Hi everyone,

A month or two ago, I wrote about my dog Rocky and his problems getting
housetrained. He has since gotten worse much worse. My husband and I are
out of ideas. He is almost seven months and he is a bichon/cavalier. We
have tried crate training him but now he soils his crate. (and no we don't
keep him in there for a unreasonably lenght of time). I thought that was
like an instinct for dogs, not to go in their crate. Now I don't know what
to do. Any suggestions would be VERY appreciated.

on Mon, 23 Jul 2007 02:15:02 GMT, "Kelly Neville"
wrote:

A month or two ago, I wrote about my dog Rocky and his problems
getting housetrained. He has since gotten worse much worse. My
husband and I are out of ideas. He is almost seven months and he is a
bichon/cavalier. We have tried crate training him but now he soils
his crate. (and no we don't keep him in there for a unreasonably
lenght of time). I thought that was like an instinct for dogs, not to
go in their crate. Now I don't know what to do. Any suggestions
would be VERY appreciated.

How big is his crate? He should only have enough space to stand up and
turn around, and of course, sleep comfortably. You can get dividers to
make the space smaller. ( See my pup's crate setup he
http://picasaweb.google.com/what.the...Hendrix/photo#
5084927415189009922 ) Or, if need be, get a smaller crate.

Whether or not crate size is the issue, training him to stop soiling in his
crate might be challenging, and I'll leave that advice to those here who
are far more knowlegeable on the subject. Try not to despair, and please
don't give up. You'll get through this.

--
Lynne

"Kelly Neville" said in
rec.pets.dogs.behavior:

Now I don't know what
to do. Any suggestions would be VERY appreciated.

I recall your previous post. I have some experience in
housetraining puppies and can commiserate as well as offer
advice.

So far, what has been your method? Feel free to write an essay.
Do you and your husband use the same methods and have similar
patience?

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.

Ok, my husband and I have pretty much tried everything and here is our
latest method:
I get up around 8:00 or so, let him out and feed him (I am on summer
holidays due to working for school board so I am getting up a couple of
hours later, but that should not be a problem as I do get him every time I
hear him whine) he gets put out and then fed after he goes.

9:00 out again. If he goes he is praised and given free rein of house. If
not he is crated, and put out every hour until he goes. When he relieves
himself outside he is given free rein for two hours and then put back in his
crate for an hour and then let outside. If he goes he is praised given free
rein/if not he is crated.

6:00 Dinner

7:00 Outside

11:00 Final Outing for the night

He doesn't have a scheduled break through the night but I do get up when he
whines and tell me he wants to go. Some nights I have gotten up 3 times a
night to let him do his business.

"Rocky" wrote in message
...
"Kelly Neville" said in
rec.pets.dogs.behavior:

Now I don't know what
to do. Any suggestions would be VERY appreciated.

I recall your previous post. I have some experience in
housetraining puppies and can commiserate as well as offer
advice.

So far, what has been your method? Feel free to write an essay.
Do you and your husband use the same methods and have similar
patience?

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.

His crate is the size recommended for his breed. He is just enough room to
stand up and turn around.

Kelly
"Lynne" wrote in message
. 97.142...
on Mon, 23 Jul 2007 02:15:02 GMT, "Kelly Neville"
wrote:

A month or two ago, I wrote about my dog Rocky and his problems
getting housetrained. He has since gotten worse much worse. My
husband and I are out of ideas. He is almost seven months and he is a
bichon/cavalier. We have tried crate training him but now he soils
his crate. (and no we don't keep him in there for a unreasonably
lenght of time). I thought that was like an instinct for dogs, not to
go in their crate. Now I don't know what to do. Any suggestions
would be VERY appreciated.

How big is his crate? He should only have enough space to stand up and
turn around, and of course, sleep comfortably. You can get dividers to
make the space smaller. ( See my pup's crate setup he
http://picasaweb.google.com/what.the...Hendrix/photo#
5084927415189009922 ) Or, if need be, get a smaller crate.

Whether or not crate size is the issue, training him to stop soiling in
his
crate might be challenging, and I'll leave that advice to those here who
are far more knowlegeable on the subject. Try not to despair, and please
don't give up. You'll get through this.

--
Lynne

"Kelly Neville" said in
rec.pets.dogs.behavior:

Ok, my husband and I have pretty much tried everything and
here is our latest method:

Your latest method sounds generally good. How long have you
been doing this? I've snipped your timetable, but have
questions as to the blank spot between "9:00 out again" and
"6:00 Dinner."

What is he doing during this time?

He doesn't have a scheduled break through the night but I
do get up when he whines and tell me he wants to go. Some
nights I have gotten up 3 times a night to let him do his
business.

Does he actually go all three times he's out? If so, you may be
looking at a medical issue. In your previous thread, was it
suggested that you get him checked for a urinary tract
infection?

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.

