Accidental Urine-ist
QUESTION: LL wrote -
ok...so you know how I was litter training jack...well I didn't like that cause the litter is messy, jack liked to chew the litter, and also he missed his box a LOT not even realizing it. So I switched to like a glorified pee pad thing (basically a pee pad holder)...better on clean, but the problem of him missing is still there. So then I decided to just train him to go outside, and he can go inside if needed. To do this, I figure I need to start over basically, and slowly remove the glorified pee pad all together from his options at first, b/c he would never learn how to tell me he needs to go outside.
Problem: he has had more accidents in the house lately than he has had even when he was 12 weeks old!!!
This has become an ISSUE, or at least is becoming one. He peed TWICE inside today right in front of me, once ON the couch, and once on the living room floor.
Since he is old enough to hold it, I am just not sure how to decipline him. He knows about outside and he goes outside all the time. He has even BEGUN to go to the door when he needs to go out. But the problem is I don't know how to let him know that going inside the living room is bad. I only deciplined him when he was younger when I caught him in the act. Does this still hold true?
Also, my roommates boyfriend is MEAN to their dog when he gets into trouble. How do you decipline dogs the correct way. Because I know a lot of people are just taking out anger on them. I don't want to get mad at him just to get mad at him. I want him to understand he has done something wrong. I am having problems really in this whole area. If he isn't minding...etc.
Help.
ANSWER: Oh, let's take this in 2 steps. One is how to stop accidents, the other is how to discipline if there are accidents.
Discipline: The only thing you want to do for this problem is to issue a "bark" type discipline. And, ONLY discipline when you CATCH him in the act. Even if you find a puddle 2 seconds after you know that spot was dry, it's too late to discipline. (This is true for any discipline, you can only do it if you catch them, not afterwards. A dog won't associate discipline they get an hour after they've eaten the garbage.)
What to do: A "bark" type discipline can be the following (in order of my preference):
Don't say his name because the name should ONLY be used for COME and HEEL. That's it.
Although it's hard to have a shaker can handy all the time, I prefer that method because the dog doesn't associate your voice and your presence with getting disciplined. The shaker can is your friend! When we're raising puppies, we make up about 5 cans and distribute them in convenient places throughout the house.
After issuing the above "bark" discipline, you must do the following:
The "bark" type discipline can be used for anything, chewing, barking, any behavior you don't like. No hitting, no screaming... You basically want to discipline the way the alpha dog does in the pack. You can also growl, teach the "leave it" command, and use some of the subordination techniques in the Super Puppy book.
WHAT NOT TO DO:
====================================================
How to stop accidents:
Even though' Jack is old enough to hold it in, because he wasn't outside potty trained at an earlier age, you can't hold fast to that rule. For now, treat him like he's 9 months old and expect him not to hold it. Here's some things to remember and try:
-Before you leave
-When you return
-When you get up in the morning
-Before you go to sleep at night
-After he eats
-After he plays
-When you suspect he looks like he has to go
-When he walks towards the litter box (big praise)
-When he walks towards the exit door (big praise)
Housebreaking can be a trying time, I know! But it doesn’t last forever. Just remember, it's going to be a lot of work up front for a big reward at the end. Oh, and DON’T let anyone else try to discipline your dog for this. Too confusing for him. Just have them tell you he's had an accident and you'll take care of it.
Here's an excellent house breaking site.
The WillaWoman
========================================
A rolled up newspaper can be an effective training tool when used properly.
For instance, use the rolled-up newspaper if your dog chews up something inappropriate or has a housebreaking accident.
Bring the dog over to the destroyed object (or mess), then take the rolled-up newspaper...
and hit yourself over the head as you repeat the phrase, "I FORGOT TO WATCH MY DOG, I FORGOT TO WATCH MY DOG!"
========================================
ok...so you know how I was litter training jack...well I didn't like that cause the litter is messy, jack liked to chew the litter, and also he missed his box a LOT not even realizing it. So I switched to like a glorified pee pad thing (basically a pee pad holder)...better on clean, but the problem of him missing is still there. So then I decided to just train him to go outside, and he can go inside if needed. To do this, I figure I need to start over basically, and slowly remove the glorified pee pad all together from his options at first, b/c he would never learn how to tell me he needs to go outside.
Problem: he has had more accidents in the house lately than he has had even when he was 12 weeks old!!!
This has become an ISSUE, or at least is becoming one. He peed TWICE inside today right in front of me, once ON the couch, and once on the living room floor.
