posted on July 2, 2003 12:07:14 AM new
Just some insights for any of yowse guys who may be bringing home a new bundle-of-joy (of the canine persuasion) in the near future:
Ralphie is now 18mos old & has developed into a well-mannered & delightful doggy!
In talking with friends who recently purchased puppies, I'm flabbergasted by how much trouble they are having with house-breaking! Tis to the point where some are ready to abandon their pets!
Ralphie is my 3rd dog, but he is THE ONLY DOG I EVER HOUSE-BROKE SUCCESSFULLY!
He has NEVER pooped in the house!! He did have 4 piddle accidents on the kitchen floor when he was a baby -- but, those were all MY fault, as I was too lazy to take him out!
THE SECRET is: CRATE TRAINING!
From the very first day Ralphie arrived home from the airport (9 weels old) he has lived in a wire cage in my bedroom!
As he grew older, I gradually increased his freedom of movement within the crate to the point where he now has the whole thing as his "home!"
All it takes is 7 days of dedication, & yer puppy will be poopoo-proofed!
IT WORKS!
Ralphie loves Mr Blonde:
"Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?" http://tinyurl.com/5duz
posted on July 2, 2003 02:18:49 AM newJust some insights for any of yowse guys who may be bringing home a new bundle-of-joy (of the canine persuasion) in the near future
posted on July 2, 2003 02:43:03 AM new
Good for you, tomwiii! Give Ralphie a big ol' pat on the back and a couple dozen treats from me!
When I first moved in with my boyfriend he had two full-grown dogs, Sheba and Hamlet (both part Lab and Chow). Neither one was housebroken. He would leave them in the basement at night and clean-up afer them in the morning. Hard as I might try, I could not get these dogs housebroken. I hated that they were in the basement all night. Hamlet would look you square in the eye in the living room and take a crap on the floor! He had a cat that used to do the same thing. Finally, we had to get rid of them. They literally began eating the house! Every corner of every door and molding were being eaten (even on the outside of the house). We tried everything including changing their diet. The final straw came when Sheba began nipping at and trying to bite my granddaughter. We feared she may bite a neighborhood child since they regularly chewed through the wood fence and managed to wiggle out of their collars to prowl the neighborhood. Clever dogs!
Ralphie is a gem in my book! I think he's adorable and just the right size. He can visit me any day!
Cheryl
My religion is simple, my religion is kindness.
--Dalai Llama
posted on July 2, 2003 03:22:10 AM new
Yeah, BOSTONS are the right size for apt living, although Ralphie is a moose for a BT!!
After I had him "fixed" (he wouldn't talk to me for a week -- & then, for a week, all he would say was: HOW ABOUT YOU NEXT!), he really started to pork up!
At 25lbs, I had to put him on a low-fat diet! Now he's a svelte & sleek 21lbs!
Ralphie loves Mr Blonde:
"Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?" http://tinyurl.com/5duz
posted on July 2, 2003 03:36:20 AM new
You'll love this one.... we had some new neighbors move in last week with two large dogs. This is one of those old buidings that have double tilt out windows that are impossible to put screens on and some of the top floon units have windows that open up onto the roof of the rest of the building. Seems during the day they have been leaving their windows open for the dogs to go out on the roof. This morning the manager went to show an empyty unit that also looks out on the roof and discovered that someone had left the windows in it open and for the past few days the dogs have been using it as their potty room.... So much for that new carpet.
Mario Andretti - “If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.”
posted on July 2, 2003 05:46:05 AM new
Ok really S L O W for you...
Dogs that have been abused and/or kept in places where they have lain in their own feces will not successfully crate train,
Dogs from the pound that are kept in pens and have been allowed to soil them will not successfully crate train...
It is all learning behaviors and some dogs will not adopt a crate for their "home"
People need to be aware that all dogs will not use crates for training....
