Dog training tips needed please

pboae

If you tell him off when he has an accident indoors, the thing he is most likely to learn is not to pee in front of you, so he will go off and do it in some hidden corner. Sometimes dogs then extrapolate that to not toileting in front of their owner at all, and that can cause big problems later on.

You need to understand that he is not doing this to be naughty or to annoy you, he's just a baby and he's still learning. There are loads of possible reasons for why this is happening.

The first is just that he isn't fully trained yet. It's absolutely normal for a dog still to be having occasional accidents at 3 months.

Dogs go through various developmental stages, and there are several fear stages in there. Aside from the obvious discomfort of toileting outside when it is cold and raining, lots of dogs gets spooked by weather, especially by wind. And he's still learning, he's probably never seen sleet or snow before.

Also, you say the change has coincided with the recent change in the weather, but it also coincides with bonfire night. Dogs make strange associations sometimes. My dog doesn't bat an eyelid at fireworks, but 2 years ago a really loud one went off right by us just as he was going to the toilet. After that he still never reacted to the fireworks, but he avoided that patch of grass for months, and would skirt around it when we walked past.

Can you provide any sort of cover in the garden where he can toilet out of the elements? It might also help him feel more safe and secure (it's a vulnerable time for a dog!).

So the direct answer to your question, "would it be so wrong to give him a firm 'no' when I catch him weeing inside?". No, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, but it is unlikely to help and may well make things worse. It ends up being more about you venting your frustration than his toilet training.


EDIT: to add, I forgot to say, you need to be much much more vigilant with him too. You can't expect him to learn that you will ignore an indoor accident if you have missed the signs, but tell him off if you didn't. That message is so mixed no puppy would understand it. Every time he has an accident inside after he has tried to go outside, he will go two steps back in his training. Consistency is everything in dog training, and it is doubly important with toilet training.

zebidee1

What you say makes sense, so we'll carry on with the ignoring indoors/praising outdoors and hope this passes soon.

The last couple of days he has been staying within 2 feet of me when he pees or poos whereas before he would be at one end of the garden and I'd be at the other, so I suppose that's proof there's something going on in his wee furry brain to make him unsure.

As for the possibly providing some sort of cover or shelter for him.....I dont think that's feasible unless we buy a large heavyweight marquee, lol. We couldn't put up anything structural and anything temporary would likely blow away with the bad weather. I'l give it some more thought though.

Thanks for the advice. :beer:

WeirdoMagnet

Apart from what pboae says (which I echo), I have two things to mention.

One is that your dog may have learnt to pee outside in the dry weather, but who would want to go outside and pee in the rain?! Our doglet Tilly hates the rain, and whilst she will go (under duress) in the rain, she'd rather not! You have to make it really rewarding - use a super duper treat - for him to go outside in the rain!

Two is that is well known that dogs don't generalise. By that I mean that whilst a dog knows that your command 'sit' means 'sit' in the lounge, the pup doesn't realise that 'sit' means sit in the kitchen/garden/other exciting atmosphere. Likewise, he may well know 'go wee wee' or similar in dry weather, but won't generalise that to going in the rain.

Couple One with Two and you've got double the problem, so you need to make it extra worth his while to go outside in the rain!

Get your waterproofs on, close the door behind you and wait for Harley to go. He is only 11 weeks old after all, and probably has only been with you for 3 weeks?

affordmylife

Echo all the advise above.

They do all get it in the end. Just keep trying.

My dog wont go out in the rain for a walk but if he needs the toilet he goes out there whatever the weather. He s two now but when I see him peeing outside Im so proud of him for learning thats the place to go.

He wouldnt dream of doing it indoors ever.

Your baby will get there soon.

zebidee1

Georgina wrote: »

You have to make it really rewarding - use a super duper treat - for him to go outside in the rain!

Better stick to cheese then.....I nearly broke his teeth with my first attempt at dried liver, I've seen softer stones. :rotfl:

Fireworks are going off in our square again and although he's not freaking out, he is a bit nervous and is up at the door a lot. As I dont know if he's just pacing or needing the loo, I am up every 2 minutes with him just in case.

Yay! I'm going to be thin soon.

suki1964

I have the wussiest springer pup in the world - he HATES getting his feet wet nearly as much as he hates to get dirty :rotfl:

Im spending more time outside in the wind and rain then is good for a woman But we are getting there I cant just stand on the doorstep, I have to go out onto the lawn and make like a crazy woman to make him want to come join me, from there I just keep repeating his toilet commands till he gets the message. If he bolts for the doorstep Im right there to get him back.

Yesterday I saw the results pay off for the first time, early morning wee and it was tipping down, he ran out, just barely made the lawn, pee'd and right back in. Brekkie and door opened for No twos - same - small job and ran right back. 20 mins later he was back at the back door really needing to go - and stayed out till the job was complete - and it was still tipping it down

It does feel like you are going backwards at time but just keep at it, they all get there in the end

Lillys_mum

I am struggling with my dog just now.
I even have her booked to go back to the animal shelter on Tuesday next week but I just can't do it as I love her to bits.

My main problem is control.

She won't walk to heal, she pulls constantly and I can't let her off the lead as she will run away - as she has done on many occasions before.

We took her to classes when she was about 6mths old but she didn't respond very well to them and to be honest it was more a place of my dog is better than your dog and not training.

Trouble is now I am on my own (hubby in Iraq until April 08) I can't take her to classes as they won't allow children to accompany and to be honest I can't afford them.
one to one training would be great but again it is the cost that is the big issue.

Can anyone recommend anything to help - even a reasonably priced trainer in Huntingdonshire would be a possibility.

Thanks in advance for any advice offered.

LM
xx

amfiroda

we have quite a big dog, a labradoodle, and found that a no pull harness has made all the diference with his walking. We also go to dog training, maybe you could try another class?
All the best

Lillys_mum

What is a no pull harness?

We have tried her on all sorts
a standard collar, a harness, a halti, a choke chain (which I hated using but it was on the advice of the trainer)

She is an almost 2 yr old Greman Shepherd x Husky

Lillys_mum

after a bit of research it is a no pull harness which we are already using on her, i used it tonight but it was worse than a collar. she just ends up walking sideways!!!!