Since he is old enough to hold it, I am just not sure how to decipline him. He knows about outside and he goes outside all the time. He has even BEGUN to go to the door when he needs to go out. But the problem is I don't know how to let him know that going inside the living room is bad. I only deciplined him when he was younger when I caught him in the act. Does this still hold true?
Also, my roommates boyfriend is MEAN to their dog when he gets into trouble. How do you decipline dogs the correct way. Because I know a lot of people are just taking out anger on them. I don't want to get mad at him just to get mad at him. I want him to understand he has done something wrong. I am having problems really in this whole area. If he isn't minding...etc.
Help.
ANSWER: Oh, let's take this in 2 steps. One is how to stop accidents, the other is how to discipline if there are accidents.
Discipline: The only thing you want to do for this problem is to issue a "bark" type discipline. And, ONLY discipline when you CATCH him in the act. Even if you find a puddle 2 seconds after you know that spot was dry, it's too late to discipline. (This is true for any discipline, you can only do it if you catch them, not afterwards. A dog won't associate discipline they get an hour after they've eaten the garbage.)
What to do: A "bark" type discipline can be the following (in order of my preference):
- Single short burst shake of a shaker can.
- "NO" accompanied with a short burst shake. The shaker can helps emphasize your "NO".
- "NO". Short, to the point, don't say his name. Just a loud, bark-like "NO".
Don't say his name because the name should ONLY be used for COME and HEEL. That's it.
Although it's hard to have a shaker can handy all the time, I prefer that method because the dog doesn't associate your voice and your presence with getting disciplined. The shaker can is your friend! When we're raising puppies, we make up about 5 cans and distribute them in convenient places throughout the house.
After issuing the above "bark" discipline, you must do the following:
- Take him outside to potty. Even if he finished in the house, he still needs that immediate reinforcement that potty = outside. Do this even if you don't catch him and find a steaming pile.
- When you are taking him outside, you are the best of friends. He needs to associate going outside as the best event ever.
- Clean up and sterilize. If he smells even a hint of pee/poop inside, he will associate that spot with potty.
The "bark" type discipline can be used for anything, chewing, barking, any behavior you don't like. No hitting, no screaming... You basically want to discipline the way the alpha dog does in the pack. You can also growl, teach the "leave it" command, and use some of the subordination techniques in the Super Puppy book.
WHAT NOT TO DO:
- Yell more than a "NO".
- Throw the shaker can at him.
- Discipline after the fact.
- Hit.
- Rub his nose in the mess.
- Take him outside mad.
====================================================
How to stop accidents:
Even though' Jack is old enough to hold it in, because he wasn't outside potty trained at an earlier age, you can't hold fast to that rule. For now, treat him like he's 9 months old and expect him not to hold it. Here's some things to remember and try:
- We dog owners hate this one, but when a dog potties in the house, it's the owners fault. Always! But that's a good thing, because it puts the owner in control of solving the problem.
- A dog isn't considered housebroken until you go 15 days straight with no accidents. Start back at #1 with each accident.
- Check the Super Puppy book for their tips.
- Crate him when he's unsupervised until he's fully housebroken.
- You might try reverting back to the litter box until he's going outside regularly. Try using strips of newspaper instead of litter, less messy.
- Move the peepad/box next to the exit door. That way he'll walk to the door to use it.
- Take him out:
-Before you leave
-When you return
-When you get up in the morning
-Before you go to sleep at night
-After he eats
-After he plays
-When you suspect he looks like he has to go
-When he walks towards the litter box (big praise)
-When he walks towards the exit door (big praise)
- In other words, don't wait for him to tell you he has to go. Just go. At least until you have those 15 days of no accidents.
- Use "go pee/poop" or similar commands outside
- Big praise when he potties outside
Housebreaking can be a trying time, I know! But it doesn’t last forever. Just remember, it's going to be a lot of work up front for a big reward at the end. Oh, and DON’T let anyone else try to discipline your dog for this. Too confusing for him. Just have them tell you he's had an accident and you'll take care of it.
Here's an excellent house breaking site.
The WillaWoman
========================================
A rolled up newspaper can be an effective training tool when used properly.
For instance, use the rolled-up newspaper if your dog chews up something inappropriate or has a housebreaking accident.
Bring the dog over to the destroyed object (or mess), then take the rolled-up newspaper...
and hit yourself over the head as you repeat the phrase, "I FORGOT TO WATCH MY DOG, I FORGOT TO WATCH MY DOG!"
========================================
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