Vitoand Shelby

Hi everyone! I'm hoping that someone here could give me a little bit of advice on some tricky house breaking issues with my 8-10 month old English Bulldog.

A bit of Shelby's backstory.... Shelby came to us as a rescue after spending the first 6-8 (we haven't gotten an accurate age on her, I'd guess older simply because she hasn't grown since we have had her) months of her life being crated nearly 24/7. She has some issues due to lack of socialization and some fear of new places, but we are working through those. I wouldn't go out and say that she was absolutely abused....but the fact that she was neglected has left her fairly skittish. She is getting more confident every day.

The problem that I have is her lack of normal bathroom behaviors. I also have a 9 year old pit bull and have fostered many other dogs, so I have a decent knowledge of dog training. But this one has me stumped! She is gated in the kitchen with a pee pad while we are sleeping or at work, but she has no problem peeing on her bed or the floor, then laying in it. I have no idea how to get her to stop laying in her pee.When we are home, she still has full access to the kitchen pee pad, and of course we walk her after meals, play, etc. but she will pee on our couch, our bed, or the carpet. If we catch her, we scold her. And of course when she goes in the correct place, she gets praise and treats.

I am familiar with crate training, of course...but I don't think that it is the answer for Shelby. She is totally fine with laying in her in mess, and the times that she does go in the house, we are usually with in a few feet of her (she's a quick little thing lol).

My gut instinct is that this is just a time thing and it will get better if we just keep doing what we are doing, but I wanted to check and see if anyone had any advice for Shelby's issues. Thank you!

Bigboy

Hio Vito and Shelby and welcome aboard to Df Kudos to you for rescuing Shelby I am with you on the crate thing I don't think it will help with Shelby's problems and if a dog is trained properly he/she shouldn't need a crate unless it's for taking the dog to a vets etc. Any way regarding your current problem please do not scold her for going in the house as it's not here fault she doesn't know anything different (and wiil find some where like behind a chair to go instead as she has been crated in past 24/7so it's back to basics as though she was a 8 week old pup regular trips outside for potty and you know the rest Good luck and please keep us informed on Shelby's progress!

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DeeLind7

Welcome to the Forum! Kudos to you for taking her in. We do have professional trainers on this Forum that I'm sure will have some great suggestions for you. I would say that I would not scold her at all. She has been living in a crate 24x7 for quite some time, and she has no clue that what she's doing is wrong. To her, it is totally acceptable. She has to be trained to go potty where you want her to. I would also suggest that when you are at home with her, put her on a leash by your side. As soon as she displays and behavior that she needs to potty, take her outside, and then give her praises and treats after she goes. I'd also get rid of the pee pads. It's going to make it harder for her to understand that she should be going outside and no where else in the house. The pee pads will only tell her it's ok to go inside the house.
How long have you had her? And, we love pictures!

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Vitoand Shelby

Thank you both for the responses!

This may sound ignorant...but I have some questions about the no scolding training method.

My pit, Vito, is 9 (well 9 on Tuesday. Happy birthday buddy! lol). He was trained using the "Leader of the Pack" training method. The ideaology was that I, as pack alpha, would always be firm but fair. He was taught consistantly what was acceptable behavior through both positive (treats and praise) and negative (scolding, shaking a can of coins, a spray bottle)reinforcement. "Scolding" has always been a forceful "No bad dog, no" when caught in the act. It is not large amounts of screaming or anything like that. And the dog is always forgiven for said infraction right away. Isn't it a disservice to the dog to not teach wrong in addition to right?

Would a no scolding training method remove all negative reinforcement? We use the can of coins when she "table dances" (jumps on our coffee table and knocks everything off lol)

I am open to new training methods, I guess I just don't really understand this one.

Vitoand Shelby

DeeLind, we have had her for around 3 months now. I'm not a huge fan of the pee pads either, unfortunately we resorted to them because she will not potty outside in the rain or snow. The way we have been going about training is peeing in the kitchen is nuetral. We do not react to it. Outside gets lots of praise and a treat, and on the couch, carpet, bed is negative.

I understand that accidents will happen, but these are bad choices on her part. This morning, during family cuddle time, she got out of bed...walked to the kitchen, then walked right back into our room and peed on our bed. I know that this is not spite or anything like that. Could it be marking??? Her and Vito are best buds (they are snuggling right next to me right now), but maybe she feels the need to claim things as hers? She is spayed, but we don't know how old she was when fixed. Vito is also fixed.

I'm still learing the works of this forum, but I will totally add some pics of my babies!!!

Bigboy

Well for one you could have a place area (which maybe a mat or blanket etc) whch she must go on when you are eating at the table etc this is much kinder and quite easy to do I gave a mat for my girl (see Avator!) and she now 6 I just go to your mat and ways she goes and follow through with firm stay or use a hand signal with 3 fingers up in the air and say stay again you don't have to use a hand signal but I believe it it reinforces the verbal comands and works for me So no bottles etc as while these work she may over time get used to it and then it no longer works! Good luck and let us know how you get on

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Bigboy

Hi If you are neutral about her peeing in kitchen but don't want her to pee on your couch/bed then she is going to end up more confused it has to be ouside so when it's raining/snowing make it really fun so she makes the association with the bad weather as a fun thing! Dog's think by using association teqcniques tso the more fun you make a bad situation like fireworks for eg and you start playing with a dog that has issues regarding fireworks the dog will learn that when fireworks go off fun things happen

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" Iam chillin with the forum! "

Thanks Monkey! I been fleeced Thanks Skunkstripe. Dave

ATB!

Vitoand Shelby

Would her blanket be like a time out for unacceptable behavior? Vito does have a similar command...we say "go to your buddy spot" which means lay at my feet. Works for him. I also use hand signals with him and intend to with Shelby.

If you remove negative responses, how do you stop a behavior in its tracks? Like if she is caught peeing or standing on the table or tearing something apart? I do not want to scold her, but I do want her to know right from wrong, as Vito does.

JGLI

This link should be of help to you:

Dog Tip: Housetraining

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DeeLind7

Hopefully a professional trainer from the Forum will log on this evening and give you great tips. I am not a professional, so all I can offer is my opinion. Dogs don't know right from wrong. All they know is what behavior is acceptable. That direction and training comes from the dog owner. In your case, you have a dog that was crated 24x7 and probably has not had any formal training at all. She does not know that peeing on a bed is a bad choice. You will have to start from square one with her. Just like she was an 8 to 10 week old puppy. I'm sure it must be confusing for her right now. She's trying to get used to a new house, new people, another dog. As far as peeing on the bed as a form of marking, I can't answer that question at all. I'm sure someone here can give you better insight on that issue. I can't wait to see some pictures of your babies.

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