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E-mail
received at dog fun on 30/12/00.
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Hi
Jade,
I need some help. I have a five month old great
dane called Saifa. She refuses to hold on to go
to the toilet - yes, both wees and poohs. We have
a dedicated area outside for her to toilet on, and
if you let her out she will use it virtually every
time - so she does know where to go. Obviously she
has to learn that it is not acceptable to do it
inside. I have trained two other dogs very successfully.
I have tried everything I know and I am now at the
point where I have to
consider help from other people.
Can you help?
Ian
Jade's
reply.
Thank
you for your E-mail. You have a messy problem on
your hands. Don't panic though as I am sure that
you will be able to overcome this given time. I
can give you some suggestions as to how to combat
this, I hope that they help.
Firstly make sure if possible that you let your
dog out very regularly whilst you try to combat
this problem, every hour or so at first during the
evening or the day, when ever you are around. Always
take it out after every meal, and every nap. Just
as we get more and more inclined to stay in during
this time of year it is possible that you dog is
feeling the same way and being slightly lazy about
this. Why go out in the cold and dark if you can
get away with going to toilet inside? Also if it
goes out regularly then there should be nothing
left to do inside and, you will be getting it into
the routine that outside is the place for going
to the toilet. Tell it to go to toilet or for a
wee etc. but make sure that you watch it to confirm
that it has gone. This might take time at first
with you both staring at each other but once your
dog gets into the habit it should be OK. If you
see your dog go to toilet praise it, make a fuss
and possibly give it a treat. Make sure that your
dog knows that you are pleased that it has been
outside.
As
you said your dog knows were to go out side so this
should be a routine that you can get into quite
easily, but this also raises another point. If your
dog does go in the house you must make great efforts
not just to clean it up but also to remove/cover
up, any scent that might have been left and may
only be noticeable to your dog (don't use ammonia
based products to clean as this will smell like
urine). If you do not get rid of this scent then
your dog will be reminded that it has been in the
house before and that this is an acceptable toilet
area. Also watch your dog's body language, if it
starts to pace or circle etc. get it out quickly
and praise it when it makes it outside.
If
your dog does have an accident inside and you did
not witeness it DO NOT punish your dog. If you missed
the act its self it is too late, you will only upset
your dog and confuse it. If you actually catch your
dog in the act then you have an opportunity to act.
The best thing to do is use a plastic plant water
spray and give it a squirt of water or bang two
trays together creating a loud noise (in both cases
you are best not to let your dog know that the noise
or water came from you as this will not have the
best effect, get someone else to bang the trays
or conceal the water spray) . The dog will associate
the unpleasant experience with what it is doing
and will go somewhere quieter or dryer next time,
i.e. outside were it gets a treat after it has been.
This as I say must only be done if you actually
catch it in the act.
Have a go with this approach and see if it helps.
Good luck to you and your dog, all the best, Jade
the Doberman
Please note that if you feel that this could be
caused by a medical problem with your dog consult
your VET
Super
dog training tip sent in by Steve Jenkins on 11/1/2001.
Hi
there Dog fun, I recently came across your website
and read the part dealing with toilet training.
As a professional dog behaviourist, I have found
over the years, that the best way to clean a soiled
area is to use BIOLOGICAL washing powder. The enzymes
in it break down ALL the deposits and leaves the
area clean and fresh - and your dog will not return
to that area again. Good luck with your great website.
Yours sincerely Steve Jenkins
As
with the rest of Dog Fun we are only offering advice,
we have learned a lot through our own experience
and would like to further that knowledge with your
help. If you have any good tips or advice that would
help dog owners drop us a line to jade@dogfun.co.uk
and we will display your advice and give you credit
for your help!
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