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Question:

I have similiar problems to this… only reversed… it’s my husband and housebreaking.  My Pom pup does very well with me… tells me she needs out, goes out does her business, gets praised.  She follows me around the house and doesn’t get into trouble.  But when I work, I come home & hear "your dog pooped on the carpet 3 times… etc…etc…. "  I’m trying to train him to work with her like I do when I’m home with her.  I tell him to take her out every so often & to watch her, keep her with him… and if he’s doing something where he can’t, to crate her… hopefully in due time they’ll both catch on.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Rick writes: >Ok, here is the story.  Razz(15 week black lab female) is home during >the >day with my wife.  She is usually in a puppy pen in the kitchen which is >about 6ft in diameter.  When we are not in the immediate vicinity she is >in >her crate.  Here is the problem.  Whenever my wife is not paying >specific >attention to her, she yips and barks. allowed > out of her pen at all? > I don’t keep puppies this confined.  They get crated when I sleep and when I’m > gone, possibly when I shower.  Otherwise they are WITH ME at all times – > regardless of what I’m doing.  If I’m doing something that could be dangerous > to them (mowing the lawn, using power tools, using toxic subtances), they are > confined close to me if possible, by gate or crate, or leash. > .  Any help out there?  Rick >P.S. – Knock on wood, but we have been 3 days without a peeing >accident!  I >actually resorted to giving her a treat on top of immense amounts of >praise >and it appears that it might be working!   Rick. be > pleasantly surprised. > Janet Boss > Best Friends Dog Obedience > "Nice Manners for the Family Pet" > "Second-hand dogs AREN’T second-rate" > Filtered Bliss – AHH……

Response:

> She does get A LOT of attention during the day.  Many Many tosses of the > Frisbee.  The problem is that my wife is not the dog person in the house. I > will try talking her into doing the "clip to your belt" thing.  This probably > will not work, since Razz will probably just sit and chew on the leash. My wife > gets so mad, when she walks our son down to the bus stop she brings Razz and > Razz spends the entire time trying to anything and everything off the road!  My > wife does understand that she is just a puppy, but she really hates spending her > time Noing the dog about everything.  Rick.

Hi Rick, Not sure what’s happening with the walk down to bus stop – Is your 15 week pup pulling on the lead?  Is there heavy traffic? Have you spent time getting pup used to being on the lead before taking out? Clip to your belt thing? Noing the dog about everything could be part of the problem. Have pasted an article written for puppy group – it may help: Puppy Calming, Bonding & Grooming Puppies between 8 – 16 weeks Marilyn Rammell MBIPDT All new experiences are stressful to our new puppy – we need to release the stress and create a calm atmosphere on these occasions. Yelling and shouting ‘No’ when puppy growls, barks or yelps will create behaviour problems for the future. I’ve heard people say     "My puppy grabs my clothes and tries to bite me", or "My puppy chews his lead", or "My puppy messes, even after we’ve just taken him out, or "My puppy won’t settle down and drives us crazy", or "My puppy squeals and yelps every-time we go to the vets, and/or when we go out", All these (and many others) are signs of ‘anxiety’, and that your puppy needs your help and understanding. All training procedures for the above are covered in our articles relating to their specific subject. However, until we begin training, never yell at your puppy and NEVER ever hit your puppy/dog. Calming Puppy when showing signs of anxiety: Knowing how to calm your puppy is the first step to avoid and/or address anxiety. Never show you are angry with your pup – s/he is just a baby. Calmly and confidently cradle your pup using your left arm and gently stroke his chest with your right hand. Speak soothingly to your pup – GOOOOOD,   GOOOOOD,  and then praise your pup. Continue until pup is calm. (Remember this is a suggestion for new puppies up to 16 weeks) There is plenty of time to ‘train’ your pup, using distraction once a little older. Keep in mind your pup could be teething – soothe by gently rubbing baby gel onto gums. It may seem unreasonable to have to devote the time necessary to a pup that needs to feel secure – however this is one of the requirements in rearing a baby and has to be considered before taking on such a responsibility. Bonding & Grooming: Bonding with your puppy is so important.  There are many ways, but probably and apart from being practical, the best is to groom puppy every day – quality time with puppy. Make sure the brush you use is kind (not one with spiky sharp teeth), but one that does the job however – Plastic or rubber is good. Playtime is essential – a hearty game of tug of war, or fetch. Talk to your pup – communication’s important – doesn’t matter what you say – just talk. Also, a cuddle first thing in the morning, and last thing at night – . Regards, Marilyn Rammell http://www.angelfire.com/mb/dogtraining/homepage.html

