Zander Chronicles: Housebreaking

[Alisa]

Started: Day 1
First week with a puppy is very important if you want to save yourself a lot of extra effort and labor later. When we pulled up to Southern’s house it was past 7PM – Sasha wanted to see the puppy right away, so it was brought into the house. Here’s a picture of happy union:
i67.photobucket.com/albums/h281/alisazap/000_0450.jpg

We started watching Zander and after about an hour or so decided it is time for him to pee. We took him outside into the dark cold night with a terrible howling wind and placed him on the ground. So here he is, standing on the bare dirt ground, shaking and shivering, looking up at us: “Are you telling me that to get inside all I have to do is pee? No problem. Here you go. Now, TAKE ME BACK!”
From then on – no problem: you take him out, he does his business. Smart puppy.

[Alisa]

Sasha was still doing her homework, so Dad decided to help out and walk Zander. After a few minutes he comes back puzzled and slightly disappointed – “He wouldn’t go with me! He just planted his butt and froze. What’s his problem?”

Sasha lifts her head up from her homework, looks at her Dad critically and announces: “That’s because you don’t have his treat bag with you. Did you think Zander is gonna let all that hard work of holding his pee go for nothing? He could have peed inside any time, but you don’t get treats for that.”

Sure enough, as soon as the treat bag was found, Zander was the first to dash out and 2 seconds later I heard a loud click and good-dog-good-dog muttering from my husband.

[southern]

too funny

[jsf13]

Hilarious, ;0

[jackie]

I'm working on training an older Airedale puppy to house train. She is about 6 months old and wasn't started on house training. She is a great dog, we call her Patty. We live on a ranch so she has all of the great outdoors to do her thing anytime she wants, but, I would like to bring her into the house more. If I keep her on a leash in the house everything goes pretty well, but if she is loose she invariable sqats almost immediately and does a small pee, probably submissive wetting although she isn't what I would call real submissive. What I have been doing is when I see her start to squat I clap my hands and call her name, then take her outside. But, when we get outside she won't pee. I'm going to take her to the vet and see if she has a bladder infection of any kind. I don't think she does because she doesn't exhibit other signs, such as licking and any discomfort. I have crate trained her and I have moved her crate over to right near our glass bedroom door so she can see us. I'm thinking of bringing her inside and keeping her in the crate all night and then taking her outside to pee in the morning and see if she catches on that way. She likes to be in the house but she has been an outdoor dog so she likes the outdoors too, sometimes the house is too hot for her for very long. Anyway, I just joined this forum and was looking for a few ideas. I see you have some nice airedales too. Thanks, Jackie

[hicntry]

Jackie, if the dog was raised outdoors, you may as well take your money and give it to a good charity instead of a vet. It is extremely unlikely an outdoor dog would have a bladder infection. While I haven't tried to housebreak a 6 mo old, it shouldn't be tough is she has been with you long enough to be relaxed. The trick to housebreaking is to "never" let them pee in the house. If you are on the phone, put her in a crate. If you are taking a shower....put her in a crate. If you are cooking....put her in a crate. Only let her out if you have time to give her your "undivided" attention. In this case, she needs to be crated instead of put outside when you are not watching her. When she comes out of the crate, take her non stop to the yard. With a 6 mo old, it may pay to leaver her in the crate a couple of hours so she has to pee, take her straight outside and wait till she pees and take her back in the house to play. It shouldn't take her but a week to make the connection that peeing is an outside activity. If you want it to be easy, watch her.....if you want to stretch it out....let her have "accidents" while you are not watching. ;D

[jackie]

Godfather,
Thanks for the reply to my question about house training my 6 month old Airedale. I'm afraid it's a bit too late on the accidents, she has had accidents in the house which I have cleaned up real well using vinegar and other household cleaners. But as you know these dogs have a nose that won't quit. I have had various advice from others, now I will take your advise and start crating her more in the house.
I have read some of your other topics and threads and I am really enjoying this website. I hope to be able to train Patty to be all that she can be as a working dog.
I've seen that there are a few books around that specifically address training Airedales, is there one of these that you prefer? Or anybody else out there?
Jackie

[jackie]

Godfather,
Today was day #2 of working with Patty on the crate house-training method you recommended. Yesterday, I put her in her crate during the day after she had been exercised and watered. In about an hour I took her outside and to a designated spot where I had put some of her earlier mistakes. She squated and pee-ed in about 10 minutes. Later, that evening I did the same thing, and was just about to give up and take her back to the crate when she squatted and pee-ed. Each time I rewarded her while she was in the act with a small treat. I also told her "hurry up". She then was left free outside for the evening. I have a crate for her right by our glass bedroom doors so she can see in and not feel left alone.
Today was a bit different, we went on a long hunt through the Nevada desert around noon, it is finally getting hot here and she got pretty tuckered out. When we came back I watered and fed her and then brought her in and put her in her crate. To make a long story short, I took her outside about every half hour for four trips about 10 minutes each. Each time she didn't pee, except the last time. Each time I watered her before taking her to the spot. I'm sure she was a bit dehydrated and that's why it took so long. Later this afternoon I'm going to crate her again and resume the training. I have two crates and I moved a crate into my office so she can be with me while in the house and I can move it where ever I'm going to be.
So, so far so good. The test will be when I finally turn her loose for short periods in the house. You can bet it will be after one of our trips have been successful outside. So far she hasn't eliminted anything but pee. You suggested that I not let her in the house unless she is crated. What should I look for in behavior signs that will tell me she is ready for a solo in the house outside the crate? I know it will be once I get her mind focused on going outside to eliminate but maybe you have some other tips on this. Today she gave me the strangest look while she pee-ed. I think the wheels were turning. If you have anymore fine tuning for me let me know.
Thanks so much, Jackie

