Hi Everyone!

I have a five month old bichon/cavalier who is having a lot of trouble
getting housetrained. He goes where he wants when he wants. All my efforts
to house train him have failed. I just came across an article on the
internet http://www.dogdaysusa.com/behaviorce...setraining.asp
and I think it might work. The question I have is even though he is not
housetrained he is five months old and can hold his bladder for over four
hours. Taking him out every hour seems pointless as I don't think he will
understand what he is supposed to do? Any suggestions on how to modify this
and still teach him the basic concept of housetraining? Any other
housetraining tips will also be appreciated.

On Fri, 8 Jun 2007 19:26:15 -0400, "Kelly Neville"
wrote:

[...]
Taking him out every hour seems pointless as I don't think he will
understand what he is supposed to do?

It's not pointless. And it's not really that he knows he's supposed to
"do" anything at this point, it's that when he does "do" something,
he's outside when he does it and not inside.

It's called classical conditioning, and it's what house training is
all about.

Currently your dog has classically conditioned himself to "going"
inside, not outside.

So, you just can't allow him to "go" inside. Not even one more time.
Make sure you've cleaned up all of his "old" spots with an enzyme
cleaner (it will help to erase his current conditioning to "going"
inside) and just don't let him "go" inside again.

If you do, you're basically back to square one.

Good luck!

--
Handsome Jack Morrison

Don't mess with old farts!
http://www.boston.com/news/local/art...nger_in_check/

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montana wildhack wrote:
On 2007-06-08 19:43:28 -0400, Handsome Jack Morrison
said:

So, you just can't allow him to "go" inside. Not even one more time.
Make sure you've cleaned up all of his "old" spots with an enzyme
cleaner (it will help to erase his current conditioning to "going"
inside) and just don't let him "go" inside again.

Adding to Jack's advice, tethering him to you while you are training him
is a wonderful help. You can't control what he does if you can't
supervise him 100% of the time.

And adding to both of the above, if you're doing something where
he can't be tethered, put him in a crate. You can make the crate
a positive place to be by feeding him there, and rewarding him
for going in there. Gradually increase the time you leave him
there from a few seconds to a few minutes to an hour or two.
Most dogs won't potty in their "cave," especially if he also
sleeps there.

If you do catch him in the act, don't punish him, don't hit him,
don't rub his nose in it (then or any other time), just say "NO"
firmly and pick him up and quickly usher him outside to complete
the job. And then praise him effusively. And go back in and
clean up the spot with enzyme cleaner.

Watch him carefully. Most dogs will start acting "different"
when they need to potty. He may get antsy, or start circling and
sniffing... learn to read his signals, and take him out
immediately whenever you spot them.

FurPaw

When you take him outside, take him on a leash to the place where you
want him to potty. Do not just let him out and hope for the best.

As soon as he does go, praise him and treat him. The next time you take
him out, take him to the same spot.

--
My family values don't involve depleted uranium.

To reply, unleash the dog.

In article ,
Rocky wrote:


It can be a pain to take them out on a short regular schedule,
but it'll work out for everyone when the light bulb goes on over
his head. You want to condition him to pee outside.

I agree with all of the advice given. You also have a combo of breeds
that are notoriously difficult to housebreak. Consistency and
persistency are the name of the game.

--
Janet Boss
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com

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It's none of that, but let him think what he wants. He - is - simply
- lying.

Taking him out every hour seems pointless as I don't think he will
understand what he is supposed to do?

And adding to everyone else's advice, when you do see him "go", say the
words "go potty" or whatever words you want to use WHILE he is going.
Then, he'll associate the words with the action, so when you're taking
him out every hour and saying "go potty" he'll understand what that means.

Amy

FurPaw wrote:
montana wildhack wrote:

On 2007-06-08 19:43:28 -0400, Handsome Jack Morrison
said:

So, you just can't allow him to "go" inside. Not even one more time.
Make sure you've cleaned up all of his "old" spots with an enzyme
cleaner (it will help to erase his current conditioning to "going"
inside) and just don't let him "go" inside again.


Adding to Jack's advice, tethering him to you while you are training
him is a wonderful help. You can't control what he does if you can't
supervise him 100% of the time.


And adding to both of the above, if you're doing something where he
can't be tethered, put him in a crate. You can make the crate a
positive place to be by feeding him there, and rewarding him for going
in there. Gradually increase the time you leave him there from a few
seconds to a few minutes to an hour or two. Most dogs won't potty in
their "cave," especially if he also sleeps there.

If you do catch him in the act, don't punish him, don't hit him, don't
rub his nose in it (then or any other time), just say "NO" firmly and
pick him up and quickly usher him outside to complete the job. And then
praise him effusively. And go back in and clean up the spot with enzyme
cleaner.

Watch him carefully. Most dogs will start acting "different" when they
need to potty. He may get antsy, or start circling and sniffing...
learn to read his signals, and take him out immediately whenever you
spot them.

FurPaw

When you take him outside, take him on a leash to the place where you
want him to potty. Do not just let him out and hope for the best.

As soon as he does go, praise him and treat him. The next time you
take him out, take him to the same spot.