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> allowed > >out of her pen at all? > >I don’t keep puppies this confined.  They get crated when I sleep and when > I’m > >gone, possibly when I shower.  Otherwise they are WITH ME at all times – > >regardless of what I’m doing.  If I’m doing something that could be > dangerous > >to them (mowing the lawn, using power tools, using toxic subtances), they > are > >confined close to me if possible, by gate or crate, or leash. > >.  Any help out there?  Rick > >>P.S. – Knock on wood, but we have been 3 days without a peeing > >>accident!  I > >>actually resorted to giving her a treat on top of immense amounts of > >>praise > >>and it appears that it might be working!   Rick. > I have a 5 month old lab who did the same thing.  He went to work with me > during the day.  We had plenty of play and walks, etc. so it wasn’t an issue > of him being incarcerated.  He just wanted the interaction with me to be on > HIS terms.  When I would sit in front of my computer, sit down to read the > paper, cook, — whatever, he would bark at me.  When I ignored him, he would > bite the back of my legs.  He didn’t do this with my husband. > We tried grabbing him by the scruff (as in "I’m the boss, not you, and I > don’t like that"), but it didn’t help — it just got him more wound up (I > guess he thought any attention was good attention ? – who knows). > What DID work was substituting behavior.  Train her that if she sits at your > feet, or lies down, or in other ways calmly pays attention to you that > she’ll get rewarded.  For us, food was the best way (labs will do just about > anything for food).  Carry around some pieces of her food and try to "catch" > her doing the things you like.  If you see her sitting, throw her a piece of > food.  If she’s lying down, throw the food.  And repeat……  Labs are fast > learners.  Don’t give any food or praise for jumping up or barking (don’t > look at her or say anything to her — just walk away).  Only play with her > when YOU initiate it. > Then keep on doing it.  It won’t work overnight.  He still does it > occasionally, but he’s found that doing other things yields far better > results. > And go to a training class! > Good luck > Tamara

Response:

She does get A LOT of attention during the day.  Many Many tosses of the Frisbee.  The problem is that my wife is not the dog person in the house.  I will try talking her into doing the "clip to your belt" thing.  This probably will not work, since Razz will probably just sit and chew on the leash.  My wife gets so mad, when she walks our son down to the bus stop she brings Razz and Razz spends the entire time trying to anything and everything off the road!  My wife does understand that she is just a puppy, but she really hates spending her time Noing the dog about everything.  Rick. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > allowed >out of her pen at all? >I don’t keep puppies this confined.  They get crated when I sleep and when > I’m >gone, possibly when I shower.  Otherwise they are WITH ME at all times – >regardless of what I’m doing.  If I’m doing something that could be > dangerous >to them (mowing the lawn, using power tools, using toxic subtances), they > are >confined close to me if possible, by gate or crate, or leash. >.  Any help out there?  Rick >>P.S. – Knock on wood, but we have been 3 days without a peeing >>accident!  I >>actually resorted to giving her a treat on top of immense amounts of >>praise >>and it appears that it might be working!   Rick. > I have a 5 month old lab who did the same thing.  He went to work with me > during the day.  We had plenty of play and walks, etc. so it wasn’t an issue > of him being incarcerated.  He just wanted the interaction with me to be on > HIS terms.  When I would sit in front of my computer, sit down to read the > paper, cook, — whatever, he would bark at me.  When I ignored him, he would > bite the back of my legs.  He didn’t do this with my husband. > We tried grabbing him by the scruff (as in "I’m the boss, not you, and I > don’t like that"), but it didn’t help — it just got him more wound up (I > guess he thought any attention was good attention ? – who knows). > What DID work was substituting behavior.  Train her that if she sits at your > feet, or lies down, or in other ways calmly pays attention to you that > she’ll get rewarded.  For us, food was the best way (labs will do just about > anything for food).  Carry around some pieces of her food and try to "catch" > her doing the things you like.  If you see her sitting, throw her a piece of > food.  If she’s lying down, throw the food.  And repeat……  Labs are fast > learners.  Don’t give any food or praise for jumping up or barking (don’t > look at her or say anything to her — just walk away).  Only play with her > when YOU initiate it. > Then keep on doing it.  It won’t work overnight.  He still does it > occasionally, but he’s found that doing other things yields far better > results. > And go to a training class! > Good luck > Tamara