Kelly Neville wrote:
Ok, my husband and I have pretty much tried everything and here is our
latest method:

Assuming he's been checked by a vet, and that any medical problems,
like a UTI, have been ruled out...

Since he's going in his crate, I'd stop using it as a housebreaking
tool. Instead, I'd tether Rocky to me and generally supervise him
like a hawk. The first step in housebreaking is to make sure the
dog is not allowed to make any mistakes.

Taking him out regularly, which you're already doing, is also
important. Praise him like crazy when he goes outside, using
whatever he finds most rewarding: extra tasty treats, happy-clappy
dance, ear rubs, etc. You want him to absolutely understand that
pottying outside, in front of you, makes you wildly happy.

Don't correct him for messes indoors. They're your fault, not his.
Just quietly clean them up with an enzymatic cleaner. It may seem
counter-intuitive not to correct mistakes, but doing so can result
in the dog being afraid to relieve himself in front of you. The one
exception is if you catch him in the act. Then it's okay to
interrupt him, take him outside, and praise him for finishing outdoors.

If he were my dog, he would not get free rein of the house until he
was reliably holding it until I let him out, or until he asks out.
And that's a whole 'nother topic of discussion, one which I'm not
convinced there is a "right" answer for. I've had dogs who never
learned to ask out, and others that did. All were absolutely
reliably house trained.

--
Shelly
http://www.cat-sidh.net (the Mother Ship)
http://esther.cat-sidh.net (Letters to Esther)

Ante Up, kelly,

On Jul 22, 10:15 pm, "Kelly Neville" wrote:
Hi everyone,

A month or two ago, I wrote about my dog Rocky and
his problems getting housetrained.

Dogs don't have problems getting house trained.
Puppys housebreak themselves instinctively starting
at four weeks of age.

He has since gotten worse much worse.

You got a lotta good advice when you posted last time.

My husband and I are out of ideas.

So, you've come back for more good ideas?

He is almost seven months and he is a
bichon/cavalier. We have tried crate training him
but now he soils his crate. (and no we don't keep
him in there for a unreasonably lenght of time).

Your dog is having panic attacks from
being locked in a box.

I thought that was like an instinct for dogs,
not to go in their crate.

No. Housebreaking is INSTINCTIVE for dogs living
in a house. Dogs PANIC when locked in a box with no
food water or toilet area and crap and **** themselves
as an uncontrolable visceral response.

Now I don't know what to do.

Perhaps you should write an essay?

Any suggestions would be VERY appreciated.

Or perhaps you should read an essay?

Try this, you might just get LUCKY:

http://relinkz.com/Lucky777

Between 9:00 and 6:00 his schedules varies depending on him. At 9:00 he is
let out to go, if he goes he is praised and given free rein of the house for
two hours and then one hour in his crate. Assuming he went every time I
took him out his schedule would look like this
9:00-potty break-praise free rein
11:00 crate
12:00-potty break, praise free rein
2:00 crate
3:00 potty break, praise free rein
6:00 dinner
If he didn't go during one of his outings he would be put back in his crate
and let out on the hour every hour until he went.

"Rocky" wrote in message
...
"Kelly Neville" said in
rec.pets.dogs.behavior:

Ok, my husband and I have pretty much tried everything and
here is our latest method:

Your latest method sounds generally good. How long have you
been doing this? I've snipped your timetable, but have
questions as to the blank spot between "9:00 out again" and
"6:00 Dinner."

What is he doing during this time?

He doesn't have a scheduled break through the night but I
do get up when he whines and tell me he wants to go. Some
nights I have gotten up 3 times a night to let him do his
business.

Does he actually go all three times he's out? If so, you may be
looking at a medical issue. In your previous thread, was it
suggested that you get him checked for a urinary tract
infection?

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.

In article ,
"Kelly Neville" wrote:

Between 9:00 and 6:00 his schedules varies depending on him. At 9:00 he is
let out to go, if he goes he is praised and given free rein of the house for
two hours and then one hour in his crate. Assuming he went every time I
took him out his schedule would look like this

It sounds like you aren't going out WITH him. Does he know what he's
being praised FOR (in other words, he may think he's being praised for
coming back in the house). You need to be right there WITH him.

Why the 2 hour/1 hour thing?

Puppies get free reign with me from day one. Attached to me if needed,
gated/shut into a room if needed (neither one generally is, but I am
very good at keeping an eagle eye on a puppy), but WITH me, not shut
away for periods of time. The more a puppy lives in the house, the more
they learn to respect it.

You DO have 2 breeds in the mix that are notoriously difficult to
housebreak, which means you need to be extra vigilant.


If he didn't go during one of his outings he would be put back in his crate
and let out on the hour every hour until he went.

Too long. 5-10 minutes and keep trying. Yes, it's a lot of work, but
the payoff is worth it.

--
Janet Boss
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com