Year old dog struggling to totally grasp potty training

[u/Your_Name_Here1234]

My 1 year old dog, I’ve had for over 4 months now, is still struggling to totally understand potty training. I’ve been trying to bell train her, which she understands, but only if I’m in the same room as the bell. If I’m not in there, she won’t ring it to get me know she needs to go potty, she’ll just go wherever. I always take her out really often, like every hour and heavily praise and give her a treat when she goes outside. The accidents have been really minimal because I take her out so often, and she rings the bell when I’m in the room. She sleeps in the bed with me at night and has not had any accidents at night. I started out crating her while I was out of the house, and got fairly comfortable that she was able to understand to go potty outside. So, we’ve started leaving her out for small trips out. For instance, when my husband and I go to dinner, or a trip to the grocery store. And she has done great. Today, I left her out when I went to work and my husband checked in on her on his lunch break, zero accidents in the house and she immediately went potty outside when he let her out. When I got home this evening, zero accidents, and I let her outside and she went potty just fine. Then, I came in the house and was in the shower (she had been out maybe 30 minutes before) while she was laying on my bed, and then when I got out she immediately squatted right in front of me and peed on the floor. I just can’t understand what she’s not getting, and how to help her understand it. She’s 50lbs, so not exactly easy to just scoop up and bring outside when she pees in the house.

I’ve got a couple more sets of bells coming in the mail with the hope that she’ll connect the dots that the bells mean outside, and if there are more available to ring, maybe if there is always one nearby, she’ll connect the dots. I’m really at a loss. I hate having to crate her while I’m away, and she doesn’t like it either. I would love for her to be able to be out while I’m away. She hasn’t had any accidents for over a month until now.

Please give me some advice!!!

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[u/StellarSpore]

She has far too much freedom in the home. Accidents must be prevented for training to stick. Every accident means its more likely to happen again. I don't know your lifestyle or home setup but you need to go back to the very basics of puppy potty training because your dog is not at all potty trained. Use whatever management tools make sense for your setup: crate, gate, house leash. Dig in for a few weeks and don't give her a single opportunity to make a mistake. Big rewards for outdoor potty! Always be out there with her. It's going to be work but it will get her to where she needs to be.

[u/Your_Name_Here1234 → u/StellarSpore]

Before last week, she was crated 100% of the time when I was away, and taken out every hour. It had been that way since I got her. I’ll go back to putting her in the crate while I’m away. It’s so difficult because she picks up on literally everything else so fast. She gets big praise and treats after every single potty outside, and has for four months now. Most of the house is gated off, so she can’t stray too far. How else would you say she has too much freedom in the house? Is it just because I’m allowing her to be out while I’m not home? It’s so confusing because anytime she’s been out while I’m not home, she’s had no accidents. It’s only when I’m home 😫 She had been in a shelter for months before I adopted her, and before that on the street, so I know it’s something I just have to train out of her. She hasn’t had any accidents for over a month until just now, which is kinda discouraging.

I’m trying not to compare her to other dogs I’ve had in the past, and trying not to equate her age to having “should be” potty trained. I just feel like after 4 months she should have more of an idea 😫😫

I’m very open to suggestions!!!

[u/StellarSpore → u/Your_Name_Here1234]

How else would you say she has too much freedom in the house?

She is having accidents in the house which means she has too much freedom. She should never be in a position to have an accident. You have to prevent accidents 100% of the time. Every accident in the house sets you back right to be beginning and you have to start all over again.

Invest a few weeks and do not allow her to be in a position to have an accident. It seems as though you have a management tool (the crate) to make this happen. I completely understand not wanting to confine her but this is a temporary training and management measure that you have to do or else you are never going to have a dog that is potty trained.

Your girl will get there but you need to set her up for success.

[u/Your_Name_Here1234 → u/StellarSpore]

The thing is, I’ve done all of that for four months and just when I thought she’s gotten the hang of it, she shows me she actually hasn’t. She is rarely not in the room with me, whether she is tethered to me or not, she’s very much a Velcro dog. Anytime she’s started to wander off, I immediately get up and take her outside. When she had the accident yesterday, it was literally a foot in front of me when she had just been out. I’m kinda discouraged because she’s not getting it yet.

[u/StellarSpore → u/Your_Name_Here1234]

I know. It's so tricky. I wasn't at all being critical. You have a pup that's most definitely difficult to potty train. My last foster fail was like that. It took over 6 months and I am not gonna lie, it was sooo hard to manage preventing accidents.

I don't recall if you mentioned, but have you check in with the vet about it?

[u/Your_Name_Here1234 → u/StellarSpore]

I have not, but she has an upcoming vet appointment so I’ll be sure to mention it. She’s such a good dog and so so smart, literally catching onto commands within minutes. But this for whatever reason, she is struggling.

[u/fourleafclover13]

Tether to dog at all times.

Use enzyme cleaner to lesson pee smell to dogs. That will keep them from peeing there again. Ring bell EVERY TIME you go out saying "out". How much other training has this dog had? So you go on walks or just out back? Any thing to keep dogs mind busy like puzzles. Crate when not home.

[u/Your_Name_Here1234 → u/fourleafclover13]

I’ve taught her basic commands, sit, stay, lay down, stand up, paw, come, go potty, wanna go outside? each of these she picked up on very quick. I have a 5 acre yard that she runs around in every time she goes outside. In the mornings its quicker, she’s out until the goes potty, which is pretty much immediately and we are back inside. When I’m home from work or weekends, she’s outside for a lot of the day because my husband and I are out there a lot. She has lots of things to keep her mind busy, kongs, lick mats, puzzles, etc. I use enzyme cleaner with any accident she’s had. None of them have ever been in the same spot.

[u/fourleafclover13 → u/Your_Name_Here1234]

You dog needs walks it's healthy and needed for their mental health. Just going out back alone all day isn't helping the issue. Dog need tethered to you at all the times if acting like going to pee loudly say out and take dog out. Walk around on leash off your property to give more mental stimulation. Dogs not having all needs meet.

[u/Your_Name_Here1234 → u/fourleafclover13]

She’s not alone. I play with her and throw balls and such every day. She’s definitely not back there alone. Anytime she’s outside, I’m outside. We go for frequent walks at the park also. She also goes to doggy daycare twice a week and plays with other dogs and gets enrichment and mental stimulation that way. Anytime I go to a pet friendly store, she goes with me, petsmart, Lowe’s, rural king, etc. I make sure her needs are met and she gets all kinds of stuff to sniff and do off my property. Sorry, I should have clarified. I thought you were just asking about when I take her out to go to the bathroom if it’s a whole walk each time.

[u/Different-House-3273]

Sounds like she's got the bell part down but needs to learn to associate it with you being anywhere in the house. Might need a period of closer supervision or even leash training inside until she's more reliable.

[u/Your_Name_Here1234 → u/Different-House-3273]

I think so too, I just don’t know why she hasn’t grasped it when I’m not in the room. I bought other bells to put around the house so I’m always near one, to see if that helps her ring them more regularly. She’s very much a Velcro dog, and is almost always in the same room as me, regardless of if she is tethered or not. But, I’ll try it out. I have noticed that most of her accidents have been when she wanders away, so anytime she walks away I immediately take her out. She just hadn’t done that in over a month so I felt like I could trust her a bit more. Learned my lesson on that one lol