Response:

Ok, here is the story.  Razz(15 week black lab female) is home during the day with my wife.  She is usually in a puppy pen in the kitchen which is about 6ft in diameter.  When we are not in the immediate vicinity she is in her crate.  Here is the problem.  Whenever my wife is not paying specific attention to her, she yips and barks.  Now what really ticks my wife off is that she does not do this when I am at home.  We have tried the NO, the ignoring, the squirt bottle, etc.  Any help out there?  Rick P.S. – Knock on wood, but we have been 3 days without a peeing accident!  I actually resorted to giving her a treat on top of immense amounts of praise and it appears that it might be working!   Rick.

Response:

Rick writes: >Ok, here is the story.  Razz(15 week black lab female) is home during >the >day with my wife.  She is usually in a puppy pen in the kitchen which is >about 6ft in diameter.  When we are not in the immediate vicinity she is >in >her crate.  Here is the problem.  Whenever my wife is not paying >specific >attention to her, she yips and barks.

out of her pen at all? I don’t keep puppies this confined.  They get crated when I sleep and when I’m gone, possibly when I shower.  Otherwise they are WITH ME at all times – regardless of what I’m doing.  If I’m doing something that could be dangerous to them (mowing the lawn, using power tools, using toxic subtances), they are confined close to me if possible, by gate or crate, or leash. .  Any help out there?  Rick >P.S. – Knock on wood, but we have been 3 days without a peeing >accident!  I >actually resorted to giving her a treat on top of immense amounts of >praise >and it appears that it might be working!   Rick.

pleasantly surprised.   Janet Boss Best Friends Dog Obedience "Nice Manners for the Family Pet" "Second-hand dogs AREN’T second-rate" Filtered Bliss – AHH……

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – allowed >out of her pen at all? >I don’t keep puppies this confined.  They get crated when I sleep and when I’m >gone, possibly when I shower.  Otherwise they are WITH ME at all times – >regardless of what I’m doing.  If I’m doing something that could be dangerous >to them (mowing the lawn, using power tools, using toxic subtances), they are >confined close to me if possible, by gate or crate, or leash. >.  Any help out there?  Rick >P.S. – Knock on wood, but we have been 3 days without a peeing >accident!  I >actually resorted to giving her a treat on top of immense amounts of >praise >and it appears that it might be working!   Rick.

I have a 5 month old lab who did the same thing.  He went to work with me during the day.  We had plenty of play and walks, etc. so it wasn’t an issue of him being incarcerated.  He just wanted the interaction with me to be on HIS terms.  When I would sit in front of my computer, sit down to read the paper, cook, — whatever, he would bark at me.  When I ignored him, he would bite the back of my legs.  He didn’t do this with my husband. We tried grabbing him by the scruff (as in "I’m the boss, not you, and I don’t like that"), but it didn’t help — it just got him more wound up (I guess he thought any attention was good attention ? – who knows). What DID work was substituting behavior.  Train her that if she sits at your feet, or lies down, or in other ways calmly pays attention to you that she’ll get rewarded.  For us, food was the best way (labs will do just about anything for food).  Carry around some pieces of her food and try to "catch" her doing the things you like.  If you see her sitting, throw her a piece of food.  If she’s lying down, throw the food.  And repeat……  Labs are fast learners.  Don’t give any food or praise for jumping up or barking (don’t look at her or say anything to her — just walk away).  Only play with her when YOU initiate it. Then keep on doing it.  It won’t work overnight.  He still does it occasionally, but he’s found that doing other things yields far better results. And go to a training class! Good luck Tamara

Response: