my puppy is 3 months old and he STILL has a lot of accidents in the house. he doesn't do a good job at telling me when he needs to go outside and he pees a LOT. he used to stand in the same spot, sit, and look at me when he had to go out, but now he just goes anywhere. i live on the 5th floor of an apartment building, so he goes out onto the balcony on a "pee pad" (or, at least, CLOSE to the pee pad...) and i will just take him outside occasionally, just in case, but he normally just cries or barks and wants to come inside. help!
Answers (2)
the fact that he chooses balcony is a good sign already, they sometimes do it everywhere, when they're little, you just have to get used to it and keep showing him the right place, when he does it elsewhere.
since he's 3 months old now, you can start walking on the streets with him, so I would suggest getting a routine. 2 times a day at least, preferably more in the beginning. you'll see he'll get used to it soon. but always keep the balcony option, I mean, you're on the 5th floor and there might not always be a chance for him to get out, when you're at work for example. :) good luck!
Put those expanding gate things across the kitchen doors. Kitchen because there is almost always somebody there. Cover the floor with three layers of newspaper. Every day throw out the top two layers and put down two fresh layers using the old third layer for the new top layer. Feed puppy in one corner and he will eventually dump only in the opposite corner. Then you only have to paper that corner. Every time you see him dumping, tell him "Go potty" and praise him when he finishes. When this has gone on long enough, take him for a walk and take that third layer with you. Tell him "Go potty" and praise him when he is done. After that always take him for a walk at the same time and go to the same place.
It's best to start when the puppy is weaned, so he has never done things any other way. That is true of all other learning too. When you feed him, make him sit before you set the bowl down, and make him stay until you say "Ok." That would be about a fourth of a second at first. Likewise make him heel when you take him outside, never enter the street before you do, and whatever else you want him to learn.
you suggest walking him 2 times a day you mean? i can, but i live in the midwest and it's ridiculously cold and snowy haha that's why we don't really do that so often. he doesn't really "choose" the balcony, i kinda "make" him go there. i pick him up and take him there and then he goes. at first, i DID take him outside, but he pees about every 20 minutes (and right away after drinking) so the going outside option isn't really an option, considering i'd have to walk up and down 5 flights of stairs. my friend has a dog his age and he already knows how to ask to go outside, i just don't know how to make him ask me to go out :/