I keep hearing that cotons are difficult to house train.

I brought my coton home 2 weeks ago ( she was 9 or 10 wks at the time) . I have been doing some pretty strict crate training. She basically stays in the crate at night accident free (knock on wood). Then I take her out to potty first thing in the morning , then I let her out every hour or so, especially if I'm about to play with her in an area of the kitchen I closed off, or on the couch that I cover with a blanket in case of accidents. If I leave for an hour or 2 I put her in the crate.

So I'm wondering if I'm being too strict with where I allow her to go for now because I have read so many websites saying that they will be so difficult to train?? I just want to make sure I'm doing thing right.
Thank you,
Markelle

Comments for I keep hearing that cotons are difficult to house train.

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Feb 18, 2015
Rating

Zak George NEW
by: Vicky & Jonah

Their is a very good trainer that has videos on you tube for free. You can also view them on his Facebook page. He is a very good positive trainer.

You may recognize him from animal planet. You can also submit ques. or requests.

We all have made mistakes. Dogs r forgiving just as loving humans r with their pets mistakes. Once they hit the age of 6mos. they can be dogs & r not perfect. So start young w/training such as socialization once all shots r in place.

They do need to learn to stay, not chase bikes or cars, come when called, not bolt out the front door etc. but the wonderful thing w/this breed they pick it up so quick. Smart, smart, smart & thrive on positive training.

Again we have all made mistakes. Signs of a good pet owner is we ask ques & or read up on info we want to know. Cotons r not perfect. Be careful w/any dog being off leash outside of your home comfort zone.

They r a breed that wants to stay close to their human & not chase the wind like terriers. But... the right temptation arrives & they r after all dogs.

You will be fine... (-:

Feb 17, 2015
Rating

UPDATE! NEW
by: markelle

After a long frustrating day yesterday, my husband took my daughter to her gym practice, leaving me with our coton, "Sprinkle". I spent 2 hours sobbing, praying and asking for guidance and understanding. I read some of these responses to my original post. I was so moved and so enlightened by every word,and frankly a little embarrassed by my naivete.I have a totally new perspective on how I will raise this wonderful little coton princess. I held her so tight and sobbed and told her I wouldn't be so nervous about messing up, and so strict on how I raise her. I WILL NO LONGER KEEP HER IN THE BATHROOM AT NIGHT! Sooooo, last night i set her crate at eye level next to my bed about three feet away from my head. She barely made a peep all night. Thank you for this forum!!!
Just for the record, I was only strict at night. Otherwise, my little pup is so super spoiled, gets a ridiculous amount of kisses (to the point of irritating my husband with loud kissing sounds when I carry the pup around loving on her). And she is on a grain free Paleo diet just like me. And she lays on our bed every night and snuggles and plays.
What a great new beginning...

Feb 17, 2015
Rating

Sonic frequency sound for puppies indoors? NEW
by: Anonymous

The sonic sound may be way too much for a puppy's ears - even my " tuning-forks" that I use in regular Kinesiology classes are too high pitch for my puppy. I place him in another distance room when I must use them.

The sonic sound machines for barking dogs are to stop dogs barking as they pass your house. They are usually placed 'outside'. In a washroom the sound reverberates. I doubt a tender young puppy can decipher when to bark or not bark when the sound is repeating and reverberating.

A dog's ear sense for sound is 1000 that of a human. A puppy more so? Please stop. My sense is your puppy is truly hurting. Please hold her. Pet her. Love her. Move her crate to your bedside where she can feel your loving touch.

Puppies are litter where their mommy's lick was nurturing and loving. It made them feel secure and safe. Our human petting is our human mommy lick.

When puppies are away from their litter they feel that they are "lost" and cry so that their mommy can find them. Puppies need to be near their human mommy too, in reach of touching love. Your idea for a "bedside" crate is a wonderful love.

Puppies cry when they need to Pee and are locked in a cage and can't get out to pee. Puppies don't want to Pee where they sleep. Your puppy is talking to you. Please listen to her cries for help. Your locking her up in a cage, alone, without ability to pee properly, and to punish her puppy cries for help your adding a high pitch sound intended to harm dogs ears. This is crazy. She's lost. She needs her mommy's love and touch. She needs to pee. She needs the ear damaging sound to stop. It won't stop in a washroom under these conditions.

I apologize I'm so uprupt. In my opinion the naive actions are traumatizing and torturing your puppy's ears. I'm greatful that you posted your concerns so quickly so that you can gain helpful experiences. Please go hold your dear puppy, the fragile size of your upper arm, and tell her you didn't mean to hurt her so and that you didn't know she wasn't capable to hold her pee all night long. That you didn't know she feels lost without her litter family and needs to bond, be close, with her new litter family to feel safe, healthy & happy.

Feb 17, 2015
Rating

potty training NEW
by: Anonymous

My coton was not difficult to train at all. The trainer I used had us take her out on a long leash and always use the same word (we chose potty). As soon as she pottied, we treated. (she is very treat oriented). She is one and half years old now and I walk outside with her (no leash needed now) but she knows what she is there for, does it, and comes to me for praise and a treat. Hope this helps

Feb 17, 2015
Rating

Puppy training experiences
by: Reenie

I learned my Coton puppy needed to "be shown" what I required. Once he understood, he was willing to please. The training methods that performed best for me were praise 'even before the activity' rather than scolding. Scolding just didn't work with him, nor harshness. He would just get stubborn. Rather, I learned to praise him as if he had already succeeded. That trick worked very well.

My Coton puppy was permitted to roam my small seven room home as soon as I got him at 3 months. He always wants to stay near my side. We are glued to one another, always in the same room, he follows me where ever I go. He listens well.

I wasn't prepared for his first arrival, had no crate and by default had him sleep with me. What a bonding experience and joy of fun. After three nights I didn't want a crate. I made him a ramp for him to get on/off my big bed at will and for his emergency pee's.

He's never gotten into anything he shouldn't. He is amazing. His toy basket is by my bed so he's got lots to play with.

My dog must now think the entire home is his "crate" Cause He makes his markings outside this cottage house, rather than outside a particular crate or room inside. My guess is that I expanded his sense of crate-home by exposing him immediatly to our front, back & side yards and started him with short car drives to stores. He expanded his sense of home and his markings expanded outside the house, is my thinking.

My Coton has never marked inner walls, carpets or furniture. He's 8 months, not neutered.

A baby puppy's bladder is the size of a Pea. Learn more at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=1684 - From a Vetenarian web page

I'm not sure I did everything correct. I learned by experience if his puppy aggressiveness became too much, rather than scolding, that A simple drive together to the doggy meat-butcher store for fresh doggie-bones, or the Pet Store for toys or the groomers for a nail cut was enough external influence to rebalance his sense and value of "home".

As a pup I expanded his world a bit at a time as not to traumatize. I repeat & wait for him to learn one new thing clealy And Once he gets it I moved to the next, not before. This was to offer him a sence of security at his level of comfort rather than overload him with too much of what I thought might be best for him. In otherwords, I observed his personal nature rather than generalizing from books.

What I observed with my Coton is that he's very smart and catches on very quickly. When I allow him to explore, just to see where he's going or how far, what I discovered was that he had "things" already figured out. An example, he was sniffing around papers he shouldn't be in. By permitting him to do so, to see what he was ultimately up to, I was amazed to discover he was searching & found his toy that he had flicked into a pile of mommy things. He wasn't being mischievous, he was being smart in searching for his toy. Another example, was in the back yard he verged into a treed common-area of shrubs. By allowing him to do so I discovered he needed to "poo" in private, hiding under the shrubs. When he finished "his job" he bounced back as a happy pup. That's his routine to this day.

I wouldn't be surprised if training issues that we're forewarned of were the result of too much discipline tatics for a Coton perhaps. My dog is pretty shy and very obedient so I have much luck and ease with his good nature. At 8 months, rarely do I need to verbalize "no". He just seems to initutively know my thoughts in advance of my words. He's so good it melts my heart.

We have all discoverd amazing joy with our Coton puppies!

Feb 16, 2015
Rating

thank you everyone...I'm soooooo exhausted tho!
by: Anonymous

thank you everyone for all of the wonderful comments.I'm starting to think that I need to have my coton in the crate around my bed rather than in a closed bathroom. I have read so much conflicting information that I'm totally confused about it though. I know they are the sweetest little puppies and it is breaking my heart to hear her cry in the crate at night. She woke up 3 times last night yelping and hollering. We bought a sonic egg hoping that the high frequency sound would calm her down. I don't think it is making a lot of difference. And now I just feel mean. I haven't been this exhausted since I brought my newborn daughter home! I was so frustrated and tired today that I told my 7 year old daughter I just want to get rid of the dog. Than spent alot of time appologizing. I feel terrible now.so overwhelmed...

Feb 16, 2015
Rating

House Taining Puppy
by: Anonymous

My 8 month old Coton has taught me alot about HIS style of training! I'm not a scheule type person. From the get-go I left his food & water dish filled as he needs. My awake times constantly change. He sleeps with me & I let him run house free, so it was going to be a task to train my Coton puppy, I thought.

