Outside We Go

[Tatsu]

At Puppy preschool last night the trainer told my OH (i was working) that if we're going to have her outside during the day we should start putting her out as soon as possible. I said thats all well and good but if it's freezing like it is at the moment i don't even put Nate out during the day and he's fully grown!

So, i've just come home from work sick with the Flu, and it's a nice warm sunny day out so i though i'd start the whole Take Alei outside thing.

Now, she has Nate, and a bunch of toys out there (even though she's not very toy oriented). I stayed out there for about 20 mins and played with them, but as soon as i've come inside all Alei does is sit at the back step and whinge and CHEW ON THE SECURITY DOOR!. I thought i might spray some "get off my garden" on the door but i dunno what to do about her whinging! we don't have a very big yeard and i don't want to offend the old fella next Door.

Nate never did this, at present he's out there running in crazy circles as if to say "C'mon Alei! it's fun outside! lets play!" but she's just sitting on the step looking at him, then whinging, then goes for a sniff then back to whinging at the door again.

Anyone have any ideas? I know she's very cuddly and i like that but she has to learn to be outside during the day. ATM i'm only going to do it while we're home so we can monitor it. But any ideas are greatly appreciated.

Would it be a good idea to start feeding her outside so she knows that outside is good?

[t-time]

Yes, feeding her outside is a good idea ;)

I think getting her used to being outside without you is going to take a bit longer.

20 minutes outside playing with nate. 5 minutes for you to go inside and get them brekky WoW! Playing happily kids, but now it's brekky time (even if they are content to keep playing, I would interupt the cycle and create ROUTINE )

Eat brekky and you stay with them for another 20 minutes. 5 minutes inside and then go back out and play with them again. By the time an hour is up, puppy should have eliminated TREAT! and then you all go back inside until lunchtime and then the same routine. Jusy stay outside until puppy has gone and also you may want to do this separately, especially if Nate does not have certain meals.

Increase the times gradually. Word of warning though, don't go back out if puppy is whinging and carrying on at the door. This is why I suggest to "break up" the playtime. If she's doing something good like playing and having fun, she will be rewarded. If she's whining and scraching at the door, there's no way you are going to pay her any attention!

Every time you want them to do something, there will be a treat. Remember that puppies have very short attention spans. Even if she is quiet for like, 20 seconds, then is the time to reward her! Also, a crate inside so puppy knows when you leave the room, she's safe and can be content for a few minutes and you will come back when she's quiet - with a TREAT! :D Start with pup in a high traffic area like the kitchen or loungeroom so there are only short periods of being by herslf. Give her something to do in the crate - tying a toy down low in the crate is a good one.

It's not that she doesn't like being outside, it's that she likes to be near YOU

[Tatsu]

Thanks so much T-time. ;) It's lunch now so i'll go feed her and see how she goes. I do Ignore when she whines, but should i be saying "Alei NO!" when she is doing it? (i have been ...)

Inside she is in the Kitchen ATM. and although she isn't Crated she has her own bed and she is very good about staying in it when she's there.

She is a VERY quiet pup. So much so that when we got her i was concerned for er health but the vets assure me that she's fine. Being a "lap pup" is great but i don't want to her suffer separation anxiety while we aren't here. I (obviously Naiveley) thought that having Nate with her at all times would keep her entertained, but apparently not! lol....

Again thanks heaps for the advice t-time. It's excellent !

[t-time]

Don't say ANYTHING to her Not a word If you talk, it's a reward that she's gotten you to respond to her whinging ;) No attention! I know it's hard... :D

At the moment she is only a baby and she sees you as Mum and her one and only protector (lol, I'm sure your OH won't mind being referred to as "Mum"!! )

As she gains confidence in each situation, she will become more independent. The quiet ones are always more like that IMHO. Make sure she meets heaps of people and is put in heaps of different situations Don't force her, but also, don't reassure her if she seems to be reacting badly to something that scares her. Take treats wherever you go and let her "find" them from other people or if she's scared, distract her and treat her

I have a shy dog and it's taking a lot to bring her out of her shell. A mate in the backyard isn't scary but another doggy, even friendly, is a threat. If I'd had her as wee youngster, it would be taking a lot less time to socialise her so remember that now is the optimum time for your pup to be experiencing lots of new things :p

Good luck with it all ;)