They need to know check out the breeder they buy from and learn their dogs habits.
and before you even ask... yes I do own a dog and never used a crate and have no problems what so ever... I worked with her and learned her habits and taught her where it was acceptable and not acceptable...treats are a wonderful tool...
posted on July 2, 2003 06:00:48 AM new
One tip my mother-in-law gave us was to train our dogs to use a bell when they had to go outside to do their duty. We put a little brass bell on a suction cup type hook and attached it to our sliding patio door, low enough to the floor so the pups could reach it. Whenever we'd take the then puppies outside, we'd ring the bell - at first we'd ring it for them, then once they got used the sound, we'd take their paw and ring the bell. It didn't take long before they were ringing the bell with their own paw (or nose).
There are times when this works almost too well! Our female spaniel loves eating snow and sometimes rings the bell every few minutes to go outside to munch the new-fallen snow. She's generalized the bell ringing to mean "I want to go outside", not necessarily to just go out and do her duty.
posted on July 2, 2003 06:28:59 AM new
Actually, most dogs (even tose from the pound) can be crate trained. Mine is, and I was his 4th owner when he was only 4. He has been abused and tortured, to what degree we will never know. Howevr, his crate is his cave. He goes there to lay down, when he knows he was bad, etc. The correct method is to get an appropriately sized crate (not too big, not too small) then as soon as you let the dog out of the crate, take him immediately outside. Most dogs won't mess where they sleep. Not all dogs need crate training for potty training purposes, however most dogs do like crates, even if it is always left open just so they have somewhere to go to get away from you.
One of the other things that is extremely important (along with crate training) is teaching the dog that you are Alpha. They have to learn their place in the household pack. If a dog pushes over his owner (not physically, I'm sure you know what I mean), he is now the pack leader and the owner will not be able to train the dog correctly. that was the struggle that went on in our house. Our dog realized right from the start that he ranked lower than my girlfriend, but he challenged me for top ranking. Didn't last long though!
posted on July 2, 2003 06:41:42 AM newMost dogs won't mess where they sleep
That is the key and dogs that have been caged or left in areas where they had to lay in their own filth, have now learned that it is ok to soil their area... crate training will not work, they will just go and lay down...
Sally I sypmathize with you on the bell rining, but one thing I learned is that not to allow that time for "play" time... and would just take her out, get her to go and come inside... once inside if we were going to play, then I would take her back out.
posted on July 2, 2003 09:00:31 AM new
My Golden never has an accident in the house and is not crated. Dog's have a routine and if you observe it and give them access to the outdoors everything will sort itself out. They are easily socialized. Hint: let them out after they eat. My property is fenced so I can let my dog come and go as he wishes (has his own door) but when traveling or if in another situation I walk the dog (he gets out to the park daily and swims in the SF Bay anyway). I rescued him from the pound and wouldn't consider putting him in a cage.
posted on July 2, 2003 11:16:36 AM new
Congrats to Ralphie!!
I have two medium sized dogs. One is an Australian Shepard the other a Staffordshire Terrier. They have crates that are used for them to have their own place where they can go to eat. One eats fast and is a pig and the other is a slow eater. This protects the slow eater from not getting any.
We also use them as a time out deal. When they have done something bad they have a 10 minute time out. The doors to them are open so that they can come and go as they please. They actually enjoy having a place of their own to hide stuff from the other.
Crates when properly used are not a bad idea but I would not recommend them to someone who is just going to leave the dog in one all day.
posted on July 2, 2003 11:53:52 AM new
How's the temperment of the Australian Shepherd? My girlfriend wants one of them or a cattle dog (there's a difference?!)
All of our animals are rescues and she'd like to get a puppy that hasn't been abused and manhandled. Her mom was a sheltie breeder so she grew up with well behaved, unabused dogs.
posted on July 2, 2003 12:14:08 PM new
Our Aussie is just wonderful with kids. I have 3 boys who can unintentionally be a little rough, he is so patient and calm with them. The only time he has a little bit of a disposition is sometimes with the other dog. He was here first and sometimes isn't sure he likes our newer addition. He is never aggressive with him to the point he would hurt him though.
The only characteristic I found surprising is how easily he becomes depressed. If he does not run every day he becomes sad. Also, he has a big problem with separation from the family.
They make excellent watch dogs too. They are very alert and protective. We have had him for 3 years and god forbid anything happened to him I wouldn't think twice about getting another Aussie. I just love them.
