I recently purchased Common Sense House Training. I HAD used pee pads in the past with my new pup. When I met for an evaluation with a trainer, (Before purchasing the e-book) he had already told me not to use the pee pads, and she would be more likely to go there, which she does.

DG is now almost 16 weeks. I keep her on a tether when not in her crate. After feeding her, I took her outside. she pooped. Normally she both poops and pees after eating. She did not pee. My mistake: I should have taken her back to her crate in intervals until she peed, right?

I had DG tethered right next to me and put a blanket down for her to sit on. She immediately squatted to pee. I told her no and took her outside straight away. She did not go any more. The problem is, I think she thought I was putting the blanket down for her to pee on, because of the pee pads I had used in the past. DG likes to lay on blankets. But she also likes to pee on them.

Also, a stern no and a tug on a flat collar does not even seem to get her attention. I have ordered, but not received a micro prong collar. I tried purchasing a small HS collar locally, but it is just way too big.

Any suggestions?

Incidentally, I recently started using Embark by Honest Kitchen for DG, which she loves. Today I added hamburger to it. When she was done eating, I gave her a knuckle bone to chew on and she
had no interest in coming out after 15 min., but waited 30 min. before whining to go outside. At her next meal, I am going to give her a raw chicken wing.

Thanks,

First, I'd use different posts for unrelated topics. You'll get more action.

You will want to take this dog out a LOT to break the pee-pad habit you trained. And you'll want high-value treats, instant marker for performance, etc.

Your best bet is (as you are doing) tethering, and no pee-pad-type blankets, etc., and many many trips outside. Set her up for success. You will want to watch carefully for any beginning-to-pee movements toward something that's pee-pad-like so you can direct her outside, where you throw her a party for doing it outside.

Those pee-pads train exactly what most of us do not want to train: to go inside.

I don't want to hijack potty-training to a food topic, but you have chosen a very good way to segue to raw feeding. Good for you. I like THK very much, and always have it on hand for travel and emergencies.

Anderson, I'm new to this site, too, and have taken Connie's advice, as well as the others. It works like a charm.

I didn't read what age and kind of dog you have but I'm sure it's true for any dog.

I have an ankle biter, 7 mo. I've had her four weeks, started tethering three weeks ago and seriously watching to potty habits.

This is week three and she is almost perfect and I'm not all that great at dog handling but this is almost making me feel like a pro.

Good luck and keep up the tethering.



Aside to Connie: It finally clicked. It didin't click with the dog, it clicked with me. The signs of wanting to go outside weren't what I thought were the typical ones. Instead of whining, sniffing, running in circles, she gets real quiet and just looks at me with a confused stare. She quit eating before the bowl was empty and did the staring thing. I didn't know what she wanted until an almost accident. Then she did it again at the next breakfast and boy o boy did I catch on fast, then. Thanks

DG is a Boston Terrier and she is 16 weeks. I thought today would be the "No accidents in 24 hrs." day, but not yet. ANYTHING on the floor looks like a pee pee pad to DG. The 2 rugs in the kitchen, the rugs in the bathrooms, the rugs in the family room. I know, my mistake.

I put the blanket down for her instead of the cold tile. When she is not using it for a pee pad she likes it. And when I don't put something down she uses one of the various rugs that I am by to lay down. So I was giving her a spot that I wanted her to lay on.

But I am using my due diligence with tether or crate or outside since reading the ebook.

Good things: No peeing in the crate and I only have to get up once in the night with her now.

Thanks,

You'll get there. I have found that tethering is the one thing that tips even the most difficult cases in the right direction. I am including small breeds like Pugs who have never been indoors or who have been forced to go in their kennels their whole lives. Tethering sped up the process even in those very difficult cases.

And where a dog has been trained wrong (or in a way we do not want), the marker and praise and high-value treats for going outside become even more valuable..... to help the dog to replace an ingrained habit with a new one, what better than extremely wonderful praise and rewards?

Good luck to you, Anderson.

Have you thought about maybe a small pillow or cushion for her 'place' instead of blanket or rug?

 Quote: nora ferrell

Good luck to you, Anderson.

Have you thought about maybe a small pillow or cushion for her 'place' instead of blanket or rug?

Oh, Nora, what an excellent idea! I was trying to think of something, and that never popped into my aging brain!

One of mine even has one, too. One has an old flat sofa cushion that is just the right size and puts lots of "stuff" between his arthritic joints and the cold floor.

No accidents at all yesterday! One step at a time. I have not started working with the "Come" command yet. And I am anxiously awaiting my videos and collars.

I ordered: Your puppy, Dog Obedience and Establishing pack structure. And I ordered a micro prong collar and dominant dog collar.

How adorable.

Congrats, Anderson.