Marley has been doing really well with his toilet training BUT this past two days because the garden is wet, hes going in the house!  I still let him out at the crucial times (after sleeping, eatin etc)  but he waits til mins after hes back in and goes!  he doesnt like water-do you think its because its wet outside?

Also, I took him to the beach today, he loved diggin in the sand but soon as other friendly dogs were there he developed selective hearing and totally ignored my recall, which I was pretty upset about as hes so good when we are alone.

Make sure when he goes in the house that you clean it up REALLY well.  If they can still smell the urine or feces, they will continue to go there.  Also, it is somewhat normal for dogs to act that way, you just have to be patient, and continue what you are doing in ways of house training. 

Do you have a crate?  A lot of people would suggest start crate training, so when you let your pup outside, if he doesnt go out in the garden, to put him straight away in his crate.  Wait a few minutes and try again.  When he does go outside in the garden, praise him like crazy, and let him have some house time with treats and play.

About the selective hearing, he is good for you when you are alone because there are no distractions.  When around other dogs, they are way more interesting than you to him, so thats where he wants to stay.  Normal again.  Just continue to work on recall, and add distractions to the mix as well.

How old is he? I know I should know, but it's so easy to forget these things

I have a 3 year old bitch that won't 'go' outside if it's wet. She won't go in the house though, which doesn't help you, does it? Some days she will stick her head outside and turn and go right back in. I have to take her away from the house if I don't want to get up in the middle of the night when she is desperate This might be the way to go with him for a while.

As to ignoring you, of course he will Other dogs are far more interesting, aren't they? Especially when they are new to him. You will have to make yourself more interesting than they are. I had problems (with this self same bitch, oddly enough ) and I had to take her out on a long lead (3 metres long!) and re-teach her that I was to be obeyed, and much more fun. I started by taking diced cheese, or cooked ham with me. Every time she came back she got a treat. After a week or so I let her off lead and she still came back for the treats. The only time I have problems with her now is when she is just out of season and having her first few walks after restrictions. I just go back to the long lead. It doesn't take long.

Hes only 14wks so I know I am prob expecting too much   I guess its just because hes been so good so far (and he still is) afterall Im old news now   meeting other dogs is all new and exciting to him!!!  I had him on the beach with my friends lab, they met two other dogs who came from behind the sand dunes, when I saw them I paniced and wanted him back close straight away but they were already sniffing, I ran over to get him and all was fine but it could have quite easily ended in tears if the other dogs werent friendly!!!

I will try the exclusive treats thing (cheese n ham) only on walks where there are distractions.  Just a thought but there is another new post on here about s'thin called whistle feeding, I was thinking it may be a good idea to do this and only use the whistle when I really need him to come back straight away-is this something that would work?

Hes not going through the night yet, but does go on the paper.  Your right, he has chose the bottom of the stairs as his toilet!!!!  thankfully its laminate flooring

Hi Crespin,

WHen you say add distractions, how do I do that?

Hi Angelz

my puppy is the same age as yours and was no fan of wet weather either so I can commiserate LOL.  However I just made him go out and stayed with him (door closed firmly or he'd charge back inside!) until he'd performed and it's eventually sunk in so now he's asking out regularly   Persevere - it's frustrating (as well as cold and damp!) but it will get easier.  This is the first time I've had a youngster at this time of year and I would say it is definitely more difficult than spring/summer puppy training but more so on us than them.

TBH, I think it would be best if you ditched the paper for overnight - I never use paper/pads etc as IME they just encourage pups to "go" indoors while we're trying to train them to go outside - it just confuses them and gives us twice (or more) the work.  Better to put him to bed later and rise earlier for a week or so until you establish how long he can go overnight and remain dry   We're now up at about 6.5 hours which is if anything a little lower than previous pups of this age but may also be related to time of year - certainly you should be able to aim for around 5 hours minimum by now as not having needed to "hold on" so far he may take a touch longer to make the connection.

HTH, and good luck!
Teri

Thanks Teri,

I never thought about removing the paper but your right, it makes sence, he was taught to go on there first so thinks it ok.  Also I have never told him off for going in the house, if he does it straight infront of me, which is the case, is it ok to tell him off and send him straight outside?  so long as hes 'in the act'?

A quick 'no' and putting him outside as soon as he is caught is usually enough. Don't in any way tell him off! He doesn't yet have full control of his bladder (or any other part ) so he won't understand why you are telling him off. He is young enough yet to learn. I think we all expect our puppies to be clean after a few days, but it just ain't gonna work that way! It will sink in eventually so don't panic just yet Puppies are like children. They all learn at different times.

a distraction could be something as simple as your kids standing between you and the dog, but not in the line of travel, just off to the side.  Have them stand still at first, and until your pup goes past without taking notice, then have you kids move their arms or something.  Increase the level of difficulty, and soon your pup will learn that if you say something (like come) then no matter whats going on around you then he has to come. 

Later, MUCH LATER, try adding some food on the floor, and making him walk past it.  Dont let him take the food on the floor.  But again, this is much later in training, but it is a valuable training exercise, as you never know what could be on the ground when out walking. 

Oh, kinda a funny story, about not wanting to go outside in wet weather.  My Cher, was I think about 4 months old, and it was pouring rain.  She hadnt gone to the washroom all day, and I had been checking her crate and she was on leash when out playing (to young to trust not to be).  So I went outside, took an umbrella, and waited.  She just stood there, looking up at me with those puppy sad eyes.  So I put the umbrella over her.  Maybe she would go to the washroom if she had the umbrella keeping her dry.  So for AN HOUR AND A HALF (no lies) I was outside in the rain, completely soaked waiting for this puppy to at least pee.  Nothing. (stubborn dog).  Finally got fed up at my wet state, and took her back inside.  Put her straight back into her crate, and within 30 seconds she went to the washroom in her crate.  Little stinker.