Outsmarting My New Puppy

[cabinetman]

Max, is about 5 months old, and has taken well to some training, like sit, stay, and down. He is basically housebroken if you get him outside. Fortunately the family room has tile, where our our back door is located.

We have been trying to get him to bark to go out, which he hasn't learned to do. So, he sneaks out to the back door, and just stands there and if nobody lets him out...he lets it go.

So, I had the idea to install one of those wireless driveway sensor/alarms. I figured if I can get him to trip an alarm when he nears the area, we can catch him. HF had them on sale, and got it home to find out that one didn't work. So, today...back to HF, for an exchange.

Anyone have suggestions other than sticking his nose in it and letting him out? We have already tried barking so he can understand what to do. Actually, my wife barks better than me.

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[Brian G]

Perhaps you need to go the extra step and show Max what he's supposed to do after the bark.

[Warren]

The best way I know to house break is a bit labor intensive. Every time, I mean every time, the pup awakes from a little nap, take him outside. You go along and praise him when he leaves a bit of pmail on a shrub or your shoe. I find praise, and with some breeds, reward is the fastest method of training. The pup knows "that's it's all about the dog." Depending on the breed or mix, this shouldn't take long. My latest, a Lab mix, goes to the back door, he won't bark but you can hear him bouncing around in the mud room. If we are asleep he comes into the bedroom and lightly brushes my nose with his whiskers until I waken. If he can't reach my face the it's up on the bed and jostle us into wakefulness.

Some breeds work best with rewards, some with praise. No breed enjoys soiling his home so, mine doesn't even like soiling his run area. Just get in tune and cater to his needs a couple of times and I think he'll get the idea pretty quickly.

[cabinetman]

Perhaps you need to go the extra step and show Max what he's supposed to do after the bark.

I think you misunderstood my post. He doesn't have a problem with what he's supposed to do (if he barked to get out). It's getting him to bark to get out. Once out, he is as good at it as I am.

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[cabinetman]

Got the wireless driveway alert exchanged, and the new one doesn't work either. A new idea is to get a floormat that signals an alert. I had one years ago, but can't remember where I found it. HD and Sears show one online, but not in the store. I called all the local pet stores, with no luck. A nice lady at Pet Supermarket had never heard of one, but said..."What a great idea". I also called Lowes, and the guy there also had never heard of one, but said..."How about a wireless doorbell". So, I answered him with..."My dog is a puppy, and won't be able to reach".

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[All Thumbs]

I've seen videos on youtube of dog's ringing a small bell mounted low on the wall, when they have to go out.

Many labs don't bark a lot. Maybe a bell would work.

[sparkeyjames]

I've seen videos on youtube of dog's ringing a small bell mounted low on the wall, when they have to go out.

Many labs don't bark a lot. Maybe a bell would work.

At that point who is training who. Pavlov's experiments were a success.

[frumper64]

Have you considered a pet door so he can let himself in and out? We've had one for a lot of years and all the dogs have figured it out in nothing flat.

[cabinetman]

Have you considered a pet door so he can let himself in and out? We've had one for a lot of years and all the dogs have figured it out in nothing flat.

We have 3 indoor cats. A doggie door wouldn't work.

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[Richard in Smithville]

If you find Max has prematurely peed, lightly scold in a firm voice while showing him the offending puddle. He will know that you are disappointed just by the tone of your voice. Then you put him outside and he should get the point.

[annunaki]

Any trainer will tell you that "putting his nose in it" will not work.
Dogs live in the "now" and he will not associate the "past deed"
with the "nose putting".

You might try what all the books say works - Crate Training
Dogs don't like to poop where they sleep.

[gerti]

I am with Warren: keep your pup on a schedule. It should only be a few more weeks until the pup will be able to hold it for longer. It'll learn that you let it out, so in time it will come to you to ask for it.

We never could any of our dogs to make noise at the door to go out (in: no problem...). But eventually they all came to use to be let out.

[Sweet Willy]

I have a german shepherd and a boxer and they both bark to go out but I never trained them to do that. They just did it. So I can't help you there. But, crate training and timing works the best. If Max sleeps in a crate (and he should until he's trained) the first thing in the morning when you let him out of the crate take him outside and wait for him to go and then praise the snot out of him. Feed him only twice per day and about 10 minutes after he's finished you let him out and wait until he's does his stuff. The thing there is, you have to wait for him to do it and then praise the snot out of him again. I know you said he's housebroken if you let him out in time, but once he gets used to the timing thing he most likely will come to you and usually just stare at you. That means, LET ME OUT - NOW!
One more suggestion. NEVER - EVER rub his nose in his accidents. The only time you should react is when you catch him in the act. When that happens (and you should try to sneak up on him and catch him) raise holy **** with your voice and your facial expression but never strike him. Not even rolled up newspapers like they did back in the day. Let him know in no uncertain terms that I you are not happy and right then take him outside.
I've done this before enough times that I know it works. Good luck.

[vaking]

So you wanted to train Max to bark to go outside and instead he trained you to go look for some electronic gizmo? Talking of "outsmarting".

[cabinetman]

Any trainer will tell you that "putting his nose in it" will not work.
Dogs live in the "now" and he will not associate the "past deed"
with the "nose putting".

I don't believe in that either...unless you can catch him during.

You might try what all the books say works - Crate Training
Dogs don't like to poop where they sleep.

I'm not in favor of crating. Confining them seems cruel to me. But it could have its benefits. Thanks for the suggestion.

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