how to teach her give a warning to go potty

Allydog · 08-02-2008, 10:58 AM

Ally has been really good about being house trained, but I also take her outside all the time....she never "lets me know" she needs to know...no whining, no sniffing around, she'll just be walking and then squat and pee. Or today, I'm under the weather so I didn't get her out as much, she just walks over and poops...no sniffing, nothing. How can I teach her with a bell or a bark or something to let me know she has to go? I'm just worried that once winter comes we won't be outside like we are now and she needs to tell me she has to go.

Curbside Prophet · 08-02-2008, 11:06 AM

Ultimately you're the one who's in control of when the dog goes outside. So, instead of trying to train in a behavior the dog can find reinforcing for other behaviors like going outside because it's enriching, write our a schedule of your dog's potty behavior, and take your dog out at those times. The accidents are proof that your dog is not yet house trained. So reinforce the appropriate behavior and minimize the accidents by using a crate.

RBark · 08-02-2008, 11:15 AM

Are you cleaning your stains with a enzyme cleaner like Nature's Miracle?

I bought that by the gallon for Priscilla.

I just took her out every 30 minutes and after about a month, I saw her paw at the door and I jumped at the opportunity to reinforce it. I praised the hell out of her and fed her a can of treats.

Nowdays she sit by the door, paws it twice, looks at me waiting for me to let her out.

It'll come eventually.

TooneyDogs · 08-02-2008, 01:49 PM

Ally has never had to tell you that she needs to go out....you anticipate her need to go and she just follows you. The downside to this approach is that she still has no idea that it's wrong to go in the house.
So, that's the question....what specifically have you done to tell her/teach her that going in the house is wrong? Until she knows that going in the house is a bad thing, she won't say anything...no whinning, no barking, no scratching at the door.

Allydog · 08-02-2008, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TooneyDogs

Ally has never had to tell you that she needs to go out....you anticipate her need to go and she just follows you. The downside to this approach is that she still has no idea that it's wrong to go in the house.
So, that's the question....what specifically have you done to tell her/teach her that going in the house is wrong? Until she knows that going in the house is a bad thing, she won't say anything...no whinning, no barking, no scratching at the door.

When I catch her I say "outside", scoop her up and take her outside then praise her when she finishes. If I don't catch her then I don't do anything. What else am I suppose to do to teach her that its wrong to go in the house? When she goes potty outside, which is does on command, I always praise her.

terryjeanne · 08-02-2008, 10:50 PM

Either I never saw the cues or my first sheltie just didn't know how to tell us he had to go outside. A trainer suggested hanging a bell by the door.

Well, I made such a fuss when he did go outside with praise and treats he picked up the bell in a short time. It suited me fine so I trained the second sheltie the same way.

Now I have to say, she rang the bell at 2:00 am and I took her out. What does she do? Starts walking down the sidewalk. I told her we're not going for a walk and after a token pee we went back inside.

She will ring the very occasional time just to go out but the other 98% she rings to do her business.

Allydog · 08-02-2008, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terryjeanne

Either I never saw the cues or my first sheltie just didn't know how to tell us he had to go outside. A trainer suggested hanging a bell by the door.

Well, I made such a fuss when he did go outside with praise and treats he picked up the bell in a short time. It suited me fine so I trained the second sheltie the same way.

Now I have to say, she rang the bell at 2:00 am and I took her out. What does she do? Starts walking down the sidewalk. I told her we're not going for a walk and after a token pee we went back inside.

She will ring the very occasional time just to go out but the other 98% she rings to do her business.

How do you do the bell? What do you do to get them to use it?

Line-of-Fire · 08-03-2008, 03:34 AM

What we do with our dogs is teach them "go potty outside?!"
I know it sounds super super silly lol. But we use a VERY excited (almost a "good dog!") kind of voice and they get all excited about going outside. Stand by the door that leads to your yard when you do it too. Then they know which door. But it takes repetition. At first, the dog may look at you like you're stupid for getting excited over going outside, but eventually they'll catch on.

And when they DO go potty outside, praise them to the SKIES. If your dog is toy motivated, bring their very favorite toy, and if she's a food hound, bring her favorite treat (stowed away in a pocket!) and give it to them as SOON as the deed is done. Tell them, "Yay! Good potty outside!" Then it becomes more of a command. in due time, they'll associate going potty outside with their favorite toy or treat.

osurn67 · 08-03-2008, 04:57 AM

Allydog,
I am glad you posted this because I am having the same issue with my 5m Eskie mix pup. I take her out every 1-2 hrs during the day/evening (unless she is in her crate-she has never soiled her crate) but she never gives me any indication that she needs to go out-no going by the door, sniffing, circling etc. I was wondering if I was doing something wrong-she is coming along very well with the training but the fact that she is not giving us an indicator was bothering me.
Kim

Cobalt · 08-03-2008, 08:24 PM

I believe you hang the bell and then you ring it every time you take her out. Then, she'll start to do it. We tried this with Mia but at 10 weeks she'd played with the bell so much that the handle broke on the patio door.

I wonder what you do if they play with the bell??

Luna is 12 weeks and she does go to the door. She just started on her own. When I see her squatting in the house she gets a big no and then we go outside and praise. She has never gone more outside after going in but I praise anyway. This is the only time I use a loud no. I'd say we are about 85% trained.

I am tired of getting up at 5:30 am

Good luck!