I too read these dogs are hard to train so I got the pee pee paddies just in case. To my amazement, this puppy was good from the get go - I just needed to "hear him"!

His puppy bladder is tiny so he needed to pee often. Every time I took him outside he would pee. If I failed to take him he would let me know but I didn't clue in to HIS talk. Jumping and nudging meant "Pee Pee Time" and a tiny bark meant "Poo Poo" time. When I failed to get his talk he went to the next stage: Bringing me my shoe to my feet meant "Let's go Pee Pee NOW" and streams of hallway toilet paper meant "Poo Poo NOW"! If I failed these calls, his last call for help was 'running in circles' for Poo Poo desperation and barking loud for Pee Pee desperation! Once I caught on to HIS first requests and attended his outside needs, all the other excess communications stopped. I just needed to HEAR him!

Sometimes he just wouldn't pee or poo outside. It was winter season and only had 8 hours of daylight. I put the Christmas lights up early, mid-November, around the outside walk-ways. Oh my, suddenly no problem for outside Pee or Poo's! He was 'afraid' of the DARK at nights, too afraid to pee pee or poo poo - Once the lights were up no problem! Now I've turned the colored christmas lights into year-around white garden lights!

I needed the inside pee paddies to help him during my learning curve! He would go to the paddie, sniff, and leave to do his thing elsewhere. So I sniffed the scented paddy too. It reaked! I was allergic! I thought, "Oh, my God, he can't tolerate the scent". I went to the $1 store, purchased 20 pads "unscented" for $2.00. He used them immediately!

HE taught me more: (1) He will not go twice on the same Pee pad - a FRESH one always! (2) He perfers to Poo away from where he pees - TWO pads! Once I caught on, no problem! (3) He chose HIS spot - privacy and low light! Placed away from our view, in dim light, BINGO! Yes, I purchased a 2 watt bulb lamp for his dim light needs.

It was I that needed to learn how particular these Coton's are. He's shy. He doesn't like me looking or wiping his "private" parts! He doesn't want a big deal of his performance - refuses his potty treats!

He intutively knows "outside" is the place of first choice. He licks me in the ear, ever so softly, at 5:00 a.m. for his early morning Pee Pee. If I fail his sweet call, and sleep through, he silently uses his Pee pad and snuggles right back beside me! He sleeps as long as I choose to sleep. He never roams the house without me near. If I sleep too long, he'll be beside my bed playing with his toy or doggy bone until I awaken!

I refused cage training. I grew up with four dogs that ran at leisure. We breeded our own pups. I trained my puppy Coton without leash as to our property lines. Not only does he obey these boundary lines, we are now planting our spring gardens and he plays along side of me "in the dirt". He never wonders off. I'm on a corner lot with no fences. He's "property" protective!

Inside, he's never once messed furniture. He eats & drinks as he wishes. He knows mommy cooks hot home-made dinner meals each night. Yup, you guessed it - he reserves his food intake each afternoon and is awfully excited to eat a 'real dinner' each evening!

HIn his grooming needsmhe's as meticously obedient and cooperative. After playing in the dirt gardens he's totally black "helping mommy plant". Yup, right to the shower bath! Once I forgot to put his ID collar back on after his bath. Yup, he brought it to my lap, hours later, when I said "Pee Pee Time?"!

His pet animals each have names. He knows where one "sleeps" & brings me the one I ask for! He refuses store bought treats. He only likes real cheese and freah apples for "treats" when he jumps the hoola-hoop!

I read these dogs have barking problems. We go "check out" the outside noise together. We open the door and Yup "we're safe". That's all it took. He just "warns me" of outside noises. Once he knows I'm alerted he's done his duty - a great watch dog for strange noises.

I'm still learning his unique & smart ways. My last dog came retired from the professional movie business. He was so smart. I thought I would never be able to replace him - then he sent from heaven my Coton puppy!

The stories of difficulty in training is, in my opinion, coming from trainers that don't get the Coton dogs! They're angels from heaven wanting desparetly to please. They repond to loving hearts. My soft "no" works better than strict tones. When I scould him, guess what? He was so freightened he poo'd in my office! His mistake or my mistake?

I reserve strictness for commands that save his life - "no street"! Fortunately my street is within a Private Park community where the random traffic is posted at 5 km speed limit (with speed bumps). On our River walks he runs free. I leash him only for puplic street walks. He doesn't run from our yards, or from the nature walks. He listen's to every word I speak. He sleeps with his cuddly head on my shoulder. He love kisses and melts my heart. I couldn't imagine what connectdness I'd be missing if I had listened to my mother to cage him as a puppy. I'm lucky cause I work from home and I have the time to be near him always. He just loves to be "clean & pretty" and his real hair, rather than fur, allows for weekly baths. He loves his hand-cloth washes after each walk.

