All,

Up to this point, my husband and I have been relatively successful with potty training our pup. In the last few days, however, we have felt like we've been backtracking with our potty training progress. Lately, it seems like our puppy just gets up and goes pee wherever he pleases without warning. He used to bark/run around when he had to go, and he was rewarded accordingly, both inside and out, but now, nothing. I'm taking him out more often (and essentially snatching him up every time he wakes up, as that's an indicator it's about pee time) and partying like there's no tomorrow when he pees outside, but if we catch him in the act and yell "NO!", we then have to head to the stairs/elevator to get him outside. By that time he usually forgets what has happened and just sniffs around til we go back inside. Any recommendations for how to help us re-establish potty signs?

Second question:

Right now we are also trying to teach him not to pee in the hallways/elevator, as he will eventually be a pretty big dog and carrying him may not be as viable of an option as it is now. I've started carrying him out when he definitely has to pee, and then I'll walk him out about 20 minutes later so he starts getting familiar with walking inside to outside. There are times where I tempt fate and will walk him out if it's been about an hour since he last peed, and his success rate seems to be 50/50. Similarly, I've tried distracting him with treats/making him sit while we are waiting for/on the elevator with mixed results. It likely doesn't help that other dogs pee/have peed in the elevators, but is there a way that has helped any of you?

We'd appreciate any/all advice, because it certainly can be frustrating to think you're getting somewhere with potty training and then find a random spot in the apartment.

I haven't had to potty train a puppy in an apartment, but we do have several people on here who have. This is where a tagging feature would be awesome here, but we can't do it unfortunately.

One thing for potty signals though, have you thought about bell training? We've had a lot of success with it here, and Aaron was using bells with Lulu when he was living in an apartment. We've got several threads on it here, just run a search and you should find them.

Well, we are on the third floor walkup so I understand your challenges of potty training. It sounds like you're doing pretty well but here are some things that I figured out through trial and error.

1. Have a go bag ready - have poop bags, treats, hat, gloves, extra set of keys, toy, and treats in a little shoulder bag ready to go. With Diz by the time he asked, he really had to go urgently, so often times if I was running around trying to get my stuff together to go out, he'd pee by the door. I took this as a good sign though. He knew what he was supposed to do, but just couldn't wait any longer. With my go bag I could just throw on my shoes, grab the bag and head out. Also keep your shoes, leash and coat by the door.

2. Carry him - yes it's a pain, and yes he will get too heavy eventually but for now just carry him. He doesn't have the bladder control to make it yet, so if he asks just pick him up and head out. Eventually he will be able to make it down but until he's a little older, just carry him.

3. Don't let him out of your sight. If you can't watch him, crate him. If you are finding spots around, it means he has too much freedom around the house and he shouldn't be allowed to be out of your sight. I know this is a pain too, but it could become a long term problem if he's sneaking off to relieve himself in the apartment. Either keep him on a leash with you, in the same room, or in a crate. Don't feel bad if you need a break and you need to put him in the crate.

4. Take him out on a schedule. I'm not sure how old your pup is, but with Dizzy I was taking him out every half hour to 45 min until he was about 4 months old. He would be in his crate during the day and a dog walker would come for an hour midday to walk and play with him. At 4 months we adjusted to going out every hour when we were home and he was not in his crate. I didn't wait for him to ask to go out. I still usually don't although sometimes I get lazy on weekend mornings.

Dizzy was totally potty trained by the time he was around 12 weeks old, but would still have an accident on the way down the stairs if I didn't carry him. Also, when he was really little and I had to take him out to pee in the middle of the night, I would let him go in the bathtub. When my hubby was traveling I really didn't feel comfortable taking him out at 4 am (we live in nyc, so no yard), so I'd let him go in the bathtub. Once he could sleep through the night I broke that habit by simply keeping the bathroom door closed.

When I started to allow him to walk down the stairs, he did still have a couple of accidents. I would just interrupt him and pick him up and carry him the rest of the way out. He could make it all the way down by the time he was about 5 months old. If I think of other things I'll add them. Good luck!

Btw, I had the back tracking issue as well and I realized it was because I relaxed and thought he was further along than he was. If you stick to a schedule that will help a lot I think.

Thanks Meredith! We're going to a pet store later and I'll see if they have a bell.

Jen, thank you for your personal tips! I take him via the elevator currently (at least on the way down), since we are working on him getting down several flights of stairs. We were under the impression that puppies his age could go out once an hour, but it seems that if we take him out more often he has less of a problem (go figure, right?)

We bought a 30 ft leash before we picked him up, but we never used it, not sure why. Sounds like it's time to bring that out (or a shorter one) and keep him on it.

We have a go bag currently, but I tend to fumble with my shoes. I'm currently looking to get some slip ons so that way I can be out the door that much faster.

So, I followed Jen's advice and we have had no accidents in the apartment today! I've even successfully walked him outside each time, barring this morning's first pee.

I waited a bit longer today (an hour, I think), before I took him out this last time, and while I was studying, Achilles put his paw on my lap. I asked if he needed to potty, and he barked. So I took him out and walked him to the elevator. He proceeded to jump on me and my husband, which I joked was because he knew he couldn't hold his bladder. Sure enough, I walked him into the elevator and he started to pee. I picked him up to stop him. My husband cleaned up the mess while I rushed Achilles outside, but holy crap! That was an amazing turnaround, and he's getting that inside the building is not a pee place. I cannot explain how happy I am right now!