Any advice on dog training??

**Mom23boys** · 12-21-2003, 12:32 PM

Richard got a full blooded lab for a Christmas present. He has been begging for a dog and even built it a dog house by himself. I was so proud of him that I found him one that is beautiful. The problem is that she pees everywhere and is driving me insane. Every morning when I wake up I take her outside, after school and in the late evenings. The children take her out between those times as well. They like walking her. She pees outside, but when we bring her back in, she pees again. It is like she is marking her spot. She is 2 months old and we just got her last week. I don't want to leave her outside when we are gone because I don't trust some people. So does anyone have any advice on how to break her??

I am going to call the vet in the morning to see when she can be fixed.

**baronmom** · 12-21-2003, 05:54 PM

Crate training is the best thing ever invented. Are dogs are in their crates when we are not home. Most of the time, they will not go to the bathroom inside as this is their domain. They sometimes have accidents if they are left in too long or are not feeling well. All I can say is take her out about every half hour or so and then gradually spread the time to 45 minutes etc...l We have dog that took forever to house train. Any time they are sniffing around and going around in a circle, take her out right away. The most important thing is to make sure that you clean up the pee with something to take the smell out because they will keep going back to that spot. Any pet store will have stuff.

A dog can be fixed at about 6 months of age. Do not get it done before that. We got our second dog from the Humane League, and they fixed her at 6 weeks. She now has bladder control problems. Most vets will tell you that 6 months and older is the norm.

**Mom23boys** · 12-21-2003, 06:02 PM

Thank you for the advice. I will check at WalMart next time I go for the crate or Petco. The vet we take out animals to is Chris' select team baseball coach. He gives us a discount.

I was going to call him in the morning. I guess I will wait until she is 6 months old before I call to get her fixed.

**slowtypinwoman** · 12-21-2003, 06:53 PM

I am also a big advocate of crate training. This is the best and easiest way. JMHO look for a crate at a discount store before Petco. I got ours at Wal*Mart and paid $75 each for them. A week later I was at Petco and they had the same kennel (brand and everything) for $130.

The puppie book I used was Puppies for Dummies. They recomendtaking the puppy out every 2 hours. Remember to watch the puppy. Once he knows he is to go outside for the deed, he will make hints, but you HAVE to watch for them closely. Ours would walk by the door and that would be it. I soon learned their signs and they became better at letting me know their needs.
Have faith and remember not to take your frustrations out on the little guy. You wouldn't scold a 18 month old for wetting a diaper. We had 2 puppies at the same time and I often thought I'd kill them and everyone I came in contact with for about a 2 month period.
I am happy to report that they are fully potty trained and I am trained to their needs as well. May I also suggest a puppy class. This helped us emensly.
On an intersting note, puppies generally won't listen to kids. They see them as "litter mates" and not the Alpha. the puppy class we went to said there needs to be one person whom the puppy will bond with. It should be the person who tends to most of their needs.

Good luck! We love ours and wouldn't trade them for the world.

**Mom23boys** · 12-21-2003, 08:02 PM

Thank you slowtypinwoman for the advice. I mostly am the one taking care of her. Richard helps alot though. I take her out every time I see her sniffing now. I am not going to give up her because she is so loving.

I will look for a crate tomorrow as I have to run to town anyway.

**baronmom** · 12-21-2003, 08:55 PM

You might be able to find a crate in your newspaper as well. Sometimes I see them for less money in the bargin counter.(this is the section of the paper that lists things for sale for $300 or less. Lots of them are under $25 in our area. ) I would check your paper first as you might be able to get a better deal before going to a pet store. I got ours at the pet store and I think it was around $65. I only wish that I would have looked in the paper first. When you look for a crate, you want to make sure that you get one that will be big enough for them as a full grown dog. That way you won't have to buy more than one crate.

**homesteadmamma** · 12-21-2003, 09:01 PM

I too am a big advocate of crate training. The first few times, you might find she goes in her crate, but she'll soon learn thats her home and she doesn't want it messed.

She is only 2 months old and won't be properly trained for another couple of months. If she has an accident though on the floor, wipe it up and then wash it with vinegar and water. She will not go back to that spot again.

Here are a couple sites that will give you some good sound advice too.

http://dogscorner.com/puppy-training.php

http://www.wyndeway.com/potty_and_crate_training.htm

Remember Michelle, the puppy is just like a kid. It takes time to train kids to use the potty, it also takes time for puppies to be trained to go outside. They need lots of patience and lots of love.

Good luck. You have a beautiful breed of dog. Once trained, she be a wonderful friend to both Richard and your whole family.

**Mom23boys** · 12-21-2003, 10:16 PM

Thank you for the tip about checking out the newspaper ads. I never would have stopped to think of looking there. I will start looking.

