Toileting worries!

[Snappy]

I'm looking after a friends 14week old lab in a few weeks, the problem is she will only go to the toilet in her own garden. They've tried taking her out after, play, naps and food and keeping her out longer but she always holds it until she can do it in her garden! She will do it on training mats at the creche but will she do it at mine? I have a paved yard, she might not like that and she might not go outside! I could use a training mat in the house but i don't want to encourage that as she is house trained. (The creche is an exception due to all the scents!) I am well experienced with labs, having bred my own but have never had this problem! Any ideas?

[woofgang]

would the creche lend you one of its smelly training mats?

[Snappy]

Well yes i can get that but as i said i don't want to encourage that in the house. They're disposable mats! Like a nappy but flat!

[drgnrdr]

Don't be upset, just because your a breeder doesn't mean you went to school to be a trainer, try not to be so hard on yourself, all dogs are different as you well know.....will you be able to take her out allot when you watch her? Do they take her out when she needs to go, not when they "think" she needs to go? Some dogs do get surface specific, that's why I don't encourage "potty pads", (that's what those "flat nappies " are called hear in the U.S.). Not sure I understand the whole thread since your using some words I am not familiar with...ie...creche? I thought you said she was doing it in their garden..isn't that outside? is it grass?You could put a pad outside on your concrete area and TAKE her there to go. If you wait for a few minutes and she doesn't have to go, take her back inside and make sure you can KEEP AN EYE on her since you know she just either "ate, drank, slept or played" and you know she has to go, don't give her the privilege of freedom in your home until she is completely potty trained in your home, if you can't watch her every move you can attach her to you so when she does (maybe 5-10 minutes later) try to move away from you to go find a suitable potty spot, then take her BACK OUTSIDE, to potty pad area, and try again. If she goes at anytime ALWAYS reward them after they go, praise and treat, don't wait to come inside to reward them she needs to associate the potty in the area not walking back inside with you (you have about  3 seconds for her to connect the treat with the action). Dogs connect our english words to the action they are doing at that exact moment and time, if your consistent and use the same word every single time they are in the act of "going" they will learn that is what it means, once they know the command you can have them go just about anywhere. Have the owners start doing this, so you can use it when she comes to visit. Always praise and treat after every good job.

[drgnrdr]

Now excuse me if I am off the mark and give me more info so I can help you better.. did I miss the thread?

[Snappy]

By creche i mean the doggy day care place i work at, check the link http://www.doggydayscreche.co.uk/ She will go in her own garden and but not outside the garden. Not even for a wee!

[drgnrdr]

Okay then you should be able to use what I said, for your home, if you keep an eye on her she will need to go, and she can't hold it all day, have your friend start working on that cue word for her to go.

[woofgang]

I meant use the pad in your garden, a used one will have the right smells on it!!