indoor potty training help needed

[KimK]

Hi I have a 12 week old petite golden doodle. We got her at 8 weeks. I am training her to use an indoor potty which is a plastic tray that holds a puppy pad and then a plastic grate that sits on top. She has taken to it well and uses it when guided. But what I don't understand is why she doesn't go on it when we leave her home. We keep the potty in our laundry room. So when we leave and we only leave her for about 2 hours never more than three, we put her in the laundry room so she can use the potty if she needs to. But she goes on the floor most of the time even though she has access to the potty area. I have been using crate training with her. She doesn't have full run of the house. She is out of her crate onlywhen supervised. I also use the leash to walk her to the potty area when she has to go. She doesn't make a dash for the potty area from the kitchen or family room either. I don't know what I am doing wrong or what I need to imporove on. Or is it because she is just still young and it will come with time and practice??? Any advice or help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[KOPcaroline]

Hi KimK,

Sorry for your trouble! Sounds like a bit of weird issue - if she uses it ok when youre there, at her age she should have a good enough grip to use the same place when she's alone.

The best advice I can give you is to build a pen, or use her crate if you can fit her toilet in it, and keep her there while you're gone. Even if the laundry is a small room, it may be too much free space for her. Try leaving a used (urine only, if possible) pee pad in it as well - so she can smell it and realize that that's where she should go again! It can also help to keep food around, slightly away from the toilet but in the free space to deter her from going potty around it (dogs usually don't like toileting around where they eat).

Give that a go, I hope it makes sense. Other members may have more good advice as well Please keep us posted!

[KimK]

Thanks. I will try that.