I am going to check out the above mentioned websites as well. The dog is very beautiful. I just love her shiny coat. DH makes pet food for a living so he has already told me what to get to make sure she keeps it that way.

She is already like part of the family. I have already learned to put up all my shoes.

**PrairieRose** · 12-21-2003, 10:41 PM

Michelle I also am a huge fan of crate training AND I wanted to add that the puppy needs to be in the crate at all times when you or someone else isn't either holding, playing with or walking the puppy. They don't really care for it at first but it gets easier. Also, you shouldn't expect her to *get* the house training thing until she hits her 6 month birthday. About then you'll be amazed at how the lites come on! Hang in there, it's hard work, but soooo worth it.

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 12-22-2003, 02:13 AM

I, too, am an advocate of crate training. Gypsy sleeps in hers all of the time. When we are home, we have the door open and she goes in there on her own. When we are gone, she goes in it with the door latched.

I also keep puppies in sight ALL of the time. How? I keep a leash on the pup and take him/her with me all over the house! That way, I know exactly what puppy is doing at any time. This also helps your pup to bond tighter and more rapidly to you and your family. You can also get an exercise pen (sort of a playpen for dogs) and put her in it when you can't see her. However, this is an added expense. The leash way is cheaper and faster!

If you have never trained a dog yourself, either get a book from the library or enroll in a class (or both!). Most dogs that are turned in at the pound are under two years old, aren't altered and haven't been trained. Do ALL of the above and your dog will be a loving family member for years to come.

BTW, DO NOT breed your bitch just because she's a PUREBRED or because you think you can make money from the puppies. Unless your bitch is a show quality specimen, spay her before her first heat. If you are responsible breeder, you will not make money from the pups. On the contrary--most good breeder LOSE money on their litters. Labs have a host of congential problems that can crop up--hip and elbow dysplasia, eye problems, and, occasionally, behavioral problems as well. You need to test any animal that will be bred for these problems, and believe me, it's NOT cheap! I paid $85.00 for Gypsy's hip xrays and another $35.00 to have them read and registered with the OFA. You don't want any of these heartaches passed on to future generations! Another plus for spaying is that you don't have the mess to contend with (bitches bleed for up to three weekes when in season) or every male in the neighborhood lined up outside your door, waiting to pay their "respects" every time you take her out to potty. Males can also scale ten foot (yep, you read that right!) feneces to get to a bitch and breeding can occur through chain link fences.

BTW, vinegar and water mixed 1 to 1 will take the urine spots out of carpeting.

Congratulations on your girl!

**isaacsmommy** · 12-22-2003, 08:32 AM

Michelle,

When we had our one dog indoors (we got her at 6 weeks and she was an inside dog for about 5 years), we used a modified version of the crate training I'm hearing explained here. Eureka had a kennel, and slept in it every night and was locked in it when we were not home. That I recall, she never messed in her kennel - after all, it was her house. I house trained her in about 2 weeks using a method outlined in Dog Training for Dummies. Basically, I took her outside every 30 min. - 1 hr. and took her to her "spot" in our yard. I would stay out with her as long as it took for her to do her business. When she began to go potty, I would say "go potty" - she learned to associate the words with the deed. After a fairly short period of time (only a couple of weeks), she got the idea and I had a house trained dog.... the best part? She learned her area of the yard, and we didn't have to be cleaning up dog mess all over!

**baronmom** · 12-22-2003, 09:08 AM

We also did the spot in the yard and it worked great. Now that they are older they no longer go just in that spot.

I wanted to add that some people suggest not giving the dog the run of the house when they are a puppy. Some even say to keep them in a room that is easy to clean up if they have accidents such as a kitchen or laundry room. When you can't be with them all the time that is. Best of luck with your puppy. Labs are chewers so you might want to invest in some Bitter Apple Spray as well. Never give them old shoes, socks or stuffed animals to play with as they will think that all shoes sockes and stuffed animals are ok to chew. Found this out the hard way.

**Jayne** · 12-22-2003, 09:27 AM

Crate training is the best way to go!!!! We have raised every dog we have owned this way...they love their crates..its their own space...she will get the idea about the peeing, she is just a baby, and doesn't know any better yet..be consistent hon....we had a black lab, she passed away at eleven years old from heart faliure...she was a fabulous dog...have fun with your pup!!!!!

**Mom23boys** · 12-22-2003, 02:39 PM

Thank you all.

We aren't planning on breeding her. I plan on having her fixed as I do all the animals we ever get. I just don't like the idea of animals not being wanted and having to be taking to the pound. I guess I will call to have her fixed when she is 6 months.

I am learning that she is a very smart dog. She doesn't poop in the house and the peeing is starting to get less and less. I saw her sniffing yesterday and after reading one of the posts about taking her out if you see her doing this. I grabbed the leash really fast and we went out. I was checking the newspaper this morning for a crate. If I don't find anything by the end of the week, I will end up buying one at WM.