Use this space to discuss training successes, challenges or to pose a question to the group.

Take the poll: Housetraining your pup

I'm biting my tongue as I write this, but today is Day 4 of perfect potty habits for Jillie. She was 7 months yesterday. She's barking to go outside, and she's not even using the litter box in her X-pen. She's holding it overnight.

I was beginning to think we'd never reach this point. She was routinely walking over to Rusty's bed and leaving him a little surprise. We must have washed the cover 2 dozen times.

In retrospect, my biggest mistake was allowing those mistakes to happen. I should have kept her confined or better supervised when there was a chance she'd go in the house. But on the plus side, I can honestly say that this is the first dog I've potty trained (still crossing my fingers) with 100 percent positive techniques. She was praised and rewarded every time she did it correctly. At worse, she got a firm NO and a trip outside when she was caught in the act of a mistake. If I missed the moment, I scolded myself. :p

I've heard of Yorkies being housetrained in 4 months, but that was by far the exception. It took Eddie 9 months to reach this level. I had a Lab that took 2 years and two rescues who never got it down. I'm wondering what the average is. Take our housetraining poll. And, don't worry, it's anonymous. ;)