Posted: 11/15/2011 6:30:14 PM EDT
|
So I finally caved and me and my girlfriend got ourselves a pup. I have a couple questions for yall. He is an American Bulldog mix, approx. 9 weeks.
1. The dog seems to not go outside, only to get inside and go to the bathroom. Should I just crate them for a while, then try again? 2. My pup sometimes gets outside, (and this is when I know he will probably not go to the bathroom no matter how long I stand there), and eats everything he comes across. It is so demanding to make sure he doesn't swallow things. It is very hard for me to tell if he is sniffing his bathroom spot out, or eating shit. Any suggestions? I have been crate training him as best as I can, if I have any suspicion he is about to go bathroom in the house, I take him outside. My main question is, if he doesn't go when I take him out, should I crate him? For how long? Thanks for any help. |
|
Good for you getting a dog.
For potty training, watch and when the dog wants to go, take him out and say 'outside'. Keep doing this until he actually goes then say good boy. It is just something that takes time and repition. My three year old lab was trained this way. Now I take him outside and say 'potty' and he goes and pees. I say 'poo' and he goes and takes a dump. As for eatting shit, you can try hot sauce or cyan pepper on the droppings. With my dogs, the problem is they like hot sauce. 
|
|
Quoted:
So I finally caved and me and my girlfriend got ourselves a pup. I have a couple questions for yall. He is an American Bulldog mix, approx. 9 weeks. 1. The dog seems to not go outside, only to get inside and go to the bathroom. Should I just crate them for a while, then try again? 2. My pup sometimes gets outside, (and this is when I know he will probably not go to the bathroom no matter how long I stand there), and eats everything he comes across. It is so demanding to make sure he doesn't swallow things. It is very hard for me to tell if he is sniffing his bathroom spot out, or eating shit. Any suggestions? I have been crate training him as best as I can, if I have any suspicion he is about to go bathroom in the house, I take him outside. My main question is, if he doesn't go when I take him out, should I crate him? For how long? Thanks for any help. Buy a copy of "The Art of Raising a Puppy" by the Monks of New Skete. It will be your Bible for this process. Make sure the crate is small enough, or has a sturdy divider in it, so that he can't pee on one end and then lay down on the other. Also, you need to keep him outside long enough to let him go to the bathroom - that could be 20 minutes or more initially until he "gets it" and knows that he's supposed to be peeing out there. Tell him "do it ... do it ... do it ... " and then when he pees or poops, praise him a lot. He'll learn eventually. |
|
Positive reinforcement when he pees outside and negative when he goes inside. For the first while, you need to have him next to you so that he cant sneak away to pee. He'll get all frisky when he needs to pee, so you let him outside and he pees, then you shower him with praise. This will make him want to pee outside. When he pees inside, scold him while putting his nose in it. This will make him not want to pee inside. |
|
Quoted:
So I finally caved and me and my girlfriend got ourselves a pup. I have a couple questions for yall. He is an American Bulldog mix, approx. 9 weeks. 1. The dog seems to not go outside, only to get inside and go to the bathroom. Should I just crate them for a while, then try again? First rule of potty training: Make sure that the dog never goes in the house. If you can just do that, potty training will take place. That's all it takes. It sounds simple, but that's all it takes. The trick is that it takes more consistency and time than you might think - 24 hrs/day for a couple of weeks. Here's how to do it: 1. If the puppy just woke up, take it outside, don't take it back in until it "goes". Reward the dog for going outside with a "yes" and a treat IMMEDIATELY AFTER it finishes. Not 10 seconds later, IMMEDIATELY after. 2. If the puppy has had water, take it outside until it goes. 3. If the puppy has eaten, take it out within 10-40 minutes until it goes. 4. If the puppy has been playing for a little bit, take it outside until it goes. 5. If the puppy hasn't been out for 30 minutes or so for other reasons, take it out until it "goes". 6. If the puppy is sniffing at the ground, take it out. That's it. I've taken a 4-week old pup, and by doing that, had it running to the door and barking to "go" in a week. From there, it's just a matter of keeping attention to the dog, and letting the bladder capacity increase. The dog will naturally potty-train if you do your part. The only question is your ability to be watchful and put in the time. Take a magazine, roll it up, and tape it. Each time your dog goes in the house, whack YOURSELF on the head, and scream "I should have paid more attention to my puppy!". 
