Problems Housebreaking a Dog

RE: Problems Housebreaking a Dog Post by maggie3956 (43) | (08/07/2007) Profile | Contact DOG DOOR! I've said this before on this site. I believe in dog doors. The only thing is, you need a fenced in yard. It won't take long for the dog to learn and they kind of feel a sense of freedom. They can go and come as they please. Only took a couple of days to get them ALL using the door. My older dogs didn't like it at first, the younger ones loved it. Now it's just "Ho Hum" for them. (My 5 year old cat "JUST" learned how to go out the door 2 months ago so, I've taken him in for rabbies shots and flea and tick protection on him also. I have 4 dogs & a cat, all indoors. They have different times to potty and a dog door is a Godsend. Of course, my cat does have a litter box. All my kids are vaccinated and have the proper flea and tick prevention. I highly recommend a dog door. RE: Problems Housebreaking a Dog Post by mawmaw1 (2) | (08/05/2007) Profile | Contact I can only suggest patience and love and kindness.Your new pet is learning something new.Just like we did when we were potty trained.I have 2 maltese and a poodle housebroken.We trained our oldest maltese to ring a sleigh bell we had attatched to the front door knob.My poodle took a little longer i was like you, wondering if it would ever happen.But our patience paid off.Now she will sometimes drive me crazy crying to go outside.Showing her praise with a special treat and one on one play was what helped her.Just hope you find what works best for your new love. angela RE: Problems Housebreaking a Dog Post by Joyous_one (1) | (08/03/2007) Contact Hi Drew - Sorry you're having such difficulty. Would need a bit more info to more accurately assess where he is in his situation. 1. how old is he? 2. sounds like he was an 'outdoor' dog before you got him. If that's the case, and since he's older than pups usually get trained, then it is necessary for you to go back to absolute square one in training. I suspect if he was an outdoor dog, he was never housetrained, and you're just trying to 'brush up' his manners. Bichons are notoriously hard to housetrain, so if he got the 'not-so-great' part of the Bichon in his mixed heritage, you're going to put in a lot of work to get him to be a properly trained house dog. It's not hard to do, it just takes time, patience, clear communication getting inside the dog's thinking. When we get in an older Bichon Rescue pup or adult dog who is not housetrained, we go into NO FREEDOM mode....... First we allow the dog ZERO freedom in the house. We put a 'bellyband' on the males so that if they should get a couple drops of urine out before being noticed, it doesn't get into the carpet, furniture, etc. (PREVENTION is #1 important. CLEANUP with white vinegar is #2 importance) I really prefer the 'tether' method of housetraining because you can catch them getting ready (or actually doing) to go pee or poo in the house. (Hook the leash on the dog and attach the leash to your belt/around waist or loop. Thi sleaves your hands free to work, but dog is always close by to watch. Leave enough leash to allow dog to move about, but not so much it trips you up.) When the dog begins to sniff like it's going to mark or needs to poop, say something like ' OOOPS!' or 'OUT" ... and immediately take them outside to an area in your yard that you want them to use. After they go pee/poo, praise them with both your voice and a tasty treat (keep in your pocket for quick availability.) You mention it takes the dog a long time to do his business, you can shorten up that time AND give yourself a healthy gift by taking the dog on regular, twice daily brisk walks. This helps the muscles to move the food & fluid through the system, gets the dogs metabolism - and yours, working as it should. I can't emphasize enough the Quality of Life that can be added to a pet's life and ours, by regular, brisk exercise. We've had Bichon Rescue foster dogs who were surrendered with awful stories about their poor manners and unwillingness to learn. Exercise daily changed the dogs overnight! More info available upon request. 'Joyous' Gaile Avent Bichon Frise Information Station http://www.bichonfriseusa.com 8th Annual Southeast USA Bichon Bash http://www.bichonbash-tn.com Request: Problems Housebreaking a Dog Post by jess_admin (274) | (08/03/2007) Profile | Blog! | Contact My Sheltie is 7 months old and i can't get him housebroken. I have tried crate training him, taking him outside at different times during the day and night and as soon as I bring him back inside he will go hide and pee or poop in my house. He thinks the outside is for running and playing. Belinda Answers: RE: Problems Housebreaking a Dog He may be like one of my dogs and think that if he does his business outside, then he will immediately have to come back inside, so he doesn't do it outside, thinking he will have maximum play