So he's mostly housebroken, but I need more tips...

Tine2105 · 06-21-2010, 03:47 PM

Hi everyone!

So, by following the advice on here, I have gotten Boris to be mostly housebroken.

Constant supervision, leashing him to me, giving him treats... I've done it all. Now, I did say mostly housebroken, because he does have an accident here and there. Thing is... he doesn't ask for the door. If he's not outside when the need gets a hold of him, he'll just go inside, as if that was okay too. How to I get him to ask for the door? He already scratches it to get inside once he's done his business or to come outside if I stepped out and left him in, but it hasn't seem to cross his mind to ask to go outside to do his thing. Any advice on that?

**TonkaTruckJK** · 06-22-2010, 03:32 AM

Maybe make a target or a bell placed near the door to alert you? High-level, step one is to get him using the object on command, 100% of the time, then put it by the door and before you take him out, use the command to target/ring the bell.

Another variation I use with my two current dogs is the 'speak' command. If your dog barks at all, it's the same idea - train to the first behavior to 100% compliance, then move behavior to the door before you go outside to potty. Great side-effect I've found here is to help curb unwanted / unnecessary barking...although with the wring reinforcement, this may have a propensity to go wrong...

Yeah, I said potty, so what? :-)

Others may be better to get into details, may have better / different ideas, or if you have specific questions, I'm happy to answer them.
Posted via Mobile Device

**TonkaTruckJK** · 06-22-2010, 03:34 AM

Oh yeah - you have to make SURE you're demanding 100% compliance when training the command at the door for potty (again?!) or you may struggle with a valid alert later on.
Posted via Mobile Device

Newzealand · 06-22-2010, 05:28 PM

He will get there. my Lexie did the same. And one day she just had less and less accidents inside. Most puppies go just after they had a meal

**Criosphynx** · 06-22-2010, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonkaTruckJK

Maybe make a target or a bell placed near the door to alert you? High-level, step one is to get him using the object on command, 100% of the time, then put it by the door and before you take him out, use the command to target/ring the bell.

Another variation I use with my two current dogs is the 'speak' command. If your dog barks at all, it's the same idea - train to the first behavior to 100% compliance, then move behavior to the door before you go outside to potty. Great side-effect I've found here is to help curb unwanted / unnecessary barking...although with the wring reinforcement, this may have a propensity to go wrong...

Yeah, I said potty, so what? :-)

Others may be better to get into details, may have better / different ideas, or if you have specific questions, I'm happy to answer them.
Posted via Mobile Device

brilliant post. Som'times I wish we had a rep button.

Tine2105 · 07-14-2010, 09:49 AM

Tonka: all wonderful advice. Unfortunately, the bell was more interesting for the cat than it was for Boris, I had to take it away for fear of going insane.

He's mostly clean still, fewer and fewer accidents as time goes by (we're at about one a week now...) I know his schedule pretty well by now so it helps. I've noticed he tends to walk towards the kitchen when he needs to go potty. It's generally a message if he goes out of the room I am in hehe