|
|
Quoted:
The dog will naturally potty-train if you do your part. The only question is your ability to be watchful and put in the time. Take a magazine, roll it up, and tape it. Each time your dog goes in the house, whack YOURSELF on the head, and scream "I should have paid more attention to my puppy!". That bears repeating. EVERY accident that any dog of mine has ever had was MY fault, ultimately. You need to watch them like a hawk when they're small. Also, it's fine to scold the dog for peeing/pooping inside if you catch the dog in the act. Do NOT punish the dog later, even 10 seconds later. It will not have any effect and will confuse the dog at best. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
So I finally caved and me and my girlfriend got ourselves a pup. I have a couple questions for yall. He is an American Bulldog mix, approx. 9 weeks. 1. The dog seems to not go outside, only to get inside and go to the bathroom. Should I just crate them for a while, then try again? First rule of potty training: Make sure that the dog never goes in the house. If you can just do that, potty training will take place. That's all it takes. It sounds simple, but that's all it takes. The trick is that it takes more consistency and time than you might think - 24 hrs/day for a couple of weeks. Here's how to do it: 1. If the puppy just woke up, take it outside, don't take it back in until it "goes". Reward the dog for going outside with a "yes" and a treat IMMEDIATELY AFTER it finishes. Not 10 seconds later, IMMEDIATELY after. 2. If the puppy has had water, take it outside until it goes. 3. If the puppy has eaten, take it out within 10-40 minutes until it goes. 4. If the puppy has been playing for a little bit, take it outside until it goes. 5. If the puppy hasn't been out for 30 minutes or so for other reasons, take it out until it "goes". 6. If the puppy is sniffing at the ground, take it out. That's it. I've taken a 4-week old pup, and by doing that, had it running to the door and barking to "go" in a week. From there, it's just a matter of keeping attention to the dog, and letting the bladder capacity increase. The dog will naturally potty-train if you do your part. The only question is your ability to be watchful and put in the time. Take a magazine, roll it up, and tape it. Each time your dog goes in the house, whack YOURSELF on the head, and scream "I should have paid more attention to my puppy!". This. Read all you can about crate training. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
The dog will naturally potty-train if you do your part. The only question is your ability to be watchful and put in the time. Take a magazine, roll it up, and tape it. Each time your dog goes in the house, whack YOURSELF on the head, and scream "I should have paid more attention to my puppy!". That bears repeating. EVERY accident that any dog of mine has ever had was MY fault, ultimately. You need to watch them like a hawk when they're small. Also, it's fine to scold the dog for peeing/pooping inside if you catch the dog in the act. Do NOT punish the dog later, even 10 seconds later. It will not have any effect and will confuse the dog at best. More effective than scolding is, if you can catch them mid-potty, interrupt them, pick them up, take them outside, and let them go. Praise them when they do. Praise for doing something right goes much farther with dogs than punishment for doing wrong, so always try to set the situation up so that they can do it right, then reinforce that. That is not unique to dogs... mammalian brains don't have the capability to replace one habit/thought/action with "nothing", they need "something" to replace it with. Don't just try to get a dog - or person - to just "quit that", give them the correct behavior to replace the wrong one with. 
|
|
Great advise in here! I was told by a trainer that when I praise my dog, to act as though she just saved Timmy from the well. Eventually your puppy will want to go outside to pee in his spot just to get that praise. My pit (she's about 1 year old) will also eat just about anything she finds outside. She eats acorns for crying out loud. I told her that OUR food eats acorns. Oh well. Have fun with your dog. Mine is part of the family, no doubt.
|
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
The dog will naturally potty-train if you do your part. The only question is your ability to be watchful and put in the time. Take a magazine, roll it up, and tape it. Each time your dog goes in the house, whack YOURSELF on the head, and scream "I should have paid more attention to my puppy!". That bears repeating. EVERY accident that any dog of mine has ever had was MY fault, ultimately. You need to watch them like a hawk when they're small. Also, it's fine to scold the dog for peeing/pooping inside if you catch the dog in the act. Do NOT punish the dog later, even 10 seconds later. It will not have any effect and will confuse the dog at best. GREAT post. So, I first want to thank everybody who responded. I have had the dog for roughly a month now, and it is amazing to see how much he has changed (and not changed for that matter!) since I got him. He is doing MUCH MUCH better with going in the house, since I have made it my mission to make sure he is outside when he needs to be. He still is annoying sometimes, and I have to restrain myself from wanting to murder him! The big thing for me that I am trying to correct the following issue. 1. He goes CRAZY when he sees new people. He tends to jump on them. I know this is a BIG BIG NO NO. Any help? |
|
He's still a puppy––he'll get excited. My dog is five years old and still acts like a puppy when my parents come over. He jumps on me too, but it doesn't bother me.
When people come over just crate him until he calms down. If you don't want him to jump on you, turn your back when he jumps. He'll lose interest eventually. If he tries to jump on others outside, give him a quick correction and tell him, "No!" He'll get it. 
|
|
All good advice. The key is the crate and consistency.
