breakdown in communication

[Mickelle Weber]

hello everyone!
OK, Cleo is now 4.5 months and we are "getting there" when it comes to potty training. she does really well as long as we follow her everywhere she goes(in case she goes to the front door) which she will do and if we aren't there the second she arrives she pees right by the front door. Sometimes she will bark at us(she does this sometimes) and sometimes she needs to go and sometimes she is just getting rid of excess energy...so my question is what are some of the "signs" that your doggies give?? i think that we are just missing it and i'm sure that cleo is as frustrated as we are!
thanks you guys are the best!

[Amber]

Precious circles RIGHT before she pees and she circles for a while before she poops. Is there a way you can tie her leash to your pants so that you don't have to follow her around all day...make her follow YOU around and that way you make sure you see what she does before she goes? That may help her with her barking, too. I don't mean the entire day, of course! Take her outside, let her go potty, let her play for a while (get some energy out), then tether her to you while you sit and watch TV or are on the computer or whatever. I'm sure you get the idea!

Good luck!

[Stefie C]

Sandy circles by the door. But if no one notices her she'll come find one of us and sit down & sigh. I swear! It's so funny, almost like she's digusted & frustrated with not being able to train us to be at the door when she needs to go! :D We have been so lucky with her in this regard. She just wonderful with her potty manners and the best part is her 1st owner did all the work on that one. :D

[Susan Bacon]

Mickelle,
Cleo is a dollbaby--love that left ear that flops down ever so slightly. She must make you laugh a lot! Panda just turned 5 months and although he also goes to the backdoor to let us know it's time, he doesn't bark or turn circles or ring his pottybell that we're trying so diligently to get him to use. He simply waits there for 2.2 seconds and if we're a millisecond late he just "lets 'er rip!"

Outside is a different story--I know he's about to go because of the way he starts to sniff and/or turn his circles. My only words of wisdom to you are the ones I keep telling myself: that one of these days Mickelle will fully grasp how much more fun it is to wait to go outside every time, and that it's worth her while to figure out a way to hold it (like Precious and Sandie) and let you know it's time. Until then, hang in there!
Susan