[CrazyOnU]

Hi. I'm new here. Just found this site. I am seriously having problems at my house with our 2 nine month old dogs. They are sisters. They are small dogs. My husband said that their mother was a yorkie but not sure what their father was. My husband got them on a whim (stupid I know). He is a truck driver and came across them. The owner was gonna put them in a box and set them on the doorstep of the pound. So my hubby put them in his truck and brought halfway across the country to me and our daughters. They were so cute. I think that they were about 5 weeks old. I admit, I should have found homes for them because I am not very good at training a puppy. So they now rule the house. We love them and want to keep them, but they make life very difficult. I know it is my fault for not figuring all of this out at the beginning. They poop and pee in the house. They chew clothes. They jump up on everyone. One of them darts out the front door everytime it is opened. They have basically become unliked in my home. I feel so bad because I know that I didn't help them become well behaved dogs. We have a big backyard and for the last month, they have been out there, but now it is getting cold out. Can anyone help me figure out how to start now training them. I don't know where to start?

[blackgavotte]

Hello, starting all over is the way to go. First, have them both spayed if you haven't done that... Go out and buy an exercise pen and a couple of crates. Stop them from having the run of the house right away, because now you must re-train them not to relieve themselves in the house. Pretend in your mind they are just 8 weeks old again and start keeping them confined in a pen, and take them out regularly while you supervise that they are doing their business. Praise them well when they have performed. If you are watching them and have the time, let them romp around a bit in the house since they're used to it, but you must start giving them some real rules now if you are not going to end up giving them away, and Lord help them, no one wants a cute little dog who is dirty in the house and eats clothes. Teach them the word NO loud and clear, by removing anything they should not be eating or chewing. Switch that article with some toy they can have. Diligence and consistency is going to be key here. Make sure you are being fair to them that they understand what you want and then hold to the rules. Remember you created this situation, now you have to correct it. Other people in the forum can add, these are just my initial thoughts at this early hour, gotta go. Good luck with them. Keep checking the forum, read books, talk to trainers and vets, etc. Lots of people have lots of good ideas.

[CrazyOnU]

Ok, I've started. I have another question. I've been taking both dogs out side to potty (nobody has gone yet) on the leash so I can monitor when they go and be able to reward them. I am taking them into the front yard because they have been living in the backyard for about a month and I want them to get the idea that where I'm taking them is for pottying not playing (which they think the backyard is for). Lucy (one of the pups), is not liking the idea of the leash. She is thrashing about and trying to get off. What do I do to get her over that? Thanks for any help.

[opokki]

Put the leash on her and allow her to drag it around (supervised) in the house.

Originally Posted by CrazyOnU

Lucy (one of the pups), is not liking the idea of the leash. She is thrashing about and trying to get off. What do I do to get her over that? Thanks for any help.

[Whitney]

My parents Lhasa Apso used to dart out of the door whenever it was opened. We got baby gates to stop her from getting to the front door. The gates came in handy for my husky as well. Now they keep her from going upstairs or into the basement when nobody is there to supervise. Even though she is house trained, there are places that are off limits... like the bathroom, my room mates room and the laundry room, where she could get into potentially dangerous substances like cleaners and well... just make a mess of things, like chewing our paper towels and tissue.

Melody isn't as trained as she could be, but when I did train her to pee and poo outside, I slept on the couch. I did not have a kennel at the time, and when I did get one she cried bloody murder. I would wake up every few hours to let her out, even if it was raining at 3am. Eventually, she got the idea. As for jumping up on people, tell them to ignore the behaviour. No eye contact, don't even stay "stop it", don't push them away - maybe just a gentle nudge to get them off of your lap. Once they stop jumping, and are calm (wait a minute or two) call them over for praise. This establishes not only that you are in charge (alpha) and that the ball is in your court, but that jumping up and making a fuss for attention is a waste of their time. It's not cruel to ignore the dog for 5 minutes, but always be sure to praise them when they are being good.

Good luck!