Need Ideas for Positive Reinforcement Everytime Scooter potties outside, I try to reward him, but he's never really impressed. I've tried praise and petting, but as soon as he potties, he's ready to move on - he's tugging at the leash and not looking at me at all. I've tried treats and even though he loves them any other time, after he potties he's not interested or he shows luke-warm interest. The treats I've tried are cheese and Snausages. I'm thinking maybe it's a dominance issue. Maybe he's just not looking to me for approval because he doesn't think he needs it. It worries me that he has to spend so much time confined because he's not housebroken...at all. He's only four months old, but I'm not seeing any progress. What am I doing wrong or what can I do better? |
Find a treat that he would kill for and save that particular treat for just this one occasion. :D |
OK.... I posted the treat thing BEFORE I read thoroughly.. There are a lot of things going on here. Before you can house train Scooter, you get his attention, which will require you to assume the leadership role --which will do several things.... first of all it will get his attention and stop the leash pulling and he will start looking to you for direction and he will have a desire and a need to please you after that everything else is a piece of cake. THEN the doggie treat to die for will work.... |
I REALLY don't think that his lack of response to treats is a dominance issue. Many dogs aren't food motivated, especially if they are free fed. Personally, I would still look for a treat that excites him more - probably human food. A tiny bite of steak or liver, maybe. A cheerio. A lick from one of those squirt cans of cheese. Also, if he doesn't have hypoglycemia issues, I wouldn't free feed him (if you are). Does he have a favorite toy? Perhaps you could bring that out as a reward to be played with only when he potties. Or, maybe the freedom to sniff is what he finds most rewarding. If your yard is fenced, perhaps the reward for pottying is that he immediately gets unleashed to sniff to his heart's content. In other words, I would like for what your dog finds most rewarding and figure out how to use that. Also 4 months is still pretty young. Don't give up - it may take a bit longer. |
Also, you may need to step up your praise a few notches. "Good dog" said in a neutral voice isn't inherently rewarding. Instead, throw a party! Using a high pitched little-girl voice, get REALLY excited! Make yourself more interesting than any thing else in the environment. "Oh, I'm so proud of you! You are so good! You are the smartest dog ever! Aren't I like to have you?!?". You get the idea... |
All the info that has been given so far is great. The only other thing I can think of is establish a potty time and an outside play time. Tell him before he goes out "its potty time" or "its play time". When its potty time after he's gone bring him right back in. Then when its play time just let him do his thing. If its potty time and you don't mind him playing maybe even bring him back in for just a bit after he's gone then take him right back out for "play time". This way maybe, and I am saying maybe, he will begin to realize what you are wanting him to do and also actually give him time to play outside without that interferring with his potty training. |
I appreciate all the feedback, but I'm thinking maybe I should have included a little more info. He knows to go potty when we're outside. He has no problem with that. He goes right away. And I do give him time to sniff around and hang out afterwards. He doesn't know not to go potty on the carpet inside. That is the real problem. I assumed that if the positive reinforcement is good enough, then he'll want to hold it and go outside to get more. He's on a feeding schedule and on a potty schedule. I'm not timid or monotone with my praise when he does the right thing, he's just really not interested in it. And, the treats I offer him are treats that he would kill for any other time. He just not interested in those either when we're outside. I worry about having him confined so much. I think I'm just going to buy some belly bands so he can be out and about while I cook and clean. |
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