I adore this web page group cause I learn that my Coton is not unique. All the stories I read are wonderful details of this breeds unique features and our amazing enjoyments. My best guess is that training issues are coming from those that are being informed of dog training techniques that are just too harsh perhaps for a tender, sensitive, obedient, graceful, elegant angel being. That's my personal experience. I learn to tone-it-down from my Coton each day. I just had to quieten to observe his language talk.

I thought it wonderful that this page inquiry came with the words "too strict?". I think perhaps your Coton puppy is speaking to your heart and you're hearing him!

Feb 13, 2015
Rating

Coton potty training
by: sherry cotton candie

I also had heard they are hard to train but think that is more on the individual dog and the owners method of training. It sounds like you are doing a fantastic job.

I would take my puppy out about every hour also and when she did pee I would holler "good girl---go Pee Pee" and give a treat. She will now pee on command.....HOWEVER--there are times when left alone she will get mad and make a small pee spot on the floor. I think the breed is very strong willed, at least she is.

I keep pee pads down while gone and they know to use them. I like the fact they do not have to hold it. Good luck with your new baby and remember they are like kids, each will have its own personality and maybe sometimes pretty stubborn but they are just the most loving and funny dogs I have ever owned.

Feb 13, 2015
Rating

thanks!!
by: markelle

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I feel like I have a newborn in the house again! Haha. One of the places I heard about cotons being difficult to housetrain was a show called Dogs101 on animal planet. They featured cotons a cpl different times and mentioned their difficulty with housetraining . I read a thread of messages on another forum where people were at their witts end with their cotons repeatedly having accidents. Maybe they kept marking the same places?? Anyway, I am feeling all the insecurities of a new mom and love that I discovered this site! You guys are great! Thanks for any info!..and I love hearing the success stories!

Feb 13, 2015
Rating

house training
by: Vicky & Jinah

I don't think their any harder then any other breed. Sounds like your doing fine. Their is a news letter on this site on house training that is very good to read.

Putting any dog when young in a crate when you leave also helps protect them from getting into wires etc where they might get hurt. Pretty soon they will grow up out of puppy stage & be able to roam free but Jonah still likes at Time to go in his crate & nap so the door is left open.

Other then that he has my bed, his bed & run of house. I lucked out the most he ever did was 1 flip flop & still loves to tear up Kleenex if he finds them.

Enjoy your new Coton & welcome.

Feb 13, 2015
Rating

House Training
by: Cathy & Jasmine

For those who have seen this post before, I know I sound like a broken record, but Coton's difficult to house train?? NO WAY, house training Jasmine was so easy. When I got her she was 15 months old and only went potty out side, I live alone and I'm also in a wheelchair, so taking her outside especially at night was difficult and scary for both of us. My sister in law (who has other breeds of dogs) said pick a spot to put down a potty pad, I showed her this is where you go potty. In a few days that was it now almost 5 years later she only goes on this pad. As a matter of fact if she is playing on the porch or deck, she will ask to come in side just to go potty! Only has had an accident if she got sick, which I totally understand. If I move the pad to another part of the house, because I'm cleaning or we have company she knows that pad is where she needs to go, so she will go right to that new spot to pee & poop. So who ever said that has no clue on how to train a dog much less a Coton.

Feb 13, 2015
Rating

house training
by: Judy

He's been doing great. No problems. We've moved to a new home and he lets me know when he had to go. But somehow he makes sure he poops in my grandsons room. He has plenty to choose from. WHY. I've just let him out then I hear my grandson scream he pooped in my room again. My daughter won't let me put a gate up. I live with them

Feb 13, 2015
Rating

easy
by: sherry

Mine actually came trained. . The breeder used bells on the door and the mother would nudge the bells to go out. .. the pups all learned from the mom. Louie was only 12 weeks when I got him. . Trained. .. and has never had a accident. Best dogs in the world. He is laying with his head on the pillow in bed next to me right now!

Feb 13, 2015
Rating

keep it up
by: Anonymous

I have never heard that Cotons are difficult to train. Honestly, I think the people who say that, do not know how to potty train a dog. I had my coton puppy trained, with no accidents within a month You are doing the right thing by crating. When you take them out and they do go potty outside, you should give a treat immediately. That will help them realize it is good when they go outside. In the beginning I took mine out every 30 minutes to every hour. If you are strict, you will get results sooner so keep it up.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Coton FAQs.