Also, remember that as a rule of thumb, your dog can "hold it" about an hour for each month that they are old. So, a 12 week old puppy needs to be let out every three hours at a minimum. Just a good rule to follow. Good luck and post pics! |
|
Quoted:
The big thing for me that I am trying to correct the following issue. 1. He goes CRAZY when he sees new people. He tends to jump on them. I know this is a BIG BIG NO NO. Any help? Train him in "sit" and "wait" or "stay". When a new person comes, make the pup sit and stay. Tell the person that they can only pet the pup if he's sitting and staying. If you are consistent, you will be amazed at how quickly the pup will run over to someone, and drop their butt right to the floor.
Another thing you can do is that as the dog is more able to, make the dog sit/stay for one full minute before they get attention from the new people. Gradually increase that until you're at five minutes or so... the dog will learn that they have to wait their turn, and that will give them time to calm down a little bit. As the pup gets bigger, if he jumps, here's something that works very well: When he jumps up, take a step toward the dog. It takes away their ability to "stick the landing", so to speak, and they'll have to drop back to their feet. Usually they look at you like "Hey, WTF did you do that for?" It's quite effective. Most people take a step BACK when a dog jumps... that just makes it easier for the dog to "land". Go forward. Dogs understand it quite well. |
|
NEW PROBLEM
Ok, so my dog is much better with going in the house, when we take him out, he goes, when we don't he might go in the house. That works for me, at least I know its me. But a new problem seems to have arose. We got him a bed for him shortly after bringing him home, which he LOVES. But just as of recently, he has been peeing on the corner of it. He does this after he has gone outside, and I don't think this is a problem with him not being outside when he needs to go pee. Is he "marking"? The only thing I can think to do is I have removed the bed entirely. Suggestions? |
|
Quoted:
He's too young to be marking, but you did the right thing by removing what started the new problem. Sounds like more crate training and revocation of privileges are in order. It's a slow process and you need to be careful not to set him up for failure. Thanks. So, considering how much he loved the bed, when should I put it back? |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
He's too young to be marking, but you did the right thing by removing what started the new problem. Sounds like more crate training and revocation of privileges are in order. It's a slow process and you need to be careful not to set him up for failure. Thanks. So, considering how much he loved the bed, when should I put it back? Whenever you're ready for him to start pissing on it again. I would just throw the bed away and don't worry about another bed for while. Crate should be all for him right now. He's just a baby and has plenty of time to enjoy comfortable life after he learns the rules you have established. The bed has been marked and even if you can wash it with some good enzymatic cleaner, I would still not risk it. When you start allowing him freedom, only give him one room at a time and watch him like a hawk. Once you can trust him in one room for a few weeks, allow him freedom to another room and watch him carefully again. As I'm sure you have figured out, problems are better avoided before they start. |
|
***NEW PROBLEM***
Again, thanks for the advice, it all has proved very useful so far. So, I'm absolutely in love with this dog, he is really good. The only problem that has come up is he tends to pee a little when he goes up to people who pet him. He is 17 weeks old. He still is young and a lot of family and friend haven't met him, so they want to pet him as soon as I open his crate, so I'm trying to make sure he has been outside immediately after coming out of the crate, but there have been a few times he has done it anyway. Any suggestions? |
|
Quoted:
***NEW PROBLEM*** Again, thanks for the advice, it all has proved very useful so far. So, I'm absolutely in love with this dog, he is really good. The only problem that has come up is he tends to pee a little when he goes up to people who pet him. He is 17 weeks old. He still is young and a lot of family and friend haven't met him, so they want to pet him as soon as I open his crate, so I'm trying to make sure he has been outside immediately after coming out of the crate, but there have been a few times he has done it anyway. Any suggestions? Just excited puppy syndrome. All my pups usually did this when meeting someone new and they only stopped after getting older. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
***NEW PROBLEM*** Again, thanks for the advice, it all has proved very useful so far. So, I'm absolutely in love with this dog, he is really good. The only problem that has come up is he tends to pee a little when he goes up to people who pet him. He is 17 weeks old. He still is young and a lot of family and friend haven't met him, so they want to pet him as soon as I open his crate, so I'm trying to make sure he has been outside immediately after coming out of the crate, but there have been a few times he has done it anyway. Any suggestions? Just excited puppy syndrome. All my pups usually did this when meeting someone new and they only stopped after getting older. Yep. For some, they are using it as a sign of submissiveness. Others just can't hold their pee when they're excited. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
***NEW PROBLEM*** Again, thanks for the advice, it all has proved very useful so far. So, I'm absolutely in love with this dog, he is really good. The only problem that has come up is he tends to pee a little when he goes up to people who pet him. He is 17 weeks old. He still is young and a lot of family and friend haven't met him, so they want to pet him as soon as I open his crate, so I'm trying to make sure he has been outside immediately after coming out of the crate, but there have been a few times he has done it anyway. Any suggestions? Just excited puppy syndrome. All my pups usually did this when meeting someone new and they only stopped after getting older. This is what most people have told me. Good to hear. |
|
