Need an idiots guide to dogs......

Tygermoth

FC,

Yes given the run of the house.

her usual modus operandi is the hall or living room during the day for her 'presents' and the bathroom overnight (im sure its just for the humor value of watching the humans sleepily step in the wee first thing)

Heheheh

Tygermoth

Just did the half hour stint in the garden... neighbour looked at me like i was nuts.... trailing around in the freezing cold......with a bewildered looking dog and nine curious chickens following in a row.....

gettingready

Tygermoth wrote: »

... neighbour looked at me like i was nuts.... ..

I am sure this was not half as bad as me in my jam jams and slippers with coat over that at 3 pm with Zara outside the block..... when she had an upset tummy...

foreign_correspondent

Tygermoth wrote: »

Just did the half hour stint in the garden... neighbour looked at me like i was nuts.... trailing around in the freezing cold......with a bewildered looking dog and nine curious chickens following in a row.....

Bless.. did she wee? You don't need to stay out there for half an hour you know - just till she 'performs' for you!

foreign_correspondent

Tygermoth wrote: »

FC,

Yes given the run of the house.

her usual modus operandi is the hall or living room during the day for her 'presents' and the bathroom overnight (im sure its just for the humor value of watching the humans sleepily step in the wee first thing)

Heheheh

lol - it would be easier for you to supervise her (and would minimise damage to your carpets) if you kept her in one room overnight - as sarabe says, if she sleeps in your room you would be more likely to spot when she is looking for somewhere to go.

Do clean the places she has weed in the past with biological washing solution though, otherwise they will smell like the right sort of places to toilet to her.

ali-t

I agree with the bulk of what the other posters have said. 2 weeks will be enough for you to get the dog into a routine.

the best advice I ever got when I had my first dog was from someone who walked guide dogs and I thought it was rubbish at the time but now I swear by it. I always have a phrase that I use when the dog toilets 'go pee' or 'go poo' and both mine will toilet on demand.

the way to train that is to catch the dog peeing and give the command at that time and loads of praise when it goes in the right place. Picture the scene - you will be leaping up and down with an excited baby voice going 'go pee, go pee' at 3am in the snow when the poochy does one outside rather than on your carpet.

To clean up pees a professional carpet cleaner advised me to use absorbant kitchen roll and stand on it a lot to get the bulk of the wet out. Then use a solution of biological washing powder to get rid of the smell and any associated enzymes that will keep attracting the dog back to the same place.

The advice for cleaning up poos depends on the consistency but to avoid having to do it - take the dog out regularly, particularly after mealtimes and keep all doors shut to contain the dog in the area you want it to go in.

I also endorse cage use. Both of mine will go in them voluntarily to eat bones, get peace and have a sleep. An insecure dog may take to a cage more quickly than a very sociable secure one.

If the dog has a particular bond to its owner there may be additional issues emerging if you are taking the dog when she isn't there as seperation anxiety and feelings of abandonment may kick in.

gettingready

Oh yes, forgot about the "poo" and "pee" - Zara does both "on command" too.....

And it does work.

Tygermoth

Hi FC,

Ooops What I meant it was 'on the half hour'... not we stopped out for an half hour... Poor mite would have frozen to death lol

Loads of praise when poohed waiting for a pee now... (what an exciting life I lead)



http://i753.photobucket.com/albums/xx176/tygermoth/9628_162299632781_737002781_3604660.jpg

(in this pic she was still at the Dogs Trust - perfected the 'Pick me' look though....

hethmar

You are a brave soul taking this on.

Ive skimmed the thread - sposed to be doing VAT at the moment - but Id just about reinforce everything everyone has said about taking her out in the garden. Dont fuss, fold your arms and walk about the garden as if you arent bothered either way. If she gives you a beseeching look, ignore her until she performs. Then you can go over the top with praise.

Thing is, this is a nervous pooch who is unsettled by her life so far. She has just got used to having a regular owner/home and she is in a new one again, albeit for only a short while - pooch doesnt know that. Its like a little kid starting school again, she will be scared.

No point shouting or anything, only make her more nervous. With Diggs, who was a stray then in the Manchester dog pound then three further dog homes, it took 4 months to stop the poo and wee in the house - basically because it was so long (if ever) he had been in a house, he was nervous after his experiences and frightened to upset anyone, he never barked or scratched to let us know he needed to go.

We have learnt now that he will run to you and rub against you and look up when he needs to go out - he still wont bark bless him. The only thing I used was "Oh No" when I stepped in a pile of poo or wee. This seemed more than sufficient for him to know it wasnt acceptable, bless.

Now I take him out at any opportunity and say to him, "come on, lets have a wee cos we dont want an Oh No do we". LOL. He looks at me so knowing, out he goes, wees whilst looking at me and when I praise him, the relief on his little face

Tygermoth

Hi Hethmar,

I wouldn't shout or scold with the soiling, she is nervous enough as it is. The only time i raise my voice is when the Kittens v Pip fighting is getting out of hand and that's directed at the devilish kittens who taunt her (they may be small n cute but three against one is not fair)



ooohhh my 100 post!