wrote in message
...
I've not had any personal experience with this but here is what one
trainer who used to frequent this group recommended. First that
housetraining is mostly a matter of conditioning, of building habits. She
has long since learned to accept being dirty so traditional crate training
won't work. What he recommended is what he called "revese" housetraining.
You build a secure run outside with a dog door leading inside. Just
inside the door you fasten the crate. SO she always has the choice to be
indoors where the warm comforting smell of her family is, but she can't go
anywhere but outside. Just like regular crate training you need to have
her out of that set up and with you as much as you can manage, BUT it is
critical to supervise so no mistakes are made. And a critial element to
this method is keeping her as clean as possible. If she gets soiled in
any way bathe her. That extra effort should only need to be short term if
you are diligent about her supervision. By "short term" I mean, maybe, as
long as a month, although likely less than that. Short term a lot of
effort, long term gain. The goals are to try to get her used to being
clean, and to disrupt existing patterns so you can build new ones.

Oh, and you probably already know this but I'll mention it for others, she
should have no bedding at all in the crate.

--
Diane Blackman
http://dog-play.com/
http://dog-play.com/shop2.html


Thanks Diane. It's been difficult trying to find new ideas on housetraining
so I really appreciate your input. Just going on intuition, we are already
bathing her every time she gets dirty, and she does seem to like to try
keeping clean for a while after (apart from her accidents, she occasionally
plays in a mud puddle in the backyard). And we clean the crate with Nature's
Miracle every day (and as you said, no bedding).

As for building the run... we'll have to figure that one out this weekend!

anka





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