Housetraining

[CMorrow]

I've been having some trouble with Reece and housetraining. We're crate-training and take him outside quite often. Most of the time he's outside though he gets really anxious and is always trying to go back in. Which is odd since when we first went to see him, he was outside and romping all over the place. He'll poop when he's out there when he has to really go, but it's usually only when he -really- has to pee that he'll do that outside. Otherwise, we'll have him out there 20 minutes and he won't do anything, but as soon as he gets in the door he goes to the bathroom inside. We've been using Nature's Miracle and he never goes in the same spot, so I don't think it's that he's smelling it on the floor. Everything I've been reading about crate-training says that if they don't go when they're outside, bring them in, put them in the crate, and try again in 15 minutes, but even then he still won't go most of the time. We don't want to keep him crated all the time, but we also want to try and keep him on a track towards housebreaking. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Crittercall]

How old is Reece and what breed is he? There are books on the market talking about how you can train them in 3 days (or a week or something) but I don't believe it. I have two other dogs, which has been of help with my new one but she is 7 months old and still having accidents. One of the other dogs is also very jealous of her and we've decided that she has a bladder made of cast iron. Then when she does go - usually inside, on the tile floor - it smells AWFUL and there is a ton of it!

I wish I knew some good tricks to help you. We let ours out first thing in the a.m. They go back out immediately after breakfast. I don't work, so I'll usually let them out again around lunch time. We've been having horrible rain storms and they refuse to walk out the door so we usually spend afternoons piled up in the bed (better than tranqulizers) then they all have to run out when Bubba gets home. Out again after supper then one more time at bedtime. The jealous one has reached the point where she won't willingly go outside and we have to literally carry her out.

I think dogs mature at different rates, just like children, and when they are ready it all just clicks. Like when Sasha was very young we would just find little clear puddles standing around. It's when it all starts to look concentrated that you know that they are holding it for longer.

We have learned to look for their signs, too, that they need to go outside. Sometimes it's a case of them training us instead of vice versa!

Good luck - I know how frustrating this is. My next one is to teach Sasha to walk on a leash.

Critter

[Dena]

I am in the process of having a professional trainer come to the house - I have to females of almost 5 months. The foster family had a litter of 9 puppies, most of which went home at 8 - 9 weeks. Mine stayed there with a couple of others for a while longer and she never had time to house break. The trainer has suggested (this is pre-training, we actually start this Wed.) Make sure you are scheduling food And water intake. She told me dogs like to drink water sometimes because it is fun - after scheduling their water I find this to be true and sometimes don't even want to drink. They will usually pee about 5 to 10 minutes after so make sure you are ready with the leashes. If they do not go to the bathroom bring them back in, wait another 15 minutes and bring them back out. It definitely takes a lot of patience. I am not sure how to get them to tell me they need to go out (that comes in my next session). As soon as I find out I will let you know. Hope this helps some. I know it is a lot of work but at least it takes the guess work out. I had no accidents in my house yesterday .

[Crittercall]

I had a horrible time getting my husband to not keep water out all of the time when Sasha was younger, because all she wanted to do was drink and when they drink all the time . . . well, you've been there. He thought it was "cruel" for me to not let her drink all the water that she wanted.

I notice with her that she gets very restless and will sometimes even walk up to us and whine when she needs to go outside. (Thank goodness for fenced yards). One of the dogs is at the door the minute we stand up, but she goes out to chase lizards.

Ain't it fun?? Just like raising babies - but we wouldn't trade them for the world.

Good luck -

Critter