Please Help Me

[honeysmum]

You know, I have never been a real fan of pet shop puppies, but now i see exactly why it should be outlawed.I guess i bought into the taking pity thing,but that only perpetuates the whole cycle.

At least she is not there any more, but hundreds of other little creatures are.its so very wrong.why isnt it against the law to keep puppies in such bad conditions? I thought they took them home of a night,and walked them and stuff but no.and if they dont sell, they are put down more often than not.

[honeysmum]

I wouldn't leave food down for honey - feed her at set times and if she doesnt eat it all within say, 15 minutes, pick up her bowl. No fuss, no worries. She will soon learn that if she doesnt eat she has to wait.

Watch Honey carefully with necks/wings etc. good thing if she doesn't wolf them down, but I don't ever give mine bones if they are to be left unattended.

Good on you for a job well done remember, consistency is the key, and Nothing in Life is Free!! (for honey)

Best of luck tonight. Would love to see some pics of Honey.

Thanks! your encouragement has me feeling not so stupid .

[Papi_Searcher]

CONSISTENT and PERSISTENT

I have been following this thread and although I thought that I wasn't qualified as some to provide I just watched. I wanted to say how great it is that you have been able to put some of advice into action! Good on you! I know how good it is when you get through to the pup.

One thing that I have learnt in my recent experiences is the value of CONSISTENCY. They seem to adapt well in routine!!!

[Ellie]

Well done on you progress! You are sounding much more positive. Honey sounds like a real little sweetheart.

My Cocker pup has just turned 9 months old and she was very slow to toilet train. It finally all clicked in at 7 months and she's doing great now. I found consistency and lots and lots of praise (even if you sound like an idiot!) to be the key.

DOL is a wonderful community with many knowledgable, caring and helpful people. Stick around and you will learn heaps.

Good luck with you little girl and please keep us updated on how she's going.

Ellie

Edited for spelling

Edited September 11, 2008 by Ellie

[honeysmum]

Well done on you progress! You are sounding much more positive. Honey sounds like a real little sweetheart.

My Cocker pup has just turned 9 months old and she was very slow to toilet train. It finally all clicked in at 7 months and she's doing great now. I found consistency and lots and lots of praise (even if you sound like an idiot!) to be the key.

DOL is a wonderful community with many knowledgable, caring and helpful people. Stick around and you will learn heaps.

Good luck with you little girl and please keep us updated on how she's going.

Ellie

Edited for spelling

indeed.i would have been lost if I hadnt discovered this website. ppl have been so patient and helpful,encouraging and knowledgable, i feel inspired to keep on trying. A heartfelt thanks to everyone for taking the time to help me and Honey.You will be sick of us over the next little while,because I intend to use this forum as my little Bible,til we get sorted.

I am amazed that you have the time/patience/interest in helping us,but i guess you guys are all dog lovers, so that says a lot

[RoxyNHemi]

Hi Honeysmum,

Well done on ur progress, you are doing great :D

I have grown up with dogs (my mum bred shih tzus and now great danes), and it has been 5 years since my last puppy, and Im so nervous,

Im just really excited and remember its all a learning curve

Sarah

[BIG-DOG-LOVER]

Hi :D welcome to the forums, I see you've obviously been reading up lots since you arrived which is great

It will take time, but you will get their and I'm sure Honey will turn out to be a lovely companion for you.

I haven't had a puppy for many years but just give it time and keep at it and continue reading up all that you can as knowledge is a wonderful thing.

Congrats on your new addition :cool:

[CBL]

Glad to hear things are better already :D

Hope you have some luck with those names I gave you.

[poodlefan]

While ever you try to do the right thing by your dog Honeysmum, you will find support here.

But where are the photos??? :D

Edited September 12, 2008 by poodlefan

[Michelleva]

I've just caught up on this thread, I just want to congratulate you on sticking with it, and listening to the great advice given. This website and its members have helped me with my problematic rescue dog too, he's improved in leaps and bounds too. Good luck and keep us posted. :D

[honeysmum]

While ever you try to do the right thing by your dog Honeysmum, you will find support here.

But where are the photos???

OKOKOK...i will take out the camera when i get home this afternoon...sigh

Just ducked home as its lunchtime in school, after about 5 indoor wees this morning(shes just too quick to catch),She has been on her own since 7.30 til now, noon, and no wee whatsoever.I think when she sleeps,the need to wee doesnt wake her,as she goes all night and no wees either.its only when we are up and about that she wees all over the place.im wearing out my legs in and out to the garden with her every 20 mins or so,,,she wont stay out there by herself,or go out by herself if i open the door for her.the neighbours saw a terrible sight at 5am i tell you :-)

[Diva]

[i think when she sleeps,the need to wee doesnt wake her,as she goes all night and no wees either.its only when we are up and about that she wees all over the place.im wearing out my legs in and out to the garden with her every 20 mins or so,,,she wont stay out there by herself,or go out by herself if i open the door for her.the neighbours saw a terrible sight at 5am i tell you :-)

No room for embarrassment while house training, or in any dog training really, you just have to do what it takes even when it looks downright daft. Keep up the good work, consistency and repitition really is the key and she will get there, she really will! It won't be every 20 minutes for too long.

[GSDhandler]

hmmm, could you try tethering her to you while your home, just till she's got the hang of toilet training? may also help to build up her confidence. Leeburgh recommends it. but then there are a few things he does i would never do....

ETA you are doing really well. keep it up.

Edited September 12, 2008 by GSDhandler

[black magic]

Hi,

I just sent you the contact of a delta accredited trainer I have used in Wollongong who I thought was great!

