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Can housebreaking go too well?
We have a 14 week old Bichon, and I'm starting to wonder if housetraining can actually go too well. I know it sounds funny, but I've housebroke before, but not this easily. We got the pup from a very good breeder, and up until we picked it up, it was paper training and doing fine. Brought him home and I opted not to crate train, and (reluctantly) decided to maintain what was happening by short-term paper training, followed by total house breaking. I spent the first few nights sleeping on the kitchen floor (lol, true!), and the pup would use the paper. After, I left him alone in the kitchen and it went pretty well, all on the paper. After about 7 days, time to end the paper and move on to housebreak. Constant eye, a few accidents (including one on the couch), but frequent trips outside even if it produces nothing. When he went outside, he got a treat and "saved the world" praise. When he got caught, he got scolded. If he had an accident and he didn't get caught, we did nothing other than clean it up and Swiffer mop to remove the scent.
Now, it's been about two weeks since the last accident. Which I am now thinking may not be a good thing. Because I always believed it's important to teach what's right and wrong. So far, he only gets the praise for the right. Of course I don't scold unless I actually catch him, but if he doesn't do anything at all, he never gets the idea of going inside is bad because he doesn't get scolded for it. Now for the last few days I am even letting him have total roam of the house when we are at work, and checking for accidents. None so far. I go home at lunch, take him out, he does his business, gets his treat and back to work I go. This has never happened with the 3 other dogs I have trained, but this is our first Bichon. My concern is that he isn't really getting it, and I could be in for a period of total regression if he doesn't learn right from wrong. I know it sounds funny that I actually want him to try and pee inside, but I think it's equally important in housebreaking. Am I wrong here? On a side funny note (but maybe related for info), we are now going through a period where he tries to "trick" me into thinking he pees outside. We go outside, walk around, he will stop and go motionless for 8-10 seconds, but doesn't extend his legs back like he would normally for a pee. Then he will jump excitedly expecting a treat, which he gets none. Then after a few minutes he will really do his business, and get the treat. I just thought it's funny! |
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