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My puppy won't potty on grass, she holds it or goes inside. What to do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Beagle | Female | unspayed | 3 months and 24 days old | 15 lbs

How come my puppy won't potty outside in the grass. She will potty on the concrete or hold it till she comes inside. I have had her for a week and nothing has changed what do I do?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Laura Johnson VMD

Answered By Laura Johnson VMD

Veterinarian

Published on March 16th, 2018

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

It is going to take several weeks to months to train her to a new substrate preference. Carry her to the same patch of grass each time and keep her on a leash. Give her 10-15 mins to go to the bathroom. You can also carry her poop and put it on the grass or put a rag you previously used to clean up her pee so she can smell her scent. When she goes verbally praise her and give her a great treat then play with her outside for 10 mins. If she does not go, then she either goes in to the crate or is leashed to an adult until you can take her out again in 15-30 mins to try again. She can not come out of the crate or be off a leash until she goes outside. All bedroom doors need to be close and she should be gated from wandering off to go somewhere in the house. Do not use negative reinforcement if she goes in the house. Train her to ring a bell to notify you she needs to go out. The key is to always know where she is and to not allow her to have the opportunity to go inside. She can be allowed to be unsupervised once there has been 3 months of no accidents in the house.

As a side note I found the beagles are the hardest to train. Especially if they were rescued from a lab or hoarding situation or grew up crated.

I hope this helps and I wish you all the very best!
Vote Icon3Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Bette Isacoff

    Dog Trainer

    Published on July 1st, 2018

    i had a friend whose Siberian would not go on the grass either. We finally figured out that her breeder had a paved exercise area, so this puppy would only go on the driveway! But back to WInter: put her on a leash and take her outside to her designated spot. Do not walk around! Just stand there and repeat "go outside" or a similar phrase. If she starts to dig or eat grass, give her a correction and repeat "go outside." If she is just sniffing, encourage her with a "go outside" as dogs usually sniff an area before they go. As soon as she starts to go, repeat "go outside" and praise "good dog!" as she goes. When she is finished, bring her directly back inside. If she does not go after a reasonable amount of time, bring her in but do not remove the leash. Attach it to your belt loop and keep her with you. Don’t let her out of your sight! When you see her start to circle or sniff, take her right outdoors again and repeat the process. If she does mess in the house, do not scold her unless you actually catch her in the act. In that case, say "NO!" and take her right outside. Tell her to "go outside" and praise as she finishes. Keep her in the crate at night, or for short periods when you are not at home. For further assistance with this, click on the prompt to initiate a consult. Good luck!

    Vote Icon

    2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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