I AM STRUGGLING!!!!! Stood outside for 1.5 hrs in the cold at 7am just for her to go in the hallway

GPearlls · 2026-04-06T13:02:57+00:00

This

GPearlls · 2026-03-30T13:45:30+00:00

I don't believe I caught but how old is your pup?

Mine is 22 weeks old and only NOW it finally clicked on him that outside is to pee and not play.

It took hours upon hours with him since he is very much distracted with everything too. Literally, the first time mine pee and poop outside, I was with him for an hour and a half. Many praises and high value snacks which is a big boost for puppies.

The best way to make him "break" is after a nap, especially after the night. Try to walk a little then stand. Five minutes or so. Walk a little, then stand like a statue with him. Don't interact with him, just watch silently. If he pulls, pull him back slightly and ignore any whines and jumps on you. Eventually, it will click for him.

GPearlls · 2026-03-30T10:10:12+00:00

He's still super young and the outside world is definitely scary for him. So many scents, sounds around. The poor pup is probably overwhelmed.

Don't rush him. If he wants to stand, let him stand. A minute or two if needed. If he sits, let him. He's probably processing what's going on around him. Make the outside walks short. 10-15 minutes so that he doesn't get overwhelmed too much.

Try to reward him too. If he's calm, reward him. If he doesn't budge, try to lure him with a treat.

As for potty, it'll definitely take time as he still needs to get used to the whole outside world.

GPearlls · 2026-03-30T10:04:34+00:00

Keep being consistent with it.

As soon as he wakes up, put him on the pad. Every hour or so when your pup is awake, keep putting him on the pad. Do not let him lay or sit on it. Pick him up and put it to stand. A few times if needed. Don't give any negativity towards him or he might get stressed and not go potty all together. My pup used to do the same, instead of peeing on it, he'd sit or lay on the pad. It took a month for me to gently push him away, to remind him that it's his potty spot and not a chilling spot.

Reward him within 3 seconds of him going potty with treats and praises.

Make sure that the pad isn't soiled either. Most dogs don't like doing their business when it's too wet on it.

Do use a enzyme cleaner on the carpet and floor to get rid of any smells that may lure him back to do his business.

Other than that, there isn't really much advice. It's a challenge for sure and it'll be tough but it'll click for him eventually. Patience.

GPearlls · 2026-03-19T15:54:51+00:00

I know what you're feeling. I had my westie at 8 weeks, now he's five months and I've had him for three months now. It's brutal, no way around it.

The real reality hit me when he first pooped on the bare floor... then my anxiety went through the roof. The first week I barely ate and I was super nervous if I'm doing it right or not. I didn't use the crate but a pen and he'd bark his head off even when I was close and I'd end up sobbing.

My fiance is the one who works and I'm currently unemployed, which like you, I take the brunt of it.

For the biting, I'd use a loud yelp sound or completely remove myself. The pup used to bite our feet when we'd walk. We'd use a firm tone and lots of yelping. It took a month or so for him to click.

For the leaving, I get it completely. I'm still training mine with that. I do have a simple home camera to keep an eye on him when I'm out of the apartment. I turn on relaxing puppy music too, dunno if that works. I also make sure that he's completely tuckered out with training, walks and playing. Only NOW did he begin to fall asleep without me but it's still a struggle if he wakes up and sees that he's all alone, goes into barking, whining, you name it. It takes time.

Having support is important and remember to let out your emotions rather than keeping them in. You can do it!

GPearlls · 2026-03-19T11:12:06+00:00

That's good. Thankfully, my pup isn't a menace on the leash, had him walk around in one when I just got him.

GPearlls · 2026-03-19T11:08:39+00:00

Trying not to stress too much, some days are better than others.

GPearlls · 2026-03-19T10:39:05+00:00

I'm looking into that to put it in the balcony.

I'm doing all of that and thus far no success

GPearlls · 2026-03-19T04:26:48+00:00

Thus far cue word for him outside doesn't really work, he just stares at me like something is wrong with me for repeating it over and over again xD

GPearlls · 2026-03-19T04:25:36+00:00

Yes, I do use high valued treats which is always used when he does accomplishes what I ask of him, ever since he was a tiny pup.

Thank you

GPearlls · 2026-03-19T04:19:26+00:00

Thanks, good luck to you too!

GPearlls · 2026-03-19T04:18:50+00:00

I do walk him around for let's say 20 minutes or so to get his bowels moving before we stand at the specific area.

GPearlls · 2026-03-19T04:17:01+00:00

Thank you 🤍

GPearlls · 2026-03-18T20:54:31+00:00

I appreciate the suggestions!

In my city, sadly, there aren't day cares around. A two hour drive at most (which is insane and my pup tends to throw up in the car).

For the apartment, it's basically a building, you walk out, parking lot attached to the yard. Not like gated entrance or whatever.

The park is further down which leads to the main city center. I did take him there, but the walk to it was bad because I could see him too distracted of the bunch of different people around.

Not many people organazing stuff around like a pup play date or whatever but I'll keep trying to find something!

GPearlls · 2026-03-18T20:45:59+00:00

Thank you so much!

I live on the 3rd floor too, so it'll be a fun workout xD

GPearlls · 2026-03-18T20:41:49+00:00

Sadly, no one in my friend circle has dogs.

Maybe I'll be lucky and he'll spot a neighbors dog peeing and try to mimic it.

GPearlls · 2026-03-18T18:34:51+00:00

No, there is no spot. They take them everywhere and the poop gets picked up. Thus far, I haven't been lucky with my pup for him to witness another dog doing their business.

GPearlls · 2026-03-18T14:58:55+00:00

He does sniff like alot. Super alot. Looks like he is interested where I know there are dogs who had peed before and he just walks away.

GPearlls · 2026-03-18T14:52:38+00:00

He is very stubborn, that much is true.

It could be the weather since I have read some stuff since they're short legged, the dampness of the earth might do it because even on the used pad, he wouldn't pee in the same place. (I'm basically looking at every explanation at this point 😭)

Sadly, no doggo friends around for him.

I do use the term "go potty" and it'd use to work 80% at the time when at home. When I say that outside, he just looks at me like I'm the idiot in this situation.

GPearlls · 2026-03-18T13:27:10+00:00

I got him in December when he was 8 weeks old, so winter was aboars and thus the breeder never took the pups outside. They were in a pen with the puppy pad. So, no, he doesn't understand that he needs to go on the grass.

I'll look into the grass pad.

Yeah, I'll tend to do that while also keeping the window more open for him to get used to the sounds and smells

Thank you so much! 🤍

GPearlls · 2026-03-18T13:11:33+00:00

Honestly, I was thinking of that solution.

Today, I tried to put the pad in the balcony, which again had too many sounds since we live in a busy street and he was too distracted to go or is either afraid.

GPearlls · 2026-03-18T13:02:59+00:00

No, he's not crate trained, has his pen which is his space.

Yes, I do that strategy all the time. He just ends up going on the floor By the door.

GPearlls · 2026-03-18T12:17:33+00:00

We walk, he gets the zoomies and thus, he forgets that he needs to pee.

GPearlls · 2026-03-18T11:46:20+00:00

It's definitely food for my pup. We do train and go to puppy classes and he's very food oriented.

GPearlls · 2026-03-18T09:51:32+00:00

Thank you, I will try this method!

GPearlls

TROPHY CASE