[hicntry]

Just don't jump the gun Jackie. What you are doing is conditioning her to the fact outside is where she shoukld go. It may take a week, maybe two. When she gewts to stay in the house, she needs supervision to start with. No supervision.....crate her. It will be worth the effort. Good luck

[jackie]

Thanks, I'll be careful. I'm having a good time with this dog. Jackie

[hicntry]

Beware Jackie, all those typos are not mine.....Jim is responsible for most of them. ;D Good luck and enjoy the pup.

[jackie]

Don't worry about the typo's! I'm pretty bad myself as you can see. Patty is in her crate right now here by me as I type this. We had a good hunt this morning through the desert, didn't get any rabbits but sure scared some lizards, she is tired and content. Going to take her outside in an hour and see if she needs to go. Once you start this you have to do it until she eliminates outside so you can praise her and make it the habit. I see your logic. I make sure she has a drink everytime she goes outside and doesn't do anything. That seems to hurry the process along...ha.
For two days we have been on the road taking cattle into the auction and going into Reno to shop. Patty went with us, she has been before but not overnight. While in town I found a big field to exercise her in, otherwise she stayed on the back of our pickup, and in the crate at night, although I did walk her on the leash. We went to a big, chain pet store in Reno so I could show her some other dogs, had her on the leash of course, she was a little agressive towards the other dogs...standing up straight and barking a loud, rough bark, raising her hair. I was glad to see her coming into her own. I didn't punish her, except to quiet her barking and showed her she needed to come with me and not bother with them. In a bit she calmed down and was more inquistive rather than defensive and got along real well. What I was afraid of was that she might get excited and have an accident in the pet store. I was prepared to stop her and rush her outside. But she didn't have an accident and behaved rather well for her first time around quite a few other dogs. I took her in again later in the day and she went through the same routine but the aggression lasted a shorter time. I don't mind my dogs exhibiting some aggression as long as I'm in control and they know it. I think she acted correctly according to the situtation, these airedales are naturally into protection. We also went to Barnes and Noble (without Patty!) so I could buy one dog book. I chose "Gun Dog" by Richard A. Wolters. It's an old one, small, being reprinted many times, with lots of black and white photos, you probably know of it. I'll bet it is the one my father read and used as it was the way he trained his German Shorthairs. Since Patty likes to point, I thought I would work with her on that and the book has other good tips too, plus it's not one of the politically correct pet-dog books either. We have quite a few chucker here on the ranch which we have never hunted, could be fun (going to make time now). Patty isn't gun shy a bit. I'm also going to train her on some fur, better tracking etc. as I read your threads under fur. And I'm thinking of getting another, or maybe, two more Airedales and giving these coyotes a real go for their money, they are becoming very annoying. My husband isn't objecting to the idea. Getting off the subject of house breaking a bit here, so, I just took her outside and presto, she went immediately. I praised her, I felt good not having to stand around for 10 minutes and glad my dog is so smart...thanks to your help Godfather. I then released her to play around outside on her own for a while. May bring her in again later this evening and have another session. I think my carpet may be saved!
Bye for now, Jackie

[jackie]

Update. Patty is pretty well house trained now (haven't had one accident), additionally she will most of the time pee on comand outside. I have changed the routine now where I always make sure and take her to her outside toilet area before bringing her into the house. I may crate her a while and then keep her on the leash. I then would drop the leash and let her free, but near me. Yesterday and today I gave her freedom off the leash but kept her near me. She did very well although I was alert for any signs of even thinking about it. She chewed her fake AKC rabbit and went here and there with me in the house, layed down and rested while I worked at the computer. She also asked to go outside on her own. So far so good. Jackie

[ronstout]

All kidding aside.....just like in dealing with my current pup, I have found that it is easier to finish house training a dog that has begun their first few ( even up to several ) months, having the relative 'freedom' of being kenneled and having the benefit of the "whole-outdoors" at hand when they felt the call of nature....and perhave even already having a 'spot' to use in kennels that are kept very clean.

All that is needed is for the dog to learn to control that 'urge' to make the dramatic presention until they are back outdoors......a relatively easy process for the older pup, as opposed to dealing with the attention span of the average 8 to 12 week old 'cretin'.

ESQ

[gundermann]

Grandpa didn't let the dogs in the house until they were a few months old. Then he would watch them like a hawk until they started peeing in the house. He'd pick them up and say no, no, no, as he carried them outside. Then when they went outside he'd give them praise. They don't like being interrupted when they're going. I've never had to do this more than one time with my dogs.
Rob