Toilet training is frustrating

I am just looking for some encouragement here as toilet training is proving difficult. Not that I expected it to be easy I mean humans take years to master it.[Some never do. lol]
Rockys is pooping once/twice a day and weeing 5/6 times. There is no set pattern as to when he does it. Its not like he does anything after eating or drinking, it could be an hour or two later.
I always go outside with him and we can be stood/sat in the cold for 10-15 minutes with no succes.
My garden is quite big, with many bushes/trees a couple of sheds and pathways and its just a big adventure for him. There is no area that I could section off and there isnt an area he returns to. He tends to pick up leaves and pull weeds out for me.....thats his priority. And on a few occasions when we finally get cold and bored and go back inside he will wee on the rug. The mind boggles. 
Ive read all the articles about taking him to the same spot and praising him [neighbours must wonder what going on over the fence] so im looking for some encouragement from those that have gone through it recently as me and Rocky are struggling to communicate in this department.

Is he peeing as soon as he comes back in? What do you do when he pees inside? How many walks does he get?

Honestly sometimes it just takes time and patience, I always found having a spot helped, which ment Scrumps was kept on a lead until she went, after that she could roam the garden, but it was toilet first fun after, and I was very patient with the toilets I came home too.

consistency and lots of praise!

Any accidents in the house, make no fuss just clean it up and carry on, take him out after every meal, play time, nap etc etc.

Also look out for signs that he wants to go, circling, sniffing an area a lot and take him out straight away.

Some dogs do take longer then others so keep at it

Time and patience is the key here and lots of praise and maybe a tiny treat when he gets it right, I must say as much as I adore my girl I wouldn't wish puppyhood on anyone, I promise it does get easier

It just takes a bit of time. 

Pop him outside every hour or so, plus after he's had something to eat or has just woken up or finished playing. Loads of praise when he goes outside & nothing at all when he goes inside, just clean it up with a non amonia cleaner.

He'll get there soon!

As the others have already said time and patience will pay off for you eventually. Make sure to clean the area he goes on inside is cleaned with a non biological washing detergent so no ammonia smell is left behind.

Lots of praise when he does go outside and keep a watch for the signs that he needs a wee after a walk, playtime, a sleep and eating and drinking, you will get there.

Think you have the advice you need here Bob so good luck

I am in tune with all the advice already and think the next stage is to put him on a lead to restrict his freedom as someone had mentioned. Wee first then off the lead to play.

I read the title, and my first and best answer is 'Yes .. yes it is'. I remember the frustration vividly ... but can also tell you with certainty that with time and patience (and more time and patience) what you are doing will have an effect (and that you will be sitting here about that time assuring someone else who feels just like you do now that it will get better).

KKeepon keeping on .. and feel free to complain and let all the frustration out here any old time you need to. We've all been there

Ahhhh..... Toilet training... I remember it fondly. NOT.

It's probably the most frustrating part of puppy hood. Bruno is 15 weeks now and we're coming out the other side with a happy toilet trained puppy that rarely has an incident in the house (unless there's a duvet to pee on...).
It is HARD work and we all sympathise. The best advice is just to keep going. One day it will just click!

And when it clicks, if you have a strong minded spud like mine, you'll have to deal with the constant sitting at the door and whining to get out and wondering if it's to pee or to dig up the fence posts!

Rosie3 wrote: you'll have to deal with the constant sitting at the door and whining to get out and wondering if it's to pee or to dig up the fence posts!

  

Thanks again for the support.
It just seems nothing is working, ok we have only had him 6 days and he is a baby at 11 weeks but I dont think he has wee'd outside today -perhaps 5-6 times inside tho. Fortunately we have laminate and tiles throughout and a couple of rugs, one of the rugs being his target most times. I'm contemplating throwing the rug in the back garden ..?

Was it raining up your way today Bob? I ask because many Staffies, and not only babies, just hate going out in the rain!

No rain at all today.

Kell wrote:KKeepon keeping on .. and feel free to complain and let all the frustration out here any old time you need to. We've all been there

As you have mentioned it.......
I have been outside with Rocky perhaps 8 times today between 10-20 mins each time and not one ounce of anything has come out of either orafice. The wife has also been out atleast a couple of times with him and no joy there either.
I will conquer in the end but in the mean time ARGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Complaint over. For now.

It should start to improve once you can take him out for walks! 

75% rate today. Thats 3 outside and 1 inside.

I have an idea.
I clean up his wee inside with a towel. Im thinking of putting the towel outside with Rocky when we go in the garden so his scent is fresh.
Any thoughts?

Bob R wrote:75% rate today. Thats 3 outside and 1 inside.

I have an idea.
I clean up his wee inside with a towel. Im thinking of putting the towel outside with Rocky when we go in the garden so his scent is fresh.
Any thoughts?

Yes, that could work. What else do you use to clean up inside?

The towel method worked. Hurray !
I went out for an hour and when I got back I put Rocky in the garden with the towel and he wee'd on it straight away. Result.

To Carryll
I use some form of spray detergent.

I had advice from my gran when it came to clean up... And it helps keep flies off too- add a bit of white vinegar with the water you use for clean ups. It neuteralize the smell. And just keep at it. Our Tip will sit in front of the door and just give us THE Look when she wants to go out. Good luck.

Bob R wrote:To Carryll
I use some form of spray detergent.

You could also try using a solution of biological washing powder or liquid - the cheap stuff will do!

Toilet training is going well. The towel went out the window though as he just dragged it around the garden.
When I put him out and tell him to 'wee wee' he does it almost every time which is great but he doesnt let us know he needs to go when he's inside so we get the odd accident.
Thanks for the moral support and advice.

I feel your pain sir! Just when I think we've cracked it and Mika has realised she can't pee inside, bang! She piddles on the kitchen lino! Nightmare. Gonna take time I suppose:)

Millie was going and using her puppy pads to around 14/15 weeks mark, used to take her for a walk and she would pee, but wait until she came back into the house and head for the pad to poo, a couple of weeks later and she had finally cracked it.

Hope you have success soon lol.