[blindfoldedgirl]

I feel like I have done everything by the book, as far as potty training my puppy. It isn't working! I have tried the newspaper and puppy pad method. Crate training, . . . I also reward with treats & use a clicker. Take him outside often and for long periods of time. But, as soon as he comes inside he makes a mess. I don't get it! It seems like he gets very distracted outside, so we started using the leash. But no matter what, he associates outside with fun. Sometimes it literally seems like he holds in on purpose to do it inside.

He with be 3 months old on the 4th of September. Maybe I am expecting too ...much at a young age?

[cigwyllt]

Three months is the age when the average puppy can grasp the concept of toilet training, when the average puppy is mature enough in mind and body to get the idea that there are some places where toileting is right and some where it is wrong. So if that is average then there will be plenty who take a lot longer. So don't worry - you haven't got an impossible task on your hands, just a pup who is a little slower to grasp the idea.

It sounds like you have indeed tried everything but perhaps the problem is that you haven't tried anything for long enough. I think it is a good idea to take him outside on the leash but personally I wouldn't stay out indefinitely - take him out for 5 mins and if there is no result then bring him back in, watch him like a hawk and take him out again in 20 mins/half an hour. Let the outside time being as boring as possible but once he has "been" then act as though he has done the cleverest thing ever. Lots of fuss and praise.

The important thing though is to keep him under very close supervision and limit the areas in the house that he can access so that he doesn't wander out of sight to toilet somewhere secretive.

[lange]

It sounds like you're trying too many different potty methods. Even I'm confused trying to understand where exactly you want your pup to potty.

If your ultimate goal is for the dog to go outdoors then you should have started that to begin with. Meaning no newspaper or puppy pads. I think the only people who should go that route are people who plan to always use them. Keeping it very black & white for a dog is easiest. Either it is allowed to potty indoors or it is never allowed to potty indoors.

I'm guessing your dog goes indoors because you introduced paper & pad, it thinks indoors is where it should do it's business. At this point it may take a little longer to correct that since it's going to be confused on what it's expected to do. Which isn't the puppies fault.

Are you crate training your dog? I crate train & house train. My goal is to get the dog to do it's business outside. It's allowed to roam my house only after it's done it's business and only if I am around to watch them like a hawk without any other priorities. Otherwise, the dog will be put in it's crate. I will also crate them at night or whenever I am not home.

Idealy, the key is to watch them closely and if they look like they are circling or sniffing for a spot, it's your signal that they are ready to potty, so you hurry & take them out.

But mistakes do happen so when you're not prepared & they start having an accident you WANT to catch them in the middle of the act (not after they've done it). Say, "NO!" Pick them up & immediately go outside. I don't speak or give it any attention until it's doing it's business and I act like a fool telling them what Good Doggies they are when they do! If they don't do their business after 20 minutes or so, they go back in their crate until the next try.

*You have to be sure the crate is not too big for them either. If it is they will still pee & poop in there.
*You must thoroughly clean their mistakes as as you can with a neutralizer.
*You also want to figure out their potty cycle. For instance, as soon as they wake up, after they have a long playtime or nap, 20 minutes or so after drinking or eating. You start gauging your dogs tendencies. It takes time & dedication but when you finally reach the goal it is so rewarding!

[blindfoldedgirl]

Perhaps I was a little confusing, in my explanation. I want him to outside, obviously. But I also know that he is a puppy, and is bound to have accidents. So I was trying the paper/pad method to slowly ease him to the door to show that outside is where he needs to go. Starting with a lot of paper, and taking it away slowly to lead outside. We also take him outside. I only started the crate training method, recently because before he was to young to begin this when I adopted him. I was told they need to have more control of their bladder before crate training is possible.

The ultimate frustration is that he associates outside with playtime. I can't make him go to the bathroom, only correct him when he does it wrong. I even tried buying the spray to help them understand where to urinate. I sprayed this outside, but it is like he holds it on purpose to do inside. That is why I was wondering if he was too young for that kind of attention span. It also could be harder because he is a beagle, and they can be stubborn I have been told. Time is what I need, but I just came for any other suggestions.

[Lunareclipse]

Grab a lawn chair and a good book and sit out there with him until he goes. When he goes, give him pets and treats and tell him what a good boy he is. Completely ignore him until he goes. You can play with him after he potties.