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Topic: Housetraining tips needed
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Lab*Hound*Girl
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posted April 25, 2004 06:55 PM
I recently adopted an 8 week old puppy from a local shelter, and she will be ariving at my house in two days. I can't wait for her to come, but I am also worried about housetraining her. I know the basic training tips for housetraining a dog, but I could use some further tips, just to reassure myself the dog will be trained right.
Thanks so much.
[ April 25, 2004, 06:56 PM: Message edited by: SheperdGirl ]
Posts: 12 | Registered: Apr 2004
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weimlover0816
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posted April 25, 2004 07:08 PM
A few tips
1.Take the pup out all the time: immediately after eatign, drinking, playing, sleeping, basically after anything!! your fisrt goal when you get up in the morning should be getting your pup outside to "go"... in addition, I highly recommend crate training
2. CARRY the pup to the door (leaves less of achance for accidents on the way to outside), give lots of praise for going outside
3. Accidents will happen... don;t punish badly, just a NO and take the dog out until it goes outside
4. the best thing that worked for us was a bell. really. we hung a bell to the door knob and whenever she has to go out, she rings the bell.... she used to nose at the doorknob and if we weren't right there to see, she would pee on the floor.. now she is great at letting us know, and we are all much happier.. though sometimes she uses the bell for "evil" and will ring it woth her ball just so she can go out to play!!
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"My Weimaraner is smarter than your honors student!"
Posts: 221 | From: USA-Maine | Registered: Apr 2004
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Lab*Hound*Girl
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posted April 25, 2004 07:11 PM
lol, I like the bell idea! Thanks for the tips, heh, I needed them.
I would never think of punishing my dog at all, unless its just maybe a little tap on the head or something. Punishment is not what helps dogs learn...
Sorry, heh, I'm a big, anti-animal abuse person, hehe.
Posts: 12 | Registered: Apr 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted April 25, 2004 07:13 PM
The more mistakes that the puppy makes in the house the longer it will take to house train them. With that in mind the puppy must not be left unsupervised for even a minute. Some tips to aid in success.
1) Invest in a crate and use it for sleeping, feeding, when you need to answer the phone, take a shower etc. The pup should not be allowed to make mistakes.
2) Learn to read you puppy. This usually takes about two weeks before you know the behaviours that signal a need for bathroom whether sniffing, whining, etc.
3) Start by taking the puppy out OFTEN and accompany them. This ensures that you know they've gone and what they did #1 or #2. This is a real pain for about two weeks but well worth it. I took mine out every 40 minutes.
4) First thing in the am - bathroom outside last thing at night. These are pretty standard times to take puppy out but also right after eating, playing, etc.
5)If you never want the puppy to pee or p**p in the house, then it should never be encouraged to "go on paper in the house". This keeps mistakes on the sunday paper to a minimum.
6) Don't punish mistakes - they should be cleaned with cleaner that eliminates the smell (Available at any pet store) Praise success - tell the puppy "GOOD" whenever they release where you want them to.
7) Use a catch term "Hurry UP" "GO PEE" and use it everytime when you want them to go. This will help you later as well as you dog will always know that's what you want them to do.
8) Don't been surprised if your pup can seem to go to the bathroom - twice in 5 minutes. Many dogs don't go all at once and you may need to stay out longer. My rotti used to pee - come back to me - and then pee again. If I let her in the house - I was bound to be disappointed.
9) Don't scream stop - or go chasing after the puppy if you catch them starting to pee. This encourages them to go HIDE & PEE which you don't want. You can startle them by clapping or simply say NO & pick them up quickily.
Good Luck & congrats.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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serpinb9
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posted April 27, 2004 02:29 PM
My puppy is about 10 weeks old now. I got her when she was about 8 weeks old. She learned to pee and poop at the designated spot the 2nd day she got here. But it only lasted for about a week. She is peeing and poopping everywhere she wants now. I don't know how she can go from an angel to a devil over night. I have been trying to correct her as much as I can. But I wake up every morning with poop all over the living room. Help!!!! What to do when you are sleeping? (I sleep from 2 am to 9 am everyday)
Posts: 5 | From: Ithaca, NY | Registered: Apr 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted April 27, 2004 02:38 PM
WHAT IS A 10 WEEK PUPPY DOING WITH FULL ACCESS TO THE LIVING ROOM????? That is like giving a driver's license to a 2 year old.
You must limit the space to almost sleeping size only. Buy a crate, or block off part of your house. The puppy will continue to have accidents until they are 10 months old. You are expecting way too much at this point. Just because they hit the mark the first week doesn't mean they learned.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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serpinb9
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posted April 27, 2004 03:01 PM
I do crate train when I am at home, but I can't leave her in the crate over night. I live in a small townhouse, my living room is very tiny. It's not the type of big nice living room you would normally expect. Am I supposed to confine her in a small area till she is older?
Posts: 5 | From: Ithaca, NY | Registered: Apr 2004
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ellierat
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posted April 27, 2004 03:44 PM
She won't have full bladder control till at least 12 weeks, any training you do is basically showing her where you would like her to go, many do well one week then slip back again, this is normal, you didn't do anything wrong, it just happens. I keep mine confined to the kitchen where I am working a lot, the floor is easy to clean and they see me all the time. I take them outside after every drink, feed, on waking, before sleeping, after play, about once every hour, you can normally tell when they are gonna go cause they go around in a circle looking for a spot, that's the best time to pick them up and show them the designated area, so if you are in the lounge with her, look for that, or just when there gonna squat. It can take up to 4-5 months of age to teach them. Depends on how much time you have daily to teach.
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I love my labs.
Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004
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Lab*Hound*Girl
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posted April 27, 2004 07:32 PM
Thanks everyone, you are very helpful.
Posts: 12 | Registered: Apr 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted April 27, 2004 07:39 PM
Everyone gets the impression that crate training is bad - too small a space, etc.
But puppies are basically domestic wolves and they spend a good deal of time in caves or dens. Overnite (while you are sleeping) is the perfect time to put them in a crate.
That way you won't find they get into poisons, shoes, etc.
When you are not home is also a good time to crate them until they have proven themselves.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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Ken Nielsen
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posted April 28, 2004 02:39 PM
I'll second that. Crates are great - IF owners read up on them and how to use them. They are NOT for punishment.
Dogs love 'em. During the day I leave the crate door open. Mine goes in on her own to take a nap.
Posts: 94 | From: Portland, Oregon | Registered: Apr 2004
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