My New Pup - Page 2

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by susie on 05 February 2014 - 23:02

Cute pup, and an interesting bloodline far away from the current "trend".

by Cayennturbo on 06 February 2014 - 02:02

Beautiful pup!!! Please share how you taught her to bark at door! I'm getting a pup soon and I would love to teach him that.

by jc.carroll on 07 February 2014 - 00:02

Thankyou, everyone, for the compliments! Her bloodlines are one of my favorite things, Don Iris & Sven Grafental free. Don't get me wrong, both dogs are fine animals. I have a Don grand-daughter who lives with a good friend, and excellent trainer (Jonny Irwin) in Idaho. That female is Cora v Nordosten Haus. Mike Carroll, owner of Vom Nordosten Haus and I have a bit of a history *grins* -- Anhow, I didn't actually teach Lyra to bark at the door, she taught herself that one. It started because every time she looked like she was going to go, I'd scoop her up and say "outside!" as I put her out. Vigilance helps though, and crating. Whenever I can't watch her, she goes in her crate. If she cries, I scoop her up and put her out, while cheerfully exclaiming "outside!" and, of course, praising her when she goes. It didn't take too long for her to make the connections: door=outside=potty, and noise=outside=potty. By rewarding and marking these two behaviors, she was able to learn that going to the door, and barking if I don't notice her, will get her out. It also doesn't hurt that I now live in IL, and the winter's been pretty fierce. When she goes out, she knows I'll let her in -after- she goes... And not wanting to stay outside too long she goes right away. If she doesn't go though, I bring her back in, and keep a close eye on her. I also let my dogs out one at a time, so they can potty in peace. I don't want her getting in the habit of cueing to go outside just to fritter about or be distracted by the big dogs. I work a full-time job as a Vet Tech, occasionally 12+ hour days (6hr shifts, and running home at lunch to let the dogs out). Potty time must be efficiently used, lol. --- Part of what's also helped in Lyra's housebreaking is that I take her to work with me, keep her in a small kennel, and let her out regularly like I do with the patients. This encourages her to hold it until she gets her turn in the outside runs. The cleaner you can keep a puppy and his/her environment, he quicker they'll housebreak. Most all dogs will chose to stay clean, given the choice. If they are left in messes, that's when housebreaking can become difficult, because the dog's already accepted his mess as an unavoidable part of his environment, and is less discriminating about when he/she goes.

by fawndallas on 07 February 2014 - 04:02

Cute and great advise on housebreaking. The bell works wonders too. I taught my girl Rose that for my husband's sake. The other dogs picked it up from her (cat too). Sometimes my house sounds like a bell house.