Go Back   Pet forum for dogs cats and humans - Pets.ca > Discussion Groups - mainly cats and dogs > Dog training - dog behavior

 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #1  
Old August 11th, 2010, 02:55 PM
Canuck00 Canuck00 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 10
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!
Reply With Quote
 

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Forum Terms of Use

  • All Bulletin Board Posts are for personal/non-commercial use only.
  • Self-promotion and/or promotion in general is prohibited.
  • Debate is healthy but profane and deliberately rude posts will be deleted.
  • Posters not following the rules will be banned at the Admins' discretion.
  • Read the Full Forum Rules

Forum Details

  • Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
    Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
    vBulletin Optimisation by vB Optimise (Reduced on this page: MySQL 0%).
  • All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:55 AM.