Potty train a 7 months male miniature schnauzer

Firmin · 06-18-2010

hey hey! i need help here!

I have just got a male mini schnauzer about 3weeks ago, who just turned 7months last week.

I have tried ways to potty train him, but apparently, my mini schnauzer, Zacky, has been really stubborn with it.

I took note of the time when he needs to pee. When the time is near, I will bring him to his pee tray and tell him to pee. But his little thing refuses to pee on the tray. Rather, he will run out of the tray and pee somewhere else.

Any suggestions on what I should do? Most people said that Male dogs are harder to train, much more for a mini schnauzer, who, although smart, but can be really stubborn. What should I do to change this habit of his? Must I use a cane to threaten him?

please advise! thans!

cigwyllt · 06-18-2010

Can you make him a pen - just big enough to put the litter tray in? I have never tried to train a dog to toilet indoors - only ever used the garden so I have no idea how you encourage him to "go" in a particular spot.

Is there any reason why you can't take him outside?

Firmin · 06-18-2010

i do take him outside every morning and evening. but when he is at home, i would want him to pee at the tray provided for him. he has no problem when it comes to poo, only the pee-ing part..

i live in an apartment, so there is not outside garden to to his business outside.

cigwyllt · 06-18-2010

So is he left at home for a significant time while you are at work?

Firmin · 06-18-2010

yeah.. he is always at home, except for mornings and evenings..

cigwyllt · 06-18-2010

Sorry - I meant is he left at home on his own through the day? If he is you have a very difficult task ahead as toilet training requires someone to be with the dog to train him.

Firmin · 06-18-2010

oh no.. i am with him most of the time since i bought it...

cigwyllt · 06-18-2010

Ok, if that is the case I would work on trying to "catch" him at the right times and put him on the toilet tray. If you could make a pen as I suggested before and get him used to peeing on the pad in the pen then you can start to let him choose to go to the pad by himself but he has to know that that is the right place to start with. He will only understand that when he is praised and rewarded for using it and will only use it if he is confined there to start with.

Firmin · 06-19-2010

ok thanks. i did caught him a few times, and i quickly took him to the pad and told him to 'pee here'. However, it doesnt seems to get into him...

so what i am doing now is to confine him in the pen... being as stubborn as he is, he refused to pee or poo...

how long should i confine him? any suggestions?

cigwyllt · 06-19-2010

As I said before - all my training experience has been outdoors, not with pads but rather than confining him to the pad indefinitely I would keep him under constant supervision and put him on the pad after an hour. If he doesn't go after 5 mins take him out of the pen and play for half an hour, back in the pen for 5, out for 15, in for 5 either until he pees.

One thing to remember - don't scare him if you interrupt him peeing - he will not associate the telling off with the place, just with the action so you may find he will do anything to avoid peeing in front of you.

Todd · 06-20-2010

I agree with everything said. Be sure to clean areas he pees on where you don't want him to go with a pet odar nuetralizer so he doesn't remark on the spot. Had he been fixed? If no this could make the issue more magnified. What is in the "tray"? Is it a litter box? What is in it? It could be a bit small and restrictive which would make him not want to be in it. May want to get something larger.