Quoted:
Positive reinforcement when he pees outside and negative when he goes inside. For the first while, you need to have him next to you so that he cant sneak away to pee. He'll get all frisky when he needs to pee, so you let him outside and he pees, then you shower him with praise. This will make him want to pee outside. When he pees inside, scold him while putting his nose in it. This will make him not want to pee inside. The bold section will ONLY work if you actually catch him in the act of peeing inside. So how can you encourage your dog to pee outside that first time so you can praise him? #1 have your shoes and jacket on, ready to go out, and watch the dog for signs he is about to go pee. If he starts to bathroom, don't scold him, just swoop him up and take him outside. He won't pee right away outside but after he calms down (in a minute or two) he'll pee, so heap on the praise. #2 YOU pee. Often he will sniff it a bit then pee. #3 bring him to where he has peed before or pooped before, or at least close. #4 don't have water sitting out, do some play then give him a big bowl of water then expect him to have to pee in the near future. #5 realize that pups have small bladders and need to have very frequent potty breaks, including getting up 2 or 3 times a night. #6 wherever the pup smells pee he thinks that is a good place to pee. Pups can smell better than you. Get special carpet and floor cleaner designed for use with pets, they have enzymes that break down the pee smell so even the dogs won't smell it. |
|
Quoted:
***NEW PROBLEM*** Again, thanks for the advice, it all has proved very useful so far. So, I'm absolutely in love with this dog, he is really good. The only problem that has come up is he tends to pee a little when he goes up to people who pet him. He is 17 weeks old. He still is young and a lot of family and friend haven't met him, so they want to pet him as soon as I open his crate, so I'm trying to make sure he has been outside immediately after coming out of the crate, but there have been a few times he has done it anyway. Any suggestions? This is part of being a young pup, and as others have stated can be related to both excitement as well as showing how submissive he is (because a pup has the ingrained knowledge that he must show each and every member of the pack he is under them) I suggest you deal with this problem by addressing the humans. TELL THEM he has a piddle problem due to excitement when meeting new folk, so you will get his leash and take him outside and they can greet him out there. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
***NEW PROBLEM*** Again, thanks for the advice, it all has proved very useful so far. So, I'm absolutely in love with this dog, he is really good. The only problem that has come up is he tends to pee a little when he goes up to people who pet him. He is 17 weeks old. He still is young and a lot of family and friend haven't met him, so they want to pet him as soon as I open his crate, so I'm trying to make sure he has been outside immediately after coming out of the crate, but there have been a few times he has done it anyway. Any suggestions? This is part of being a young pup, and as others have stated can be related to both excitement as well as showing how submissive he is (because a pup has the ingrained knowledge that he must show each and every member of the pack he is under them) I suggest you deal with this problem by addressing the humans. TELL THEM he has a piddle problem due to excitement when meeting new folk, so you will get his leash and take him outside and they can greet him out there. Its funny how it is usually a HUMAN thing isnt it!?!? This is what we have been doing, and it seems to have done the trick. Thanks! |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
***NEW PROBLEM*** Again, thanks for the advice, it all has proved very useful so far. So, I'm absolutely in love with this dog, he is really good. The only problem that has come up is he tends to pee a little when he goes up to people who pet him. He is 17 weeks old. He still is young and a lot of family and friend haven't met him, so they want to pet him as soon as I open his crate, so I'm trying to make sure he has been outside immediately after coming out of the crate, but there have been a few times he has done it anyway. Any suggestions? This is part of being a young pup, and as others have stated can be related to both excitement as well as showing how submissive he is (because a pup has the ingrained knowledge that he must show each and every member of the pack he is under them) I suggest you deal with this problem by addressing the humans. TELL THEM he has a piddle problem due to excitement when meeting new folk, so you will get his leash and take him outside and they can greet him out there. Its funny how it is usually a HUMAN thing isnt it!?!? This is what we have been doing, and it seems to have done the trick. Thanks! yes it is. eventually people figure that out. Because all dogs want to do is please the pack. All this other stuff we think they are doing, is us putting human emotion or human logic on a situation where the dog isn't getting clear messages. For most dog owners at a certain point it just clicks. They finally get it, and once they realize that it is THEIR actions (or the actions of other humans) that is blocking the dog from his one main mission (do what pleases and is best for the pack...as defined by the pack leader) the dog goes from being dumb, annoying, moron, a trouble maker, etc etc to the owner seeing them as a great dog. |