[je33ie]

It's easy. Ignore or reprimand bad behaviour, praise good behaviour. And when I say praise I mean EXCESSIVE! Like - "Oh my god baby you did it! You did a poo outside on the grass! You are the most brilliant fantastic dog in the whole wide world oh wow, what a champion!" Do it. Even if you feel like an idiot! The dog will love it.

I do this ALL the time out in the backyard. The neighbours must think I'm crazy...

[Kavik]

Just wait for the looks you'll get if you do food spitting like me for attention heeling I was sooo embarrassed at first, but it now doesn't bother me if people think I am crazy while I train my dog

It is a good idea though when choosing a command for toileting that you choose one you won't be embarrassed saying in public!

[kasoo]

Just wait for the looks you'll get if you do food spitting like me for attention heeling I was sooo embarrassed at first, but it now doesn't bother me if people think I am crazy while I train my dog

It is a good idea though when choosing a command for toileting that you choose one you won't be embarrassed saying in public!

Teaching a command word for toileting is a great idea. I have an 18 wk old sheltie who is going through toilet training. Her command word(phrase) is "Hurry Up" At first outside at 5am on cold rainy morning waiting for 25 mins for that wee. When she finally wee's I say excitedly "Hurry Up, your such a good girl". It has to be while she is still going and do it every time.

Well, tonight I had success when I took her outside. I gave her the command and she immediately started sniffing the grass and Hurray!!!! She did it! This didn't happen overnight. It's taken 6 weeks for this small success. I am still expecting puddles in the house, hopefully less than the last few weeks.

I also recommend puppy school or some kind of professional training. It's really helped me with training issues and just my confidence in the whole process.

I hope you're feeling better. Honey will get there and become a great companion. Keep the updates going on her progress. I'm interested to hear how it goes.

[SearchJane]

What really worries me is that from what Ive taken in so far in all my reading is that you can destroy a puppy by not doing the right thing early on, and so maybe anything I do from now on will have no chance of working,if she has been kind of institutionalised for the past two months.

She's not "destroyed" just developmentally slow. She CAN be a happy healthy dog. I have a friend who bought a pup in a similar situation to yours. She was successfully toilet trained and is obedience trained.. it just took more work than it might have done with a puppy from a better situation.

I put on the washing machine etc,because I thought it would do her no harm to be getting used to these kinds of things,as her bed is in the laundry,she will have to get used to the washing machine.

Good idea.. but locking her in with it wouldn't have been how I started.. at a distance with an opportunity to get away would be better. You "flooded" her.. and that's probably a bit full on for this pup.. baby steps.

The first day we had Sam (he was 10 weeks old and had flown to Perth from Brissy) I put on both washing machines (I have 2 - don't ask) + dishwasher + used other noisy things (but not the vacuum cleaner - that would have been too cruel ). His basket is in the laundry. I didn't shut him in there though.

The key as others have said is to be firm (don't pet Honey when she's whining), and consistent. Take her outside/to where you want her to toilet after she has finished her meals and stay (it may be a while - up to 15 mins) until she goes & then praise & give treats!

It sounds like you're doing the right things and I'm sure she will turn into a lovely dog in time.

[SearchJane]

Well now i have some positive stuff to tell my helpers,angels that you are

I have taken on board a lot of suggestions and advice that you all have posted,have had the whole day at home to work hard with her and:

1.I have ditched the newspaper/puppy pad stuff and have got a litter tray with shredded paper in so we will see how that goes.i have been taking her outside every half hour or so,and waiting(and waiting) til she does a wee and then get into paroxyms of praise and cuddles when she does one.Two accidents in the house today instead of a filthy floor.I have also limited her access to the house when I go outside or when I went to the shop, my house is open plan so she had the run of the place,when i went out before I closed doors so that she had access to her bed in the laundry and the hallway.

2.i put my nightie that i wore last night into her bed, and she has gone back in there for a sleep(after her washing machine trauma) YAY!!!

3.i have been (pretending) to ignore her whining,and when she is settled by herself, I give her loves and attention and she seems to be whining a bit less.

4. She never,ever goes out to the garden without me, and as soon as I make a move to come in, she comes in after me.So I got her some chicken necks and chopped a bit off and gave it to her outside.She has been happily chewing out there for the last 20 mins or so,no whinging and me inside. She has tried to bring it inside 3 or 4 times now, but I stop her and say NO Honey,outside, and point to the door. She goes,and I say good girl.

Its the first 20 minutes peace I have had since saturday.

Thank you so much you guys for helping me out.Sounds like days of our Lives i know,and seems very silly to be stressing so much,but this morning I thought I would be ringing the RSPCA or something,i have been so overwhelmed with stress and frustration,more at my own inabilities than her.

What do you think of todays results?

Hi

I know this reply is a little old but GOOD ON YOU!!!!

I wish my staffie pup would spent 20 mins chewing on his chicken necks. More like 2 mins & then back into the kitchen to see if there are more

[Christina]

Pleased she is settling. Pups can be a pain no matter where they come from & you have got her now. You expected too much from her at first.

I took on a 5 year old toy poodle once that had lived in a cage & was let loose at night to run around a big factory shed. She only jumped out of bed to pee & eat for the 1st 6 weeks & responded to nothing,not even looking at me. She turned out fine,house trained,loved grooming & baths,unknown before,walked on the lead too & I did not crate her (she had been caged enough) or get a behaviour specialist in. She did start having fits eventually though,probably epilepsy in the line. Time,consistency & patience & babies learn quicker.

Your puppy will be fine.