Stupid dog...she made me look bad!

[Koda]

Ok...she's actually really smart in almost every way.But she's almost 10 months old now and still hasn't grasped the concept of potty training.She knows how to go to the door and she certainly knows how to bark.In fact,when I put on my shoes or pick up the leash,she will nearly break her neck in a mad dash to bark at the door

And yet she continues to poop in the house

She knows it's wrong.I can spot the "I did it again." look a mile away.She even puts herself in her corner and sits looking miserable when she has pooped inside.No amount of scolding and showing her that it belongs outside seems to get through to her.I take her out and she often just walks around,distracted by squirrells and leaves and breezes.Only to poop inside 10 minutes later

She gets plenty of walks and plenty of praise when she does the right thing.I just don't get it.I've had dogs all my life and have never had a problem teaching them.She is bright....I just can't figure this out and it's driving me

Anyone had any success with a hard case like this?She's a Chow/Shepherd if that helps any.

Thanks

Koda

 

[Earthgirl]

I have a basset and they are known for being stuborn, but you must be the more stubborn one!
This may be a tad late in the training info, but when you are home, let her out like every hour on the hour, and 20 min after feeding.
She takes a drink, 20 min later outside.
When she does poop or even pees, go mental excited. It is like toliet training a toddler. They are only looking for you praise. I don't suggest cookies because she will expect it everytime, and you want this to be a necessity of life, not an want for treats.
Once she has mastered the hourly thing, anytime she walks by the door, she goes out to the potty, let her out even if she doesn't do anything. This will make her understand that this is where I go out to do my business. Let her sniff or stand by the door, whatever, outside!
This totally worked for my dog, he was trained in 2 days and he never even seen the outside when I got him, only puppy pads.
Chows are a beautiful breed, but stubborn, you already now that don't you!
She will get it, just be persistant.
Good luck, I hope I helped, I know the stinkin (literally) frustration!

P.S. Do you kennel her when you leave the house?

 

[Koda]

P.S. Do you kennel her when you leave the house?

Yes...and this is my first time doing that, so I'm not sure if it's part of the problem or not.She is fine in the crate even when I have to work all day.But I am trying to get her used to being out more.I leave her out for short periods when I am away.Unfortunately she always manages to tear something up...hopefully she'll outgrow that soon

I try to take her out often.It just flabbergasts me that she will go to the door and bark when she knows she's going out.But she rarely does it on her own when she needs to go


Koda

 

[Earthgirl]

She will get it either sooner or later, hopefully sooner though eh?
I find when you leave her out for a short period of time, give her something new to chew on, that might change the "tearing everything up syndrome".
Good luck!

 

[AquaSeaFoam]

There is nothing wrong at all with leaving a 10 month old in the crate every time you are away. This might actually prevent her from starting bad behaviors she wouldn't normally start when out on her own as a calmer adult dog. and since, as you probably know, dogs won't go potty in a crate because it feels like their den. (no one told my boxer this though ) All dogs mature at different rates and obviously she is having a little trouble with potty training, and chewing so she should stay in the crate when you can't supervise her.
First things first, never ever, scold her unless you literally catch her in the act of going to the bathroom. She won't connect a scolding from something she did even 1 minute ago. She might give you guilty eyes, but its probably because she can already sense your moods. I don't mean to offend you if you don't do this, but you shouldn't ever rub a dog's nose in their mess either. This does not remind them of why you are scolding them. I 've read it makes dogs prone to eating their feces too- which isn't nice to think about when they are giving you kisses! haha.
If you find a mess in the house, just calmly clean it up.. she's already done it. There isn't anything you can do about it now except try to prevent the next time. If you do catch her, try to make a loud noise to startle her and stop her in the act, then put on her collar and leash and pick up the mess in a plastic bag and take her (and the bag) outside to where you want her to potty. It will probably help to actually take her on a leash, even if you have a fenced in yard, to the same small corner 10'X10' (or wherever you decide she should go) of the yard. After she goes to the bathroom, go crazy with praise just like earthgirl said. Only after she goes potty can she be let loose to have fun in the whole yard.
HTH I did a lot of reading on boxerworld.com forums, because my girl i got from the shelter had a lot of seperation anxiety issues and used the bathroom in the house, even in the crate, when i was gone for less than an hour! She's great besides that and never chews anything up, but i have to keep her gated in the kitchen or else she will still potty inside.