time that way. Take him out after meals and every few hours, but set a schedule and stick to it, so he knows when he will go outside next. Consistency is the key to success. If he goes in the house, tell him NO immediately at the first sign and take him outside. If he goes outside, tell him he's the best dog in the world and act like it -- play with him and maybe even give him a treat. This worked for my dog. I just had to keep her with me in my direct line of sight in the house so she couldn't do anything without me seeing her do it. It's a little inconvenient, but well worth it. Mine responds better to taking walks. I also told her "be a good girl, Maggie" every time when I wanted her to go and told her enthusiastically that she was a "good girl" when she did and now she will usually pee on command. This is helpful if we need to make a quick trip outside at night and don't want to hang around out there. I just have to be careful not to use that wording when I don't want her to go. I should have been more careful about choosing the words up front, but too late now. :-) (06/10/2005) By guest RE: Problems Housebreaking a Dog Don't let him play in the house, after you take him out and if he don't go, then put him back into the crate immediately! Do not let him play in the house. He'll get the idea. Put him in the crate and keep him in the crate unless you take him out (06/10/2005) By Karen RE: Problems Housebreaking a Dog I had a friend that would train her dogs by holding them on a short leash while in the house and not in the crate. When the dog would start sniffing around, she would immediately lead the dog outside to do its business. Worked like a charm. Just have to be diligent and not oblivious to the dog's behavior while on the leash inside the house. (06/11/2005) By BarbMoore RE: Problems Housebreaking a Dog Take him out of the crate, put his 3 foot leash on...TAKE HIM RIGHT OUT...you stand in one spot, keep making him walk around you in a circle...in a couple of minutes he will start to sniff the area, then go potty...tell him how wonderful he is THEN let him play a few minutes. Do this EVERY time you take him out..pretty soon he will potty as soon as you take him out..then play! (06/11/2005) By Mary RE: Problems Housebreaking a Dog Before buying my pup ,I had my parents dogs over to leave lots of scent in my yard, we had some accidents in the house but basically after 2 weeks he was 98% out side if you have friends or family with dogs i think you should get them over to leave lots of scent in your yard and don't pick up the poo leave it a while. and probably having other dogs he will begin to copy them... try it and let us know (06/15/2005) By angie79 RE: Problems Housebreaking a Dog oops and I forgot to say if he has "special spots" inside where he likes to go put his food dish there or water give him treats there and play there so he associated those places as fun places and not the bathroom sorry didn't put it in the first post (06/15/2005) By angie79 RE: Problems Housebreaking a Dog your dog might want to live outdoors and they don't like to go potty in their living area, so convince your dog it is an inside dog (06/17/2005) By Guest RE: Problems Housebreaking a Dog When he goes inside distract him and clean up with an enzyme cleaner that will eliminate ALL odor (you can get this at a pet store or in the pet section at Wal-mart. You can also use vinegar, but it's not as effective). Spend lots of time outside and whenever he goes immediately give him a HIGH VALUE food treat (think dried liver, cat treats etc.). I have trained many a foster dog this way and it never takes longer than a day or two. Make sure you get all the odor from inside though (the smell cues the dog that this is an okay place to use the bathroom) and stay outside until your dog goes. Then stay a little longer so the dog doesn't correlate using the bathroom with having to go inside. Check your library for books on dog training for more information. Patricia McConnell and Jean Donaldson are two authors I would highly recommend. Good luck:)! (07/07/2005) By guest RE: Problems Housebreaking a Dog I happen to be watching my brother's dog for a month or so, and we just realized, IT'S NOT HOUSEBROKEN! It #2ed on the corner of our piano, #1ed on my mom's bedpost, and #1ed on our living room couch!! One problem though. IT'S ALMOST 4 YEARS OLD! AAAAAAAAAHHHHH! (b)Editor's Note:(/b) The dog is probably not sure where to go. Make sure you take him out regularly and praise him when he goes in the right place. If you don't have a yard that is safe for him to be out, make sure you take him for regular walks. Dogs are a fair amount of work. He also probably misses your brother, so because this is going to be a fairly long term placement, you are going to need to work on it. If you can talk to your brother, ask him about it, if this is normal behavior for him. (07/16/2007) By anonymus