princessbella Posted May 22, 2006 Author Share Posted May 22, 2006 (edited) I'm having great success with the portacot atm :D She happily goes in (the first time she cried for 2 minutes), and she goes to sleep within minutes. As soon as she wakes I take her outside on a lead, but she just sits there so after waiting for 5 minutes, I just leave her there till she cries at the back door (usually 10 mins later), then I let her back in. I aslo check on her all the time, but never sure if I should wake her or not? It's so nice not having puddles and poo's everywhere Edited May 22, 2006 by princessbella Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassie Posted May 23, 2006 Share Posted May 23, 2006 That sounds like good progress, pb. Well done! If I were you, I would see if you can wait with her while she actually 'performs', then praise the heck out of her. You can also associate a cue word with that - or two different words for pee and poop. This has 2 benefits - one - makes the association of toileting outside much stronger, and two- heads toward toilet on command, which can be really useful if you take your dog out and about a lot, or travel with dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted May 23, 2006 Share Posted May 23, 2006 As soon as she wakes I take her outside on a lead, but she just sits there so after waiting for 5 minutes, I just leave her there till she cries at the back door (usually 10 mins later), then I let her back in. Not giving her long enough. As per Tassie's suggestion - wait and be there when she 'goes'. To not do so, you're missing an opportunity to reinforce her and it will make it more difficult for her to judge what behaviour carries the larger advantage. Think about it: 1. Wees outside. You're not there. Advantage? = bladder relief. 2. Wees inside. You're not there. Advantage? = bladder relief. See how the difference between the two is zilch? And if you take scenario number 2 (above) and add an aversive (eg. yelling at her) then all the difference that makes is that Wees outside is ok. Wees inside is ok. But not when you're around. "You" then become the common denominator and the carry over affect can be that your pup won't wee in your presence, whether that be inside or outside. The other thing you must be conscious of is WHAT (other) BEHAVIOURS you are REINFORCING. If you let your pup in when it cries, you are reinforcing whining behaviour and before you know it, you will be needing help on getting your dog to not whine so much for everything. So careful about what you do and when. It is good that things are beginning to progress for your pup. Continue your vigilance and be timely with reinforcement. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted May 23, 2006 Share Posted May 23, 2006 (edited) . Edited May 8, 2009 by cavNrott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princessbella Posted May 23, 2006 Author Share Posted May 23, 2006 Thanks fot that Erny, wasn't sure how long to wait, at 2am in the freezing cold, I get a little impatient ;) I figured she'd be bursting to go and go right away, but she just sits there and looks at me like she's waiting for me to do a tap dance or somthing. I don't think she likes the lead much yet either, and she likes to have it in her mouth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted May 23, 2006 Share Posted May 23, 2006 PB - make notes of the times your pup 'goes' and what has preceded that (ie what time it played, slept etc.). The pattern this reveals will help you assess how long between toilets your pup can handle. This will in turn help you work out what time you need to get up during the night. If you can get close to spot on with this information, you'll get into a good pattern .... and then housetraining will occur much faster and before you know it, you'll be able to take advantage of a (well deserved) sleep through. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAG Posted May 23, 2006 Share Posted May 23, 2006 Hi PB, The trick is to be consistant with your training. Everything Erny has said is correct but you need to put in a little to get a lot out at the end. I currently have a 14 week old pup who is fully crate trained. He will whimper if he neds out during the night (has only happpened once since his arrival). When he was very young he spent a fair time in the crate for his protection from the others. I let him outside to the toliet every 2 hours, or after he had his meal, a drink a play. I always took him to the same spot (without the other dogs around) and I tell him his tolieting word. This can be anything you like I use toilet. I praise him after he has done his thing and he knows that is the correct place to relieve himself. I will stand outside before bedtime usually 11pm until he has done a wee and most times a pooh, and he will hold on all night with no accidents. I have not had an accident inside to date. Using this system of total emptying out before bed I did not have to get up during the night becasue he could hold on until around 5 30am then I have stretched this out as he is sleeping longer. Other indicators you need to look for when she is out in the house is sniffing, maybe a slight leg hop in the hind end, circling. Also stop playtime to take her outside to do a wee - most accident happen at this point. Like your kids she needs rules and guidlines. she looks at you to guide her and teach her right from wrong. It will take time but it is only a few nights of inconvienince for a lifetime of happiness. Oh is there any reason why you take her to the toilet with her lead on? This would restrict her from doing her natural sniff the ground to seek the right spot to wee on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillian Posted May 24, 2006 Share Posted May 24, 2006 I have been thinking of crate training Harley (8 month Great Dane)... He is already toilet trained and will wake us up in the night if he needs to go to the toilet (he sleeps inside in the night)... I need it more for travelling and when we take him on trips/ holidays... Is he too big to start crate training him? - Gillian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAG Posted May 24, 2006 Share Posted May 24, 2006 (edited) No never too late to train them. With your fella it may just be a matter of getting a crate to fit him that is portable enough to fit in your car. Just start slowly during the day and make it fun for him to be in it. Put his toys, a comfy bed and feed him in there. Leave the door open at first so he gets used to being in it and work towards closing it when he is comforatble with the idea. It doesn't take long and they really love them when they have been introuced to them correctly. Edited May 25, 2006 by JAG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princessbella Posted May 24, 2006 Author Share Posted May 24, 2006 (edited) Bella has been doing really well in the portacot she's not had any accidents in it or the house for that matter. She wakes up and makes a bit of a noise, so I take her straight out. I'm still trying to figure out her pattern. I preffer not to use the lead as it seems to confuse her and stir up Frodo who thinks it's walk time I just take her to where Frodo goes and put her down till she does her bizzo, then make a huge deal out of it (makes her tail wag so hard ) I won the bid on the crate on ebay, but the seller was suppose to send me the DD details, but still hasn't, so not sure what's going to happen there, but I've seen another seller who sells them really cheap too. I figure that my winning bid of $15.50 has dissapointed the seller slightly and he's avoiding making the deal :D anyway, I'll give it another day, then put in a complaint. Edited May 24, 2006 by princessbella Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted May 24, 2006 Share Posted May 24, 2006 I just take her to where Frodo goes and put her down till she does her bizzo, then make a huge deal out of it (makes her tail wag so hard :D ) Great that you are making progress. Another tip - try to have Bella walk out to her toilet spot, rather than you carry her. This will help her learn more quickly how to navigate her own way to the proper toilet spot. Congratulations on picking up a bargain crate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillian Posted May 24, 2006 Share Posted May 24, 2006 thanks for that guys - will try and look out for a big enough crate - Gillian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lablover Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 Life's funny isn't it? Ten years ago, heck 5 years ago, crates were thought as a form of abuse. Crates rock for safety sake and dogs love them. But.................dogs learn nothing in a crate or pen, train and spend quality time outside with your dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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