[Gene]

I am assuming you didn’t get this dog from a breeder from the way it acts.

Many shelter dogs or gotten from somewhere else have had little interaction with humans or bad experience, also they are not accustomed to having a leash on so leave it on under supervision. The part of peeing just as you go to take her out may be what they call submissive elimination, she/he is telling you “I am harmless, please be nice.” This is not a reflection on you this is from not being socialized. Try this tomorrow. No talking, get down to her level so you don’t have to reach over and pick her up and bring her outside. The talking can be a trigger because it can raise the excitement. I wouldn’t put the leash on until outside if you have a fenced yard as it just takes longer to get her out. This might take awhile but it should just become routine. Hand feed, this will build trust. Praise the dog, give treat for peeing outside. Also Cosco has a big sale on paper towels.

[Mary]

No she is from a breeder. She just gets a little apprehensive when going out. Thank you for your helpful information.

[Ed]

Peeing out of excitement is involuntary. She has zero control over it so it is not something you can teach her not to do, so the focus is on change her mental state. Submission peeing is also something that you can not correct the dog for. So the “fix” for both is to manipulate her metal state until it whatever is triggering it becomes part of her normal. For excitement peeing you can make the situation less exciting (keep her in a crate and when you return home do not interact with her till she has calmed down). Remain calm and pass that state of mind to her. Greet her in an area that peeing is not a big deal, like in the kitchen. For the submissive peeing I would do 2-3 obedience tricks to get her confidence up (high five, paw, etc) and then try to use that state of mind to go through the threshold she is having trouble with. Likewise anything that gets her drive up, like a ball, may help. Momentum may also help. Play a couple of times and when she is amped up try and go through the threshold. All voluntary and fun, no coercion. I hope it helps!

[Ed]

Oh, I miss read the post. At 8-weeks I would have no expectation that the puppy goes through a door or knows to pee a few feet away from it. I would pick her up from the crate, walk to the door, open the door, walk to exactly where I want her to do it and lower her down in that spot. Always the same exit, always the same spot. No talking, no playing till she does her business then party and a little play. Then pick her up and bring her inside the home where I want her.

[Mary]

Thank you for the helpful advise!