Potty Training

[kathyn2]

OK, I have a new 5 1/2 month old Maltese that has had NO potty training! He was kept in a small pen on a kitchen type floor with towels on the floor ALL day long and he went in this area.

He is soooooooo happy here because he sleeps in the bed and runs around the house and he is in his glory but he pees and poops! I have tried to keep him in the crate but he cries and cries unless I am sitting right by him and I don't want him to have to live in a crate any more. The only time he pees and poops outside is first thing in the morning. He has NOT peed or pooped in the bed so he has to go bad in the morning and I put him right out. I also put him out every hour or 2 but he just romps in the yard as happy as a clam and then will come in and do his business!

I am now trying to keep him on a leash most of the day or in the crate for a while if I am cooking dinner or something but he still finds time to get around and pee and poop. It seems he waits for an opportune time when you forget to keep control of him. Any hints on training an older puppy that has been doing his business wherever he pleases for 5 months?

[mia's mom]

OK, I have a new 5 1/2 month old Maltese that has had NO potty training! He was kept in a small pen on a kitchen type floor with towels on the floor ALL day long and he went in this area.

He is soooooooo happy here because he sleeps in the bed and runs around the house and he is in his glory but he pees and poops! I have tried to keep him in the crate but he cries and cries unless I am sitting right by him and I don't want him to have to live in a crate any more. The only time he pees and poops outside is first thing in the morning. He has NOT peed or pooped in the bed so he has to go bad in the morning and I put him right out. I also put him out every hour or 2 but he just romps in the yard as happy as a clam and then will come in and do his business!

I am now trying to keep him on a leash most of the day or in the crate for a while if I am cooking dinner or something but he still finds time to get around and pee and poop. It seems he waits for an opportune time when you forget to keep control of him. Any hints on training an older puppy that has been doing his business wherever he pleases for 5 months?


You have 3 choices either crate him, pad train him or outside train him. With my Malts both are outside trained. Every now and then when I slack off Mia will pee on my hubby's rug. I take them out every 3-4 hrs. I wait patiently until they go. Peanut is my challenged baby. He thinks going outside is just an outing. Sometimes he goes sometimes he doesn't I keep a pad out just in case. He has gotten better. I crate trained Mia and yes she cried the first couple of times. Cody's old owner was pee pad training and when I got him I trained him to potty outside right out. Nothing has worked for Peanut but I am patient and he is slowly learning. You need to confine him until he learns right from wrong.

[Morkie4]

All three of mine are outside trained. I find that you have to devote yourself totally to the training to get accomplished........I am very fortunate in that I was able to sleep, eat and live like a dog until all three were housetrained. Toby was six months, Kallie was 2 1/2 years and Brandy was 2 years old when we adopted them so they were older. But being consistant, keeping them on a leash when taking them outside to go potty limits their movement and always take them to the same spot so they can "smell" and get the insentive to go. AND always follow up with a small tastey treat and a huge amount of verbal rewards when they start to potty. I even reward them with a treat when they come inside. So keeping one eye on them at all times when they are inside is an absolute must! They will usual sneak off or start smelling for a spot and that is when you have to collect them an tall the potty outside and wisk them out to the potty area. Repetition, being consistant, rewards (food/verbal/physical) and especially patient will bring results. *** It really works!!

[Amy Cohen]

Our maltese is 4 months old. For the 1st month we had him I
did keep him in the crate evry 2 hours took him out on the leash( to a pad) if he peed or pooped I played with him for 25 minutes, then put him back into the crate and 2 hours later take him out on the leash to the pad, if he peed or pooped big reward YEA! and played for 25 min. Then after 1 week I couldnt keep him in the crate so I let him out in the kitchen/den area. He went to the pad 100% for a treat during the day but poop was another story. 75% on the pad.
Went back to the trainer and he told me I need to go back to the training technique if I want him to truly learn to be trained. I atarted today and its killing me to keep him in the crate whil im in the room. He slept most of the time BUT when I took him to the pad on his leash he did his business there and we played together for 25 minutes. Iwas so happy but i hope I can do this without giving up.
What do you think?

