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Post by /|/afamere on Mar 14, 2010 17:14:15 GMT -5
I would have to say that this is the worst thing ever... the constant howling and whining that emits from the 10 week old shepherd.
Not to mention that when I try to get the dog out to use the restroom, that once the leash is hooked, that she pisses right on the floor... so... since she is in the kennel when I walk up with the leash, she uses the restroom in there instead.
I tried the whole treat thing after she uses the restroom, but she is the most stubborn dog I have ever had to train...
anyone have any ideas that would help out?
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Post by Esfiel on Mar 14, 2010 18:12:36 GMT -5
When our animals went to the restroom inside the house my dad would shove their noses into it. They hated it and eventually stopped.
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Post by Satra on Mar 14, 2010 19:19:44 GMT -5
Sounds to me like what you have is a nervous dog. The shoving the nose in the excrement bit might not work as it might serve to make the dog more nervous.
First thing to do when a dog has an accident is to clean it up immediately and get rid of the smell. The prevailing smell will encourage this behavior more in the future.
Next step is getting the dog to trust you. Do not treat the dog like a human because the understanding of a human and the understanding of a dog are completely different. I'm going to parrot a lot of Cesar Milan when I say this: but present your self calmly but assertively, claiming yourself as the pack leader. Dogs are leaders or followers. They need that mentality in their lives. If the hierarchy is confused, they become confused and unbalanced.
When the dog whines and barks a lot try rolling the dog. Do not let up your calm but assertive energy during the process. Be patient. You wait until the dog is completely calm and relaxed. When you move to release the dog and you feel a spike of nervous/excited energy, repeat the process. When you do not actively correct unwanted behavior, you are encouraging it and possibly causing its escalation. Rolling the dog and keeping her submissive creates a calm state of mind. That's what you want to create. A calm, submissive dog. But acting with anger or even as little as frustration, you cause her to be anxious there by causing more nervousness. This is dangerous as an over stressed dog can become and aggressive one.
When you get the dog to trust you (the above mentioned action is NOT the be all and end all of this), then you can reintroduce the leash. You have made the leash a trigger for anxiety. You need to break that down and rebuild her ideas of the world. Dog's mental trauma is different from human's.
That's just my two cents given what you've written, but don't just take my advice of the advice from people who have never seen the dog or seen how you interact with the dog. Consult with a professional. Watching a several episodes of the Dog Whisperer might also help.
And don't fall into the trap of "if I don't teach the dog now, then she'll never EVAR learn!" This is untrue. Any dog of any age can be taught new tricks so long as you are a good pack leader.
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Post by The Jenn on Mar 14, 2010 21:00:14 GMT -5
+1 to what Satra said. Bigtime. Cesar Milan is an excellent trainer to watch in action due to his naturally calm, assertive state of being around dogs. His advice is excellent and he really tries to help people understand the psychology behind a lot of the behavior.
I'd also consider enrolling her in puppy obedience/training courses as soon as she's eligible. They're a great way to help the dog-owner bond if you have a good class, as well as consulting with dog-knowledgeable people and giving her a chance to interact with other dogs.
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Post by Nako on Mar 18, 2010 17:20:36 GMT -5
Also, for a dog that age she cannot hold her bladder for long. Is the back yard fenced in? Take her outside every hour to see if she'll pee. You might have to spend 10 minutes or longer outside. If the weather is bad, obviously don't stay out that long but keep trying anyways.
Also with the leash, when you eventually reintroduce it, do not use the leash as a correction tool this young. When I brought Eddie home I let her walk anywhere she wanted to go with the leash. If I wanted her to go anywhere, I'd call her over with treats and whistles and calling her name instead of pulling with the leash.
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