 

[lady_tanksalot]

just one thought i wanted to add

my neighbour had a similar problem, she would walk her dog for miles but nothing happened, then as soon as they got home bingo, there it was on the carpet.

turns out that when she walked her dog, she was usually only doing it to toilet the dog and as soon as he had done what was required she would turn around and head for home.

the dog had learned that as soon as it went did its buisiness that would be the end of its walk. clever eh

anyway, she now takes him out and walks him quietly till he goes then goes mad and lets him play like crazy.

don't know if this help but there is no harm in sharing

good luck

forgot to say she keeps him on his lead until he goes, then let him off to run round as soon as the deed is done

 

[plecoperson]

Ive just been reading loads about this.
You should take her back to basics
Take her out as soon as she has been fed and if she goes, then praise her. If she doesn't go, then ignore her. If she does it in the house there is no sense in scolding her - ignore her completly. the dog doesnt seperate scolding from attention so if you scold her, eventually she makes to connection that doing her bisiness in the house leads to lots of attention. Leave one of her do's in the garden where you want her to do it...she should assciate scent with thats where you want her to do it.

"She knows how to go to the door and she certainly knows how to bark.In fact,when I put on my shoes or pick up the leash,she will nearly break her neck in a mad dash to bark at the door "

you might want to train her out of this too...try to get her out of the idea that leads means walkies. It could be dangerous if a child or frail person ever tries to put her lead on. Its also bad manners.

HTH

 

[Koda]

Thanks everyone

I'm hoping that it might finally be getting through to her.I know it helps if her meals and walks come at regular times.It's not easy but when she makes a mistake I just calmly show her to the door.I'm working too on getting her to settle down when we go to the door.I won't put her leash on until she stops barking and sits.

She's really bright...but very strong willed and rather bossy with my older dog.But I think with consistant training she will mature into an exceptional dog

Koda

 

[lady_tanksalot]

hi again koda

my dog used to go crazy every time i pu my coat on cus she thought we were going out.

now i sometimes put on my coat and pick up her lead, then just walk around the house for a while then put them back with no walk.

she realised that the coat and lead doesn't necesarily mean walk so now she stays calm.

hope this helps

tanks

 

[AquaSeaFoam]

If you can find it at your library check out "the Dog Listener" It talks about training your dog according to the way dogs see the world.. which is basically finding your place in the pack and as the human you obviously want to be alpha. Dogs don't yell at each other. The best thing to do when she does something you don't like (barking or jumping for example) is to completely ignore her. Don't even make eye contact. If she tries to get your attention by jumping on you and putting her head in your lap, gently push her away or go to another room. Wait until she stops trying to get your attention, give her 5 more minutes on her own.. then you can call her to you.
The book explains this a lot better, but i really found it interesting so I thought i'd share.

 

[Koda]

hi again koda

my dog used to go crazy every time i pu my coat on cus she thought we were going out.

now i sometimes put on my coat and pick up her lead, then just walk around the house for a while then put them back with no walk.

she realised that the coat and lead doesn't necesarily mean walk so now she stays calm.

hope this helps

tanks

What a great idea...thanks!!!


Koda

 

[Koda]

If you can find it at your library check out "the Dog Listener" It talks about training your dog according to the way dogs see the world.. which is basically finding your place in the pack and as the human you obviously want to be alpha. Dogs don't yell at each other.

I'll have to look for the book...thanks!

But they DO yell at each other.She yells(barks)at my older dog when he's eating food that she thinks should be hers.Makes no difference that she has the same food in her own dish

I remove her from the area if she won't stop on command though.

Koda