 rewards and words
I think potty training is all conditioning. I remember my aunt had 2 ridgebacks and they would pee and poop on command. I never thought I'd be able to get a dog to do that, but I did.
When I bought Woody home i but pads down in two places, in the bathroom of course, and im my bedroom. I put 2-3 pads in each place next to each other to give him a bigger area, he has not so exact aim. Then when he looked like he was getting ready to go, i would pick him up and put him on the pad, and always say the same things, like"go peepee on your pad" or "go peepee here" and then give him treats after he did it and tell him "good peepee". so he learned to associate that word with the behavior. if he missed sometimes i would use the pad to clean it up and leave the soiled pad there with the pee on it, that way he can smell the pee on the pad and know thats his bathroom.
so now when we are going to go somewhere, i tell him "go peepee" and he goes, that is good, so he;s not peeing in people's houses and offices.
also, when we are out somewhere if he has to pee, he cries and i take him outside and tell him "go peepee here" and he knows it's ok to go there.
dont punish your puppy for peeing in the wrong place, becuase they could develop submissive urination, then they will pee when they get scared.
also i kept him in his crate at night for the 1st month, until he got a little bigger, now he sleeps in the bed, and gets up to pee when he needs to.
also if he's playing and he has to go, he runs full speed into the bathroom, it's really funny. and he doesn't like to poop when anybody';s watching, i understand that lol |