Having SOME success w/ house-training the dogs

[MissMillie]

There are 4 of them and I've been putting them out 2 at a time.

They are no longer allowed to graze on kibble all day long. They get a treat in the a.m. as they come out of their crates and get hooked up to go out. They go out. When they are all in they get fed and have access to food for 1 hour. They get fed again early evening and have the same time limit.

When they are out I am out with them. When they eliminate I praise them and reward them w/ a treat (left-over chicken, pork, ham, and even steak).

The boys will almost always urinate when they go out. Treat. "Good Boy! Pee! Good Boy!" Pat the head, give lovies. "Good Boy! Pee!"

The girls are not as cooperative, but this morning I put a pee-pad outside and I got one of them to urinate on it. Treat. "Good Girl! Pee! Good Girl!" Pat the head, give lovies. "Good Girl! Pee!" The other one (the older one) hasn't figured it out yet. She comes in the house and urinates on the pee-pad in the house.

None of them have made poo outside.

During the course of today I have only had to mop up the area under the pee-pad in the bathroom ONCE, and only one leg lift. (By this hour I would have mopped up the pee-pad area twice, and I would have had to have wiped up 4 or 5 times.)

I intend to keep up what up doing for now, but by the end of next week, I will remove all pee-pads from the inside of the house.

Tonight when they go out I've asked my guy to go out w/ them and treat them and praise them so that they know that he's happy when they go outside. My guy IS on board, but we both know he needs to be part of the process.

Can't change 6 years of habit in 5 days... but we're plodding on. Maybe by snow-fall we'll have it done.

[fleur-de-lisa]

1. I admire your patience.

[vlyons]

2. Try putting a soiled pee pad outside

Her nose will instantly pick up the oder, and she already knows what the pad is for. Some breeds are harder to house train.

[MissMillie]

3. I actually did that.

I still thinks she needs Daddy's praise. Daddy agrees. He's going to do the evening potty shift.

This is a particularly willful breed (Am. Rat Terriers), and the situation is compounded by the fact that these dogs have had their Daddy for 6 years and he recently went back to work. I think they see me as an enemy. Daddy NEEDS to be a part of this, but thankfully, he knows that.

[Ohiogal]

4. It sounds like you're doing everything right!

I'll bet they'll get it soon! Takes love, patience, and routine, right?

[MissMillie]

5. I love these dogs more than you can imagine

And they were here before I cam here. I just hate having to clean up after them all the time, and I know that their urine is eating up the glue that holds the floors together. They NEED to be trained. And a trained dog is a happy dog. I know that.