Puppy Training!!

Re: Puppy Training!!

Skeelish — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:54:50 GMT

Laura

Persumably he has had vet check and urine analysis? all normal?

Just be careful about reinforcing the wrong behaviour as this is easily done. Dogs can treat people differently so dont take it personally. Perhaps a longer lead such as a house line could be used when you take him for toilets so he has scope to toilet at a distance he feels is adequate. Generally a shorter lead helps encourage dogs to go to the toilet.

It sounds like he has learnt the opposite - to pee in rather than out. What is the longest period of time he has gone with out toileting indoors? If over a month then other possible causes for this behaviour should be looked at. If under a month it is likely incomplete toilet training. Other things to think about now which may be having an impact are marking behaviours, substrate preference (eg: carpet over concrete/grass).

Simple problems can grow in complexity when faced with a maturing dog.

Re: Puppy Training!!

Laura x — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:17:00 GMT

Thanks everyone, I take him out, he doesn't go out alone, but he won't pee in front of me for some reason?? He pee's when my partners uncle goes out the back yard for a cigarette but not any other time (that sounds really bizarre doesn't it!) I've tried crate training, he hates going into his bed and when he does he pees on the blankets :-( I don't mind if he pees and poo's out on walks but he just won't! As I said he comes to work with me and I can take him out 6 or 7 times during the day but he will not do anything and waits until we get home.

Re: Puppy Training!!

Vicky RVN — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:43:51 GMT

Ah ok, that makes sense! It's just that i've met dogs who will ONLY pee in certain places, which is less than ideal at times, that's what i thought you were meaning!

Re: Puppy Training!!

Skeelish — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:39:01 GMT

A fantastic book on how dogs view the world is Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson - she explains the toilet training phase and common problems which occur

Re: Puppy Training!!

Skeelish — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:36:02 GMT

Thats not what i meant! Of course you dont want him to hold it !

I mean what is actually happening in the toilet training process is we as owners are really only teaching them to pee in yor garden hence why they hold it on a walk. By givinig the cues in the training stages helps them to associate they can pee on walks which is reinforced with praise/treats.

Does that make sense?

Re: Puppy Training!!

LoveCat — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:54:45 GMT

Yes - crate training really is brill. Not only for the toilet training but it also means she has a safe place that she loves to be when we go out or need to leave her alone - she does not worry about where we are just curls up and sleeps!

Re: Puppy Training!!

A Little TLC — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:41:50 GMT

I did crate training with my girl - two weeks and trained!!! :)

Re: Puppy Training!!

LoveCat — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:00:49 GMT

Hi Laura,

I have recently had very similar problems and am pleased to say I am coming out the other side of it now!

I found crate training invaluable. Especially as Dora got a urinary infection at about 3 and a half months old and just started peeing everywhere! I created a lovely comfy bed with her favourite blankets and toys in it and covered it with another blanket so that it was like a little cave. All the while she was in there she would not pee so it made it much easier to take her out to the garden and KNOW she must need to go. I would then wait with her and keep giving her the 'command' I wanted to use for her to have a wee. I would give her ten minutes but if she would not go I would then return her to the crate and take her out again after 5mins to try again. When she eventually went - loads of praise!

It did take a while but now (aged 4 months) she is starting to ask to go out - although we do still have the odd accident!!

Good luck - it seems very daunting at first but once they start to understand what you want they learn VERY quickly. xxx

Re: Puppy Training!!

Vicky RVN — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:54:48 GMT

[quote user="Skeelish"]When house training we only teach our dogs to use our back garden not anywhere outside, so they can hold it on a walk and wait to get home.[/quote]

I would find this a pain to be honest. If we take Jack out for the day/long walk i wouldn't want him to hold on for hours! And also, how does it work when you go on holiday with them, or they are hospitalised and won't pee cos they aren't in their garden?

Re: Puppy Training!!

Fiona Leathers — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:48:54 GMT

Sometimes sprinkling food around the area outside can help them pee - sniffing for the food can make them start smelling other things (such as other urine) and hence the need to pee

Re: Puppy Training!!

Skeelish — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:44:24 GMT

Hi Laura

Firstly remove training pads and mats - this only slows down toilet training and is fair easier and quicker to train your dog outdoor toileting from day one.

I would recommend taking him out on a collar and lead every 15-30mins when you are with him. Put a cue to this 'going out' . When outside with him do not allowhim to play(chase leaves, stones, etc...) and instead encourage him to sniff and again put a cue to this 'go toilets' or 'be quick' etc... Be patient with him, if after 10 mins no toilets take back in. If toilets in the house, ignore and clean up (use 10% biological washing powder solution). When he does toilet give lots of verbal praise - be careful not to over excite to the point he stops doing his business! When completed busines give a tasty treat.

Everyone in the home should do and say the same cues when ever they take him out.

As he is an older puppy he is no doubt going out on walks, keep up the cues when he is looking like toileting outside (sniffing, circling ...) Also on your return from the walk take straight outside for toilets. When house training we only teach our dogs to use our back garden not anywhere outside, so they can hold it on a walk and wait to get home.

Never shout/scold/punish for indoor accidents ( soz u prob know this!)

Dap in the house

Let me know how this goes as this is the basics and could help further.

Hope it helps

Ellie

Re: Puppy Training!!

Doolally — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:53:02 GMT

Are you taking him out or just letting him out? just the way you say he's out for 15mins or so sounds like he's out on his own.

IF you don't take him out, make sure you go out with him at all the crucial moments, have him on a lead so he can't be distracted by pretty trees and things, and stay out with him til he goes, then big praise

Re: Puppy Training!!

Laura x — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:45:15 GMT

Thanks, i'm using training pads yeah, mats are outside with his poop and wee on but he just comes in and does it on the kitchen floor :-s

He goes outside every half an hour for 15 minutes or so and comes straight in and goes in the kitchen again!! I appreciate all help but i've tried all of the above, I think I just got a brainless pup haha!

Re: Puppy Training!!

Maisy — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:41:44 GMT

Are you using puppy mats for him? I'd go back to basics and start back as though he is an 8 week pup again. Let him outside after play, eating, sleep etc and praise and reward when he's done something well. Some pups become too reliant on pads/newspaper and will contrinue just to use them so remove when you can.

Re: Puppy Training!!

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:41:07 GMT

have you tried putting the mat outside? what about crate training? just would stress making a major praise deal out of the times he does go outside and maybe moving his soiled mat outside for him to smell. hope i'm not telling you anything you already know, just things i would do as i don't know what you've tried already. only other thing i would do would be to keep a routine and just take him out after play time, after meals and before bed and in the morning. using a cue word can help too like. 'hurry up' or 'time to go' etc... and to use it when he uses the mat and praise and then try to see if you can repeat that word when you go outside.