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Date Posted: 17:39:28 01/18/05 Tue
Author: Kristin
Author Host/IP: 66.19.102.102
Subject: Re: Housebreaking a Deaf Boxer Puppy
In reply to: Rick 's message, "Re: Housebreaking a Deaf Boxer Puppy" on 16:56:05 01/18/05 Tue

Hi Rick,

Is he neutered?

I understand the not being able to afford a trainer thing. What I suggest is that you get the potty training book from Petsmart. Also, I'd recommend you get the KISS Dog Training Book. I don't know the full name of the book, but it's in the KISS series, and it's for general dog training. It's a mostly red book, and rather large. However, it's an easy read with lots of pictures and good info. For someone dealing with a dog who needs training but cannot afford a trainer, this is a next best option.

Since your boxer is acting out some, I would suggest he not be allowed to sleep in your daughter's bed at this time. There's a thought among trainers and behaviorists that when we allow dogs to sleep in the bed with us, we're telling them that they're equal to us as far as pack hierarchy goes. (I'm assuming you know that dogs have a pack hierarch that goes from top dog down. You must be top dog.) If our dogs don't view us as top dog, or they think they're equal to us, they have no problems acting out, including peeing in the house when they want.

I only let the dogs that don't show dominance behaviors toward me sleep in my bed. Currently, my deaf sheltie is spending his nights in a crate. I had him sleeping in my bed for a few weeks, and he started showing dominant behaviors toward me. These behaviors include any growling, snipping, pushing, protecting food/toys, herding his people, etc. I think Jericho started herding me, and so he found himself back in the crate at night. He's better again, but I'm keeping him in his crate until he's around two and a half.

My other dogs all spent the first year of their life in their crates at night. I do keep the crate in my bedroom, though, so I can hear if they get into any distress. After they turn a year old, I quit crating them at night. They may sleep in my bed or on the floor of my bedroom. My other two dogs have never challenged my authority, so they continue to have the reward of sleeping out of the crate. I recommend keeping your dog crated at night for a year to really send the message to the dog as to who's in charge of the house.

I'm glad you're only correcting when you catch him in the act. Good job. Also add a hand signal "NO!" to your No face when you catch him being bad. I use a fist. You can learn to "yell" with your fist by shaking it harder when you're more serious and upset. Of course, never use the fist to hit the dog. This won't work...there's a reason why, but I won't go into it (too long). You'll end up with more potty training problems if you spank for this bad behavior.

Also, get a squirt bottle. Get a small one (or a water gun), and carry it with you. Velcro it onto your belt loop or put it in your pocket. Hide it under your untucked shirt, though, as you don't want the dog to know if you're "armed" or not. Along with the "NO" face and hand signal, squirt your dog for being peeing. Now, some dogs really like being squirted, so if he doesn't seem to mind this, or even likes it, quit it. It won't work. Some trainers say use vinegar water in the water bottle, and squirt the dog. This can cause blindness, so don't do it. Only water in the water bottle. You can use the squirt bottle in conjunction with your fist and No face whenever he's being bad.

What he needs is a bigger consequence for being bad than just a no face. However, it has to be something that isn't so big as to cause damage to his psyche. Squirting water is a great tool for the dogs that hate it. If water doesn't affect him, let me know. I'll give you another idea.

Also, is he peeing in his crate? This is important for me to know as well.

Try the above - get the books - and let me know how he's doing. Also, let me know now if he's peeing in his crate and if he's neutered. Also, is he peeing in the same spots, or just where ever?

Good luck,

Kristin




>Thanks for helping me! I am the same Rick. I need to
>let you know that I have had a boxer in the past and I
>love animals in general. I can't afford a trainer ,
>but will not let my puppy go either. I love him very
>much and want him to be happy and healthy.
>Now to answer your questions - 1-We correct only when
>we catch him in the act / We show him our NO face and
>take him outside right away 2- He stays in a large
>crate when we are gone and seems to like it - He uses
>it when we are home and he is free to come and go in
>it.3-We are gone during the day 3 to 5 Hrs. at a
>time4- He sleeps in the bed with my daughter.>Hi Rick,
>>
>>My first bit of advice would be to see your vet.
>>Sometimes, inability to housebreak can be caused by a
>>medical problem. It's best to rule that out first.
>>
>>Second, is your dog neutered? At 8.5 months, puppies
>>are already sexually mature. Unneutered dogs will
>>begin marking at about six months of age. Marking is
>>where a dog will pee small amounts of urnine often,
>>marking his territory. Neutering should greatly help
>>this problem.
>>
>>Also, you didn't mention how you are correcting the
>>problem. Give us an idea of what you're doing to stop
>>the behavior.
>>
>>There's a great book at Petsmart that costs only $5 on
>>potty training. You can find it near the Petsmart
>>training area, and it's really good. It's a small
>>book called something like, "Potty Training is
>>Possible." I used the philosophy behind that book to
>>potty train my last two shelties, including my deaf
>>one. I really like it. It's a very easy read, and
>>won't take you long at all to go through the whole
>>book. Go out and get it.
>>
>>Most potty training problems occur because we aren't
>>consistant in our training efforts with our puppy.
>>It's hard to potty train a dog and takes a lot of work
>>on our part.
>>
>>Let me know how you're currently correcting your dog
>>when he goes. Also, when are you correcting the bad
>>behavior? Are you correcting after the fact or during
>>the event? Also, where does the dog live when you're
>>not home? Where do you want to puppy to go to the
>>bathroom? Outdoors? Are you paper training? (I hope
>>not with a big boxer!) How long are you gone during
>>the days? Where does he sleep at night?
>>
>>Lack of potty training is the number one reason dogs
>>wind up in the shelter, so it is a very serious issue.
>> However, it's also fixable with proper training.
>>
>>I think you may be the Rick that wrote earlier about
>>the hyperactive boxer. How is is doing? Have you
>>found a good trainer? A good trainer will also help
>>you with potty training issues.
>>
>>One more thing, I'm not a fan of limiting water supply
>>to dogs because of the potential for dehydration. The
>>"Potty Training is Possible" book lists this as
>>something to do, but I really am concerned about doing
>>that to dogs. My dogs have access to water 24/7, and
>>during potty training, I just keep my eye and ear on
>>them for when they drink. Shortly after drinking,
>>un-potty trained dogs will need to go outside.
>>
>>Let us know how he's doing.
>>
>>-Kristin
>>
>>
>>
>>>We have a sweet 8.5 month old deaf boxer puppy.
>>>He is taking hand commands and is doing well in all
>of
>>>his traing and learning. EXCEPT he pees constantly,
>>>I'm talking 2 or 3 times an hour.We tried cutting
>back
>>>on his fluid intake but that did'nt work. That's bad
>>>enough but now he is starting to look us in the eye
>>>and pee on the carpet,bed or furniture. Where ever he
>>>is --- It's like he is upset with us and acting out--
>>>but this behavior has been going on since we got him
>>>at 5.5 mths. .Can someone please help me with this
>>>problem.

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