It's true that if you don't catch them doing it - they have no idea what you're upset about.
But I have caught my dog mid stream often enough that he knows I don't want him peeing on the carpet.
Now - if he needs to pee, he'll walk around and keep turning around to see if I'm watching --- this is my clue to get him outside fast! And, he always readily pees outside....no problem...and we are both "oh, so happy" when he does this.
I never really punished him - but whenever I saw him starting to pee on the carpet, I'd jump up fast and start after him saying "No no no no!!!!" I think he quickly got the idea that he wasn't going to get to do this with me around. Then, of course I quickly ran him to his pee pad or outside. I guess you might call this "shock therapy." Anyway - we're getting better - slowly but surely.
I do know that when I'm home, if I methodically take him outside every hour and a half or two hours ---he never pees in the house. We actually went four days last week (when I was off work) without peeing in the house.
Remember - we are training ourselves - not our dogs! My taking my dog outside often doesn't mean he's potty trained. It means I have become trained to take him outside often. But - it works!!
Carol Jean
Carol Jean |