• LaunchesKayaks@lemmy.worldOP
      13·
      10 months ago

      She was kennel trained months ago. She’s 9 months now and has regressed with potty training because her routine and living situation changed 4 times in her life. I got injured and had to stay with my parents for a while and just as she started getting used to the changes, we moved back home. She also is still figuring out how to communicate with me in a way that I understand. She has trouble asking to go outside a lot of the time.

      • saltesc@lemmy.world
        0·
        10 months ago

        Mate, that’s ruff. Ha!

        Serious, I got a few talk buttons set up for my 1 year old pup (as of yesterday). First button I taught was “Outside”. First it was treat training to teach him how to press buttons, which was very fast. Then I recorded “Outside” to one. Whenever he stood at the door, I’d press it, then open the door. Didn’t matter if he actually wanted to go out or not. Or I’d get him to press it with a treat, but his first reward was opening it before the treat. Very quickly (matter of days) he knew to hit the “Outside” button and I’d get up and open the door.

        A common alternative to this is a bell at the door, but I wanted to teach some words.

        “Play” was next. Then “Cuddle”. Then he’d.combo hit “Play cuddle” and realised that meant specifically rough housing. Then “Outside play” meant walk, so I made a button for that.

        I think next is some harm ones like if he’s trying to say he has pain, plus some yes and no, then I think we’re good and both happier for it.

        Seriously give it a go. It’s really not that hard.

        Edit: Oh, and the best part is he knows the word “outside” means a door opens to go outdoors. So doesn’t matter where he is, outside means outside. Can be at a friend’s place, “Do you want to go outside?” he runs to a door, it opens, he goes and does his business.

      • SaintWacko@midwest.socialEnglish
        7·
        10 months ago

        We use a string of bells hanging from the back door. It took my pup about half a day to figure out that if he rang the bells we’d let him outside

        • TempermentalAnomaly@lemmy.world
          7·
          10 months ago

          We have bells.
          About ½ the time, she makes a gesture towards the bell, misses, and just barks at me.

          Then, occasionally, she’ll get excited by the bark, find a stuffie, and forget that she even wanted to go outside. The things we do for love.

  • seth@lemmy.world
    11·
    10 months ago

    Congratulations, it’s a huge relief when you are able to leave for a few hours and don’t have to crate them! Mine is in her twilight years and has reverted to not being able to recognize when she has to go, now. It took about a month to de-train her from hiding under the desk in whatever dog emotion approximates shame. Thank goodness for carpet cleaners and enzymatic sprays!

    • Tinks@lemmy.world
      9·
      10 months ago

      That’s so heartbreaking. We went through similar in the past year with our late lab and it crushed me every time because she clearly hated going in the house but couldn’t help it.

  • theangryseal@lemmy.world
    5·
    10 months ago

    My poor old dumb guy has been a month mess free.

    He’s trainable but the poor guy is dumb as a box of rocks and hyper to boot. I love him though.

      • theangryseal@lemmy.world
        0·
        10 months ago

        My toddlers play dress up with him haha. He’s always wearing something.

        Tonight he’s in mom’s jacket.

        • LaunchesKayaks@lemmy.worldOP
          1·
          10 months ago

          My childhood dog adored children, and would let them do literally whatever they wanted to him. When my little sister came into the family as a foster child, the dog went nuts over her. She did not understand how to carry the lil dude because she was 3 and has intellectual disabilities and autism. I have a picture somewhere of her carrying him through the yard upside down and the dog was absolutely thrilled despite being upside down. The dog weighed 5 lbs, so he was a tiny boi. He lived to be 18, and I got him when he was 4. He had a great run at life. :)

  • doctorcrimson@lemmy.today
    2·
    10 months ago

    I used Soy Trainers type of treat to teach puppies a few times in the past, and only feed them the treat after the praise key words “Good Job!” It’s hard at first because you have to take them out in the morning when they’re young, maybe they poop/pee and receive the treat, then you feed and water them, take them outside again, sit with them on your lap while you work until they want down, right back outside again.

    It’s a hell of a time investment but I’ve had even small dogs figure it out before they were even 8 weeks old. Once they understand certain actions lead to treats and certain actions do not, it’s also a great time to teach sit, stay, go lay down, and come here. I’ve surprised friends and relatives by being able to put a treat on the dog’s face and leave the room, the dog will wait for the praise key words.

    Sometimes Stay is the hardest to teach, but also the absolute most important. A dog who can remain calm and motionless is a dog who you have the attention of, and one who has great unwavering discipline. I dog who shakes and wiggles and jumps up is a dog who sees you as a friend and not any form of authority, it will not listen when it matters the most because your words are only suggestions.