Posted on 06/03/2005 5:35:57 AM PDT by tame
We used to put her in the crate when my husband and I would leave the house (since she destroyed a recently installed berber rug...arrgh!). She is much less destructive now, but still--when she hears my keys, she goes and waits by her crate. Sometimes, we'll even come home to find that she's been in her crate the entire time.
"forced her way into the cat boxes"
Isn't that the most disgusting?!?!?! I have four cockers and they all love to snack from the cat box. They know they are NOT allowed to do that too. Obedience is not the middle name of any of my furries, but I love them. Although a bit less after they've been in the cat box or rolled in duck poo. We have ducks and the dogs think duck poo is the perfume of doggie gods and goddesses. LOL
Also leave on a night light because the pup is scared being left alone, and can cry and yelp untill you get out of bed and go rock the puppy.
The one bonus to having a dog with a ridiculously large head is that I finally found these really cool, circular covered cat boxes. To enter the cat box, the cat has to walk up a little ramp and turn to get to the latrine area.
Unlike the old covered cat boxes, my dog's melon is too big to get direct access to the 'goodies' unless she knocks the entire cover off.
Since she's an agility dog, I hope she doesn't figure out that she can EASILY clear the baby gate (she can jump 3'6" from a standing start - I tried her over the horse jumps)
Unfortunately, our doorways are actually too narrow for baby gates. In Ursa's puppy days, we attempted to use them in an effort to keep her out of the carpeted areas and in the tiled ones--but due to our house's odd interior design (the actual blue print of the house, not my decorating abilities!) we'd actually have to wedge the baby gates against our walls. They eventually tore the walls up, and the dog learned to jump over them. She's a devious girl!
Preferable to read it before bringing the pup home, but better late than never. I have a German Shepherd that has some New Skete (1/4) blood in him and I have raised him in accordance with the principles of their books. A better mannered, well-behaved dog you will not find.
I can reccomend the Barbara Woodhouse method.
Keep your pup at night in a large wire pet cage,
keep his toys in there as well as a bed and also one of your old shirts, pups need their own space and he will come to understand that it's HIS, put a good sized piece of SOD
in there if he has to go he will go there, always take
him out if he even starts to look like he has to go during
the day. Do not give him a lot of water late as that will
make it very hard for him.
Take him out FIRST THING when you get up.
In very little time he will get used to grass and assuming
you do your part, the tough road will be over.
Ps. Remember when he is going either #1 or #2 repeat
a phrase , it can be anything you want, it's good to
have him trained to take care of business on command,
Particularly if you are at a rest stop or in a hurry.
Good luck.
Remember Dogs NEED TOYS!
And also never use his "box" as punishment.
Start working him with a long lead call him to "come"
and gently put pressure on his choker, when he comes
praise him and occasionally reward him with a treat,
NEVER let YOUR exasperation creep into your command voice.
As others have said - crate.
But be aware that a young puppy can not hold it very long and needs to be walked frequently till its physiological capacity to hold it develops with age..
Good luck. Hmm I want a new puppy.
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