It's been two weeks now since I brought my chocolate lab pup home. Crate training seems to be going well, aside from a couple of accidents in his crate during the first two days.
I have yet to let the pup roam free in the home, so in order to give him some free space while he's inside I've built him a 25sq ft. play area and it's located in the living room where someone is always around. Problem is I don't think I socialized him with the area properly. As I'm typing this hes shredding up the newspapers I've laid down and occasionally he'll have a barking tantrum.
When I place him inside the area I reward him with a treat and ensure that there's a toy inside for him to play with. Despite these measures he'll occasionally pee in there or have a whining tantrum. Some methods I've attempted to employ are to play with him for a brief period or stand close by so as not to make him feel lonely - despite this the issue persists.
The only place he seems content with is hanging out in the backyard (which is small mind you) or playing with me in the living room.
So essentially:
1. Despite what I've tried doing, how do I get him to enjoy the space>
2. How can I get him to stop peeing in there. I take him out into the backyard at least once an hour yet there will be the odd time where he'll release.
I have worked fairly closely with a dog trainer, and you are doing a few things wrong. I know many disagree, but the best punishment for a puppy is a good wack with a newspaper. There is little to no pain, its more of an emotional thing. They know you are displeased with them, or even angry. Puppy's desperately seek two things from their masters. Love and to give loyalty.
I would suggest that when you catch him peeing or within minutes after the fact, you give him a stern NO, and a good swat. Be consistant in whatever you are doing. If you want an allotted time which you will play with him, do so each day and ignore his whining. Over time the whining will stop.
The person I have worked with in the past train's the dogs for the blind. They train labs mostly. They react to your mood effectively. Positive reinforcement is a good thing but it can only go so far, as the puppies will tend to try to keep pushing the boundaries, which is where you need to draw the line with negative punishment. The puppy doesn't need to be let out to pee every hour. It seems to work best if they are let out certain times of the day. If you puppy doesn't use that time to go to the bathroom, bring him back in and punish him if he goes inside.
Often puppies will pee inside to gain more attention. Giving them more will not solve the problem because it teaches them that they can do that when they seek attention. Over a couple weeks of consistent training like this, he will learn that outside is the only place to go, and when you take him out, it is time for him to go.
If it doesn't hurt and is an 'emotional thing' for the pup (like the previous posted indicated) than why bother? A firm 'No' will work. It just takes time to potty train, some take to it right away and others take a little longer.
He's a ten week old puppy. Stop confusing him. Why do you put the papers down if not for him to shred and use the bathroom on?
If people are in the house make sure that he is taken outside frequently. Less than an hour between trips and make sure he urinates out there. As he grows so will his bladder and the amount of time he can go between potty breaks.
He is bored and lonely. Even at ten weeks of age he needs mental stimulation and he needs emotional support of his 'pack'. Give him an interactive toy like a kong that you put treats in. At regular intervals give him a petting and a different toy. Leave him alone if he is asleep (unless it is potty time). Increase the time away from him as he settles in. Do not pet him or give him attention if he is whining. However, the second he stops pet him. Once again increasing the time as he learns what you want him to do.
I really don't want to pay for your time in prison for child abuse.
If you'd like to know what a rolled up newspaper feels like to a 10 week old Lab, have someone take a whiffle ball bat to your nose at about 50mph, batting cage speed. It probably won't injure you. Or you could take a tap from anything that weighs 10 - 15% of your body weight.
There is a place for negative reinforcement in dog training. There is not a place for violence. Who's your friend the trainer, Michael Vick?
Mr. Toronto, see Cat 1864's synopsis of training. The negative reinforcement comes from denial of attention, not "getting his attention."
Where you raised in the 1930's when they still thought this was okay? There are laws to protect animals now because scientists discovered that animals (brace yourself) can feel!
It makes me so mad when people come to the dog forum and tell someone to hit their dog. No, no, no, no, no! NO!
If you want a scared, untrusting, aggressive dog, and you want to end up paying a fine or going to jail, then that's the way to do it. If you want a companion, an animal that trusts you, obeys you, loves you, then this is the worst thing you can do.
I will admit, hitting your dog will stop him from his bad behavior, but only because he's afraid of you, not because you trained him.
A dog doesn't understand being hit. It doesn't understand when you yell at him. Those are human emotions, not dog emotions, and until you start treating your dog like a dog, you won't have any luck.
I have three dogs, and I've never raised my hand to any of them. The youngest is a beagle, he's 1 year old. They're notorious for being stubborn and hard to train.
He's 1 year old now and the perfect pup. There were some hard times, potty training didn't go as quickly as it did with the lab and the border collie, but we stuck by it and now he's fine.
The law does not define abuse as "Don't Hit" but rather "intentionally causes serious physical injury to a companion animal with aggravated cruelty" NYCCS.
I have never beaten an animal. I don't condone beating. I don't like cruelty. But as a matter of opinion, I find nothing wrong with a firm swat with a newspaper on an animals rump.
The animals I have personally trained and have worked with in the past cannot have any room for error. Some are guiding blind people around, and others are used for hunting. They have to obey at all costs, sometimes it is a matter of life and death. A good number of these dogs end up walking the streets of NYC or Atlanta.
I am sorry if this displeases you, but if you want a dog to obey no matter what, that is what I would recommend. If you want a dog that can do a few tricks, not pee in the house, and is fun to cuddle with...then it isn't necessary, however you will find that these can be more quickly achieved.
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