Oops forgot to mention, assuming your dogs are inside dogs, they are big shedders.
posted on July 2, 2003 01:19:33 PM new
We have 3 cats and a German Shepherd/Husky/crazy dog. I'm used to the consistent sight of hair. Our house has hardwood floors throughout and the hair in the summer is like tumbling tumbleweeds! My girlfriend sweeps at least twice a day too.
posted on July 2, 2003 04:54:10 PM new
Lilac, all field dogs have to run, even those bred heavily into domesticity (like Setters and Collies who have a double curse of breed charachteristics plus inbreeding to create the sleaker, narrower skull.... they have literally had their brains bred out of them). If you have ever known anyone with an especially skitzy field breed the chances are the dog is not getting enough run time. I grew up with Spaniels and despite a large yard that they were free to run in we had to take them out at least twice a week to a nearby field where they would run themselves ragged for an hour or so. Behavoiral patterns between times when they were run regularly and when we didn't find the time to take them out was definately noticable. Your dog went the depression route but many go the opposite and become hyper active and often destructive. Owners think that it is the dogs fault and that it is "uncontrolable" and they often end up in the pound.
Remember all the warnings to parents when 101 Dalmations came out? Everyone wanted the pretty spotted dog but few realized how much maintanence is involved.
CLIVE - Get your girlfriend a Swiffer Sweeper - you'll love it. I have two cats and hardwood floors - I feel your pain
Mario Andretti - “If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.”
posted on July 2, 2003 05:07:53 PM new
Neon
I totally understand that. My Aussie routinely runs for about an hour a day at least. Occasionally, due to weather or a trip he does not get his run and then he becomes depressed. I was just explaining that they do need the room to run.
I just find it surprising emotions are so readable.
As far as people blaming the dog and taking them to the pound I don't understand how anyone can do that. I actually feel guilty if we are not home and the dogs don't get their daily run.
Now my Staffordshire is the exact opposite. He may fetch a ball once or twice but then he is belly up laying in the grass snoozing the rest of the time.
posted on July 2, 2003 05:47:40 PM new
Lilac - LOL - I wish I had room for a dog. I just don't have the heart to have a dog in an apartment. I originally had a Bassett - talk about a low energy dog. I loved him but he really was crazy, runt of the litter and a few missing brain cells, we ended up giving him back to the breeder.... you know that old story parents tell kids... big farm, lots of room.... this one really did exist. From a Basset we went to Brittanies and there was no rest . Now I have my cats and they are very nearly as entertaining but without all of the work. I lucked out and ended up with two cats with very distinctive and opposite personalities and they keep me laughing most of the day.
As far as people giving their dogs to the pound - you would be surprised how many people don't realize that every breed has it's own personality charachteristics and don't bother to research their breed. They don't understand why the adorable golden puppy has grown into a crazed chewing lunatic of a dog and never consider that the 10 minute walk around the block twicea day is nowhere near enough excersize for them.
Mario Andretti - “If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.”
posted on July 6, 2003 08:52:20 AM new
I had two German Shepherds that lived to be 14 gone now Both came from really nasty environments and were already trained when we got them. One came with heartworms and wasn't expected to live more than a few weeks when we got her and the other was malnourished and living under a porch eating Junebugs to live. I've found that rescuing abused or neglected dogs makes for the most loyal pets possible.
Neither of them EVER did it in the house. Once in a while they would barf, but then I can't hold my upchuck very well either. Most barfing was preceeded by grunts, so we could usually run to the back door to let them out.
One weekend we had to go out of town. We left the door to the attached garage and put newspaper down so they could go when they needed to. Came back Monday morning and they both had "held it" the entire time. It's hard to cross four legs at once, but they did it. Yes, I know this is bad for the dogs, but try to convince THEM of that fact
You just don't see the word 'barf' often enough in American literature.
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Both came from really nasty environments and were already trained when we got them. One came with heartworms and wasn't expected to live more than a few weeks when we got her and the other was malnourished and living under a porch eating Junebugs to live. I've found that rescuing abused or neglected dogs makes for the most loyal pets possible.
