we absolutely can follow him around and know he just relieved him self of both pee and poo.  Lately, when we bring him to his "spot" outside, he won't go.  So as we walk back to the house or start our little walk etc. he'll go on the lawn, not in his spot.  Today, he pulled away from me at his spot and proceeded to start to squat and poop.  I immediately picked him up and ran him to his spot and he refused to go. Then growled at me because I wouldn't let him leave the spot.  So, I brought him in the house and put him in the crate and took him out 10-15mins later.  He also has been having a few (just a few) more accidents in the house lately.  He has not developed a consistent way to let us know he has to go.  We just take him out on a regular schedule and when he starts sniffing around.  Sometimes he will bark to go out, others he'll ring the bell we've tried to train him to use, others he'll sit quietly at the gate waiting for us to see him and others he'll just go without any signs or warnings.  What is wrong?  Are we doing something wrong?  Is there no end in sight?  Help!

ANSWER: Jan, is his potty area >>clean<<? If not, that may be the reason why he doesn't want to 'go' there anymore.

Is he neutered? It could be that he is beginning to feel the need to mark his territory.

Have you been praising him for pottying in the designated area? Is there a clear, definitive boundary or is it just one particular place in the yard? Maybe you need to put a boundary to it so that it becomes easier for him to understand.


Do not scold him, or pick him up and carry him to the spot if he starts to potty in the wrong place; use the leash and make him go to the spot on his own, and then praise him when he potties there.

You're doing things right. It just takes more time with some than it does with others. My male German shepherd took about 2 years to be completely trustworthy in regards to house training. Other dogs I have had have taken anywhere from a day or two to several weeks, and I use the same methods with all of them. Every dog is different. I would recommend that you continue to just keep an eye on him and take him out whenever he is showing signs of needing to go. He'll get it eventually!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your response.  His area is clean.  We remove all "messes" immediately.  It is a defined area right off our lawn in the wooded area.  Defined by trees, bushes and a general cleared area.  We have been carrying him to the "spot", maybe that is not good?  Is he being defiant?

Answer
I think you have your answer. You said, "We have been carrying him to the 'spot'." You need to walk him to it. He needs to go there on his own accord, so that he can make the correlation. ;^)

Walk him out there. If he tries to stop and go potty before you get there, don't stop! Just keep going, tug tug tugging on the lead (not dragging him) to encourage him to keep moving. Then, when you get to the 'spot,' walk him around in that area to help stimulate his bowels and bladder to relieve themselves, and, if you are not already doing so, begin saying a short phrase or word that you want him to associate with going potty, whenever you see him start to 'go.' It can be as simple as 'go potty,' or you can use a made-up, nonsense word if you want to. Repeat the word or phrase over and over while he is doing his business, and as soon as he's finished, praise him happily, saying, "Good potty! Good boy!" and play with him for a few minutes or let him off the lead if it's safe to do so (you didn't say if your yard was fenced).

If he doesn't go potty within 5 minutes of arriving at the spot, walk him back to the house. If he starts to go potty while you are walking back to the house, say 'aat aat!' and quickly get him back over to the spot using the tug tug tugging action on the lead.

If he doesn't go potty within 5 minutes of arriving at the spot, and you take him back to the house, keep him on the lead so that if he starts to potty on the floor you can quickly get him back out to the spot.


Good luck. With consistency and patience, you'll get there!