[Morkie4]

Our maltese is 4 months old. For the 1st month we had him I
did keep him in the crate evry 2 hours took him out on the leash( to a pad) if he peed or pooped I played with him for 25 minutes, then put him back into the crate and 2 hours later take him out on the leash to the pad, if he peed or pooped big reward YEA! and played for 25 min. Then after 1 week I couldnt keep him in the crate so I let him out in the kitchen/den area. He went to the pad 100% for a treat during the day but poop was another story. 75% on the pad.
Went back to the trainer and he told me I need to go back to the training technique if I want him to truly learn to be trained. I atarted today and its killing me to keep him in the crate whil im in the room. He slept most of the time BUT when I took him to the pad on his leash he did his business there and we played together for 25 minutes. Iwas so happy but i hope I can do this without giving up.
What do you think?


I think if it worked with the pee training it should work with the poo! Just hand in there and he will get the idea just like he did with the pee pad training! You will be soooooooooo glad you did if you keep at his training until he has it in mind to go potty both on the pad!

[Amy Cohen]

I think you are right. He isnt complaining that much being in the crate. This morning pee on the pad YEA!!!!!!!!!
This afternoon pee on the pad and as we were playing he pulled me to the pad and pooped WOW!!!!!!!!!
maybe we will be there sooner than later!!!!!!!!!!
thanks :):):):)and good luck to you too

[Morkie4]

I think you are right. He isnt complaining that much being in the crate. This morning pee on the pad YEA!!!!!!!!!
This afternoon pee on the pad and as we were playing he pulled me to the pad and pooped WOW!!!!!!!!!
maybe we will be there sooner than later!!!!!!!!!!
thanks :):):):)and good luck to you too

Oh wow!! How great is that!!! They are just sooooooo smart! I am sure he will have it down 100% in no time at all!! You just stay the packleader and let him know his errors and reward him big time for good actions and you will get there I am certain.

[Angels4]

OK, I have a new 5 1/2 month old Maltese that has had NO potty training! He was kept in a small pen on a kitchen type floor with towels on the floor ALL day long and he went in this area.

He is soooooooo happy here because he sleeps in the bed and runs around the house and he is in his glory but he pees and poops! I have tried to keep him in the crate but he cries and cries unless I am sitting right by him and I don't want him to have to live in a crate any more. The only time he pees and poops outside is first thing in the morning. He has NOT peed or pooped in the bed so he has to go bad in the morning and I put him right out. I also put him out every hour or 2 but he just romps in the yard as happy as a clam and then will come in and do his business!

I am now trying to keep him on a leash most of the day or in the crate for a while if I am cooking dinner or something but he still finds time to get around and pee and poop. It seems he waits for an opportune time when you forget to keep control of him. Any hints on training an older puppy that has been doing his business wherever he pleases for 5 months?

Hi - Most pups do not have full control over their bodily functions until 7 months or a little longer. I am surprised that he is holding it during the nite - good for him. First Congrats with adopting your little one. Sounds like he was not trained at all with the other person.

You can crate train him - maybe leaving him in the crate for only about 3 hours - then either with wee wee pads or taking him outside pick him out of the crate without his paws touching the floor and then either bring him to the pad or right outside. If he goes then praise and give him a small treat each time.

I trained our little one first with wee pads then outside. Also keep him confined to certain rooms with wee wee pads down at all times.

Sounds like his is having too much fun & enjoying the outside - lol I bet he is fun to watch when he romps and plays.

It may be a little more difficult for you in training him since he was left to himself in that pen and free to wee and poop. It will take him time to realize he shouldn't do this. Make sure where ever he goes that you clean the
area(s) so that his scent is not here from doing his business. I find that White Vinegar and Water helps.

Praise and treating work well. Whatever way you decide to train your little one be consistent - it will happen!!

Down the road you may also like to try to bell train him for going outside.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=bell+training+a+dog+to+go+outside&btnG=Google+Search

I hope some of these links will be helpful...

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1548&articleid=157

http://www.barkbytes.com/training/house.htm

http://www.perfectpaws.com/htrp.html

Let us know how you and your little one are doing with his training.

[jazzysmom]

I know one person that his bell trained her maltese and it works great for them. It didn't take long for him to catch on to what the bell was for. When Sam was just a pup they had the bell hanging at the back door at about his nose level and each time they took him out to potty they would take his paw a slap the bell gently and go outside. Good luck.