Lemmys Mum Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 My partner and I have just taken on our first dog,Lemmy. We have had him almost a week now and he is a 6mth old, Miniature Australian Bulldog. The breeders said he was toliet trained, and they used to take him out with the other dogs after exercise, meals, sleep etc.. We live in a large apartment and have dedicated a balcony for 'the toilet', we put newspaper (as suggested) outside the door, inside the door and in a few places outside and leave the door open. (although it makes the apartment freezing we are bearing it) He was good the first few times and we would take him out after said times, and even went a few times on his own, but then sometimes, he will just go inside. last night 4 times, even though he has gone outside assisted and on his own all during the day... Is there a reason is so all over the place? At 6mths should he still be doing this? Any advice would be amazing!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Does he toilet outside when you walk him?toilet trained and paper trained is a different thing - if he was not trained to toilet on newspaper - then yes, he will make mistakes. Also- at 6 mths, if he is not yet castrated, he may be learning to 'mark' like a 'real' dog. you may need to take him out every 1/2 hr or so.. and praise him like mad when he goes. keep him either on a leash, or crated indoors when you're there- so you KNOW there will be no mistakes ;) perhaps get him an indoor doggie loo - which uses fake grass ? better than soiled newspaper flying around on a windy day ;) Another thing to consider ..if he is piddling a lot is a urinary infection.... was he all healthy on his first vet check? They are a very active type of dog , AFAIK, and being a 'bull' type, will need lots of careful attention to correct socialisation with other dogs ! Not the sort of dog I'd give someone in an apartment for a first dog - but ..... you've got him now. Do you have a 'cooling of f period' - if something goes wrong (either with you, or the dog)own the line, will the breeder take him back for you ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oskar & Zsa Zsa Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 I see you are in victoria. If you are Melbourne Metro, the weather may have something to do with it. I have Zsa Zsa house trained, but, when it's raining, she will not go out in the rain, but rather do it on the pavers not the grass. So perhaps your puppy is a little reluctant to go out into the weather at the moment. What I have been doing, is just taking Zsa Zsa out onto the grass regularly and praising her when she does it. She did go through a stage for a few days where she did the same thing as you are saying and went inside. When she did, I mopped it up with a paper towel, took her and the wet towel out onto the grass, put the paper towel down, let her sniff it, then praised her. It took a day and she hasn't done it inside again. Is it dry on the balcony where puppy can go? If not, that may be part of the reason. Also, as someone else suggested, if he has been OK up till now, it could also be a little bladder infection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemmys Mum Posted July 7, 2011 Author Share Posted July 7, 2011 Does he toilet outside when you walk him?toilet trained and paper trained is a different thing - if he was not trained to toilet on newspaper - then yes, he will make mistakes. Also- at 6 mths, if he is not yet castrated, he may be learning to 'mark' like a 'real' dog. you may need to take him out every 1/2 hr or so.. and praise him like mad when he goes. keep him either on a leash, or crated indoors when you're there- so you KNOW there will be no mistakes ;) perhaps get him an indoor doggie loo - which uses fake grass ? better than soiled newspaper flying around on a windy day ;) Another thing to consider ..if he is piddling a lot is a urinary infection.... was he all healthy on his first vet check? They are a very active type of dog , AFAIK, and being a 'bull' type, will need lots of careful attention to correct socialisation with other dogs ! Not the sort of dog I'd give someone in an apartment for a first dog - but ..... you've got him now. Do you have a 'cooling of f period' - if something goes wrong (either with you, or the dog)own the line, will the breeder take him back for you ? Thanks for your reply persephone, Lemmy has not been desexed yet, it dosnt seem like he is 'marking' as such as it normally happens a few meters fromt he balcony door. We have a very large apartment the house of most victorian 2br cottages in melbourne, the front balcony we use to feed him, the middle paved courtyard for the toilet. We take him out 3 times a day for walks (as we have only had him since saturday this has only been the last 3 days) 30mins at 6.30am, 45-60min at 2pm just before my partner leaves for work and 30mins at 7pm when I get home from work. i also normally have a 'playtime' with him before bed (throwing the ball up and down the long hallway) around 10pm. He did go outside this morning when i took him out, and last night he went on the floor just as i was grabbing my coat. I understand it will take time and we haven't had him in long and its a new enviroment but i just wondered if this progress was normal for his age. We put the newspaper down outside and inside the door as reccomended from the bredders, as this is what they do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonecutter Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Crate training sounds like a good idea in this situation to help with control Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemmys Mum Posted July 7, 2011 Author Share Posted July 7, 2011 I see you are in victoria. If you are Melbourne Metro, the weather may have something to do with it. I have Zsa Zsa house trained, but, when it's raining, she will not go out in the rain, but rather do it on the pavers not the grass. So perhaps your puppy is a little reluctant to go out into the weather at the moment. What I have been doing, is just taking Zsa Zsa out onto the grass regularly and praising her when she does it. She did go through a stage for a few days where she did the same thing as you are saying and went inside. When she did, I mopped it up with a paper towel, took her and the wet towel out onto the grass, put the paper towel down, let her sniff it, then praised her. It took a day and she hasn't done it inside again. Is it dry on the balcony where puppy can go? If not, that may be part of the reason. Also, as someone else suggested, if he has been OK up till now, it could also be a little bladder infection. I did wonder about the weather, it is an open balcony but sheltered from the wind. I have been mopping it up with a paper towel and taking it outside, but not letting him sniff it, i will try this. But when he has gone outside i do give him a treat straight away and praise him...I guess its just time and persistance,just once again im surprise its taking a while considering his age, but it is a new enviroment... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percyk Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 some dogs are fantastic and learn quickly others arent i had a german shepherd who was dry in less than 48hrs;;;he learned to wake me up with paws on bed to go outside but he was the odd one since then i have had the usual dogs...and the last one took 18months desexed ones can still mark so you have to be really vigilant but thats more common if therere more than one dog in the fam i have had single dogs who never marked inside and were undesexed if i were you id have him on a leash all day know his every move that way he will get to know the routine so have him tethered to heavy furniture or an eyelet in the skirting board next to his bed or actually hold his leash when you can and let him out every half hour then increase to an hour my latest boy used to puddle every 15minutes when he was tiny none of this standard hour business for him but now hes approaching four and hes a gentleman when it comes to toileting...squats like a girl...does it all regular as clockwork and will gently push on my bedroom door if we are sleeping in on the weekends it just takes time good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doglifetraining Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 Wow, you guys must be cold having to leave the door open, it's freezing here in Melbourne at the moment. At this stage you need to treat your new dog just like a new puppy. Take him to the toilet after sleeping, eating and playing. When you cant watch him he needs to be confined to a small space. Over time you will be able to allow him more freedom, but not yet. You should also look in to some fake grass for dogs. You can put this on your balcony...... Dog Toilet Give your pup at least 6 weeks to settle in. Everything is so brand new for him at this stage. Here is a great dog training school you might like... Dog Club Melbourne Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19Caz69 Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 I've found the artificial grass squares from Bunnings are fantastic on our balcony, both dogs used them from day 1 They sell in packs of 6, plastic bases clip together & grass sections can be replaced if needed. Great wash & wear for balcony spaces Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 Toilet trained and paper trained are definitely not the same thing! They are really, really different, going outside on grass/dirt is natural for dogs, going on newspaper is not. You neeed to take him to the paper on lead and reward heavily for going on there. Addditionally, at 6 months, pups are still learning and moving to a new environment may cause them to make mistakes. They need to be shown where to go and sometimes also be taken out regularly to remind them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemmys Mum Posted July 17, 2011 Author Share Posted July 17, 2011 Thanks guys for all the tips, Lemmmy is coming along great for two weeks training and in our home he is doing pretty well i think. He is down to one accident a day and is even managing to get outside when he wakes in the middle of the night. I have found that if im in the kitchen after he's eaten he will go out to the courtyard as its close, but if im further away, thats when he's inclined to have an accident. Although I walk him after his evening meal so he goes out side while we walk..... I am realising he is one smart dog and am happy with his progress. Thanks again fopr all the tips, it has been very helpful :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 I've found the artificial grass squares from Bunnings are fantastic on our balcony, both dogs used them from day 1 They sell in packs of 6, plastic bases clip together & grass sections can be replaced if needed. Great wash & wear for balcony spaces How big are they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ons Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 I'd sleep him in a crate at night so he isn't wandering he should cry when he wants to go to the toilet as he shouldn't want his bedding soiled and then take him outside, let him do his business, lots of praise and then put him back in the crate. he may wel prefer his crate in your bedroom. everything is so new to him so he may take a time to settle in but he will get there eventually. four times in a night is a bit much, maybe it is because he could wander. I would go and get a vet check up just to make sure he doesn't have an infection oh and could we please have a photo? little bulldog puppy - awwww Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemmys Mum Posted July 17, 2011 Author Share Posted July 17, 2011 He is just going once a night. No crate but his bed is in our room, we are slowly edging it out a bit each night, down the hall and into the lounge. He knows thre word 'bed' now and when we go to bed he gopes straight to his bed and sleeps through the night (apart from one toliet trip). Hopefully this photo works!! I'd sleep him in a crate at night so he isn't wandering he should cry when he wants to go to the toilet as he shouldn't want his bedding soiled and then take him outside, let him do his business, lots of praise and then put him back in the crate. he may wel prefer his crate in your bedroom. everything is so new to him so he may take a time to settle in but he will get there eventually. four times in a night is a bit much, maybe it is because he could wander. I would go and get a vet check up just to make sure he doesn't have an infection oh and could we please have a photo? little bulldog puppy - awwww Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19Caz69 Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I've found the artificial grass squares from Bunnings are fantastic on our balcony, both dogs used them from day 1 They sell in packs of 6, plastic bases clip together & grass sections can be replaced if needed. Great wash & wear for balcony spaces How big are they? Each of the squares are 40x40 cm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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