Seems To Prefer The Rug

[Gwinganna]

What do you do when your puppy seems to prefer the rug to the lawn?

I take her outside, she runs around, smells, nothing happens, then bring her inside, and BAM.

The "my parents did it" technique of putting their faces near it and saying bad dog, then moving them outside seems out of favour. So other than praise when she goes outside, and putting her out regularly, how do I stop her from going inside? How do they GET IT that they need to go outside ALL the time and NOT inside?

Everything I read says the same thing, but their must be some deterrent measure that can assist the process?

[PAX]

If she is going on a rug, remove the rug and do not let her go onto carpet if you can. Dogs prefer to go on carpet so their legs dont get splashed. As she learns to go outside she can earn the right to be trusted on the carpet.

If you punish her she will only learn not to toilet around you and hide to go pee.

[poodlefan]

If any trace of urine remains in the rug, she'll be triggered to wee there again.

Agree with taking the rug up for the meantime... in addition, you have to wait outside until she goes.. however long that takes.

Patience and consistency will do the job. If the she goes inside, blame yourself, not her. It's up to us to show them where to go and help them succeed by waiting until they do.

Remember, after they wake, eat, drink or play take them out. If you can't supervise her inside, put her out.

[Sarah L]

What do you do when your puppy seems to prefer the rug to the lawn?

I take her outside, she runs around, smells, nothing happens, then bring her inside, and BAM.

The "my parents did it" technique of putting their faces near it and saying bad dog, then moving them outside seems out of favour. So other than praise when she goes outside, and putting her out regularly, how do I stop her from going inside? How do they GET IT that they need to go outside ALL the time and NOT inside?

Everything I read says the same thing, but their must be some deterrent measure that can assist the process?

Hi Gwinganna

Just read your post, if you would like to take a look in puppy problems forum under training a dog to use a litter tray thread look under my post and see if this method would help you. Sorry havn't worked out the link thing yet.

Sorry just re read your post. Has she gone to the toilet on anything else but the rug?

Edited July 30, 2007 by pinnacle dts

[Poodle wrangler]

....The "my parents did it" technique of putting their faces near it and saying bad dog, then moving them outside seems out of favour. So other than praise when she goes outside, and putting her out regularly, how do I stop her from going inside? How do they GET IT that they need to go outside ALL the time and NOT inside?

Everything I read says the same thing, but their must be some deterrent measure that can assist the process?

The "rubbing their faces in it" technique just doesn't work- the dog has no idea what you're on about, though I'm sure it's made frustrated people feel better .

If you catch the dog in the act, just say, "no" and put them outside- they know exactly what you mean because you act immediately.

Deterent? Well at the moment the rug is attracting her. Her sense of smell is so good that even if you think you've cleaned, she can still smell where she went last time.

You have to be there when the dog toilets outside. It's not over 'til it's over. Same routine each time, preferably same place until she learns.

She needs you to teach her that going outside is the RIGHT thing to do- use treats (anything she really loves) and praise her. I used to tell pup to "wee-wee" and after a while he'd look over to me as he started to go, ready for me to say, "Good boy!". You have to sound excited, although you'd much rather be somewhere else .

The more accidents you allow to occur inside, the longer toilet training will take. Watch her like a hawk, or, have her outside.

It's consistency and time .

[Gwinganna]

Got a litter tray. Wee's in there. (yay!), Poos on the rug (boo!) I'll stick with it. Eukanuba dog food - AT LEAST THE POOS ARE SMALL AND FIRM. lol Problem is I think my wife and I are a little different in our approach, and we have 3 kids. Might take a bit longer becasue I think there is a bad enviroment for considtency in anything :-(