Puppy Training?
Filed under Care & Training Q&As
I have 6 month old Hava-Ton (Coton De Tulear/Havanese Hybrid Puppy) and she is VERY stubborn. If she gets on top of a table and we tell her “off, bad dog, off!” She doesn’t budge! We have also had trouble potty training, and if she gets upstairs she goes potty on the carpet, even though we have had it treated for the smell. We have tried MANY times to potty train her and train her in general. Any tips of how to break her stubbornness and get her trained? Also, we do not believe in harsh punishments, like choke collars, shock collars, stepping on paws, or sticking her nose in an accident. Thanks in advanced!!!
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I may be only one of five people in the world, but I hate “crate training” ugh. Why is the solution to stick your poor pup in a cage?
D
Instead… This is how I potty trained my pup (he’s 2 months old, and the last time he pottied in the house, it really was an accident, b/c I wasn’t paying enough attention) …just keep an eye on her, if she’s headed toward somewhere she usually potties inside, follow her, and if she squats, pick her up (or you can hold her by her collar) and take her outside. There’s no need to say anything to her at this point, no need for repremanding or anything like that. Once you’re outside, you should put her in the grass, and ask her to potty outside. When she does (which she will b/c she was ready to go inside) praise her, and tell her how good she is for going potty outside. When you get back inside, you can give her a treat, and tell her it’s for going potty outside. (I give it to my pup after we’re inside so he knows that he has to complete the entire process before getting something tasty)
Also, you’ll get pretty good at telling when she needs to potty, so if you sense that she might, just ask her, “(her name) You need to go potty outside?” and take her out. Encourage her, praise her, etc… Sometimes I’ll randomly ask my pup if he needs to, just because I think it’s been too long since he last went.
I’d use the same kind of concept for the jumping on the table thing. If you see she’s about to, discourage her from getting up there (I make a noise in the back of my throat, sounds like ‘eeh ehh’ to get my pup’s attention, then I shake my head with a raised eyebrow, and point to the floor, and say “stay down.” or “stay off the table.”) Dogs are experts at reading body language, so I’d suggest using that to your advantage, and mean what you say with every inch of your body. If she’s already in the process of getting on the table, do the same thing, get her attention, and tell her, “get down off my table!” …when mine’s in trouble, I call him “sir” (for whatever reason, I don’t know, but I do it consistently and now he knows that means he shoudl reevaluate what he’s doing). She may need your guidance, if so, you can pull her off the table, back onto the floor she jumped up from.
Once she is down, praise her, and tell her how good she is, “(name) you’re such a good girl, staying down from the table, good, good girl!”
I think it’s really important to focus on the good stuff our pups do, and kind of ignore the not-so-good stuff. I’ve found that positive reinforcement works the best.
The only time I’ve “punished” my pup is if he needs to pay attention, and just isn’t getting it. Then I give him a little slap on the rear (gentle, yet with force; getting a shot would hurt him a lot more) and continue to tell him what I need him to know. But then he does it, and I get to praise him and give him hugs.
Good luck!!!
She is a mutt, not a breed regardless of what poor quality representatives of a breed were irresponsibly put together to make a mutt were used.
As far as training, most of it will be dependent upon YOUR being trained and being capable of properly interacting with and training your dog. You need to go to a good obedience class and learn how to do this – not one class but likely several. It isn’t about the collar or any of that and she isn’t ‘stubborn’ you are simply ignorant in how to train a dog and she is likely smart enough to realize it. You let her on the table to begin with…. duh… she doesn’t KNOW what ‘off, bad dog, off’ means – that is HUMAN language and dogs don’t KNOW human language. They learn through training and dear, you don’t have a clue. What you don’t believe in seems to actually be knowing what you are doing. Please stop blamming the dog for your ignorance in dealing with one.
She is doing precisely what you are training her to do and simply because you are not aware of that shows that you really need some training yourself.
You have to teach the dog that you are the boss, not her. Start by teaching her “no” (yes, dogs will learn what it means). When disciplining, use a deep voice, when rewarding, use a high voice. Dogs do react to the tone. Just remember, you have to be consistant. If she gets on the table at one time (maybe even when you aren’t home), she will think its ok if no one punishes her. There are a lot of books and internet sites about dog training. The best thing for you would be to find a trainer. There are a lot of good, moderately priced beginner classes out there. This will teach her basic commands like sit, stay, leave it, quiet, etc., but most importantly it will teach her that you are the alpha, not her and will set the way for you to train her about anything else you want.
Do you have a crate if not get one when you can’t watch the puppy crate her, it is also important in house training,if she goes out and goes she earns her freedom for a while as long as you can keep an eye on her if she doesn’t go then she is in the crate for another hour or so and let out again repeat as often as necessary. As far as being on the table how did that happen in the first place. If she can’t be trusted when loose in the house– get a lead – attach to her collar and tie lead around your waist or belt loop and keep her tied to you so you will be aware of what she is doing and stop unwanted behavior before it starts. Reward her with a small treat and lots of praise when she preforms as required. Find a good
Obedience Class and go. Training class is very important for you, your family and your puppy.
GOOD LUCK
In my experience crate training is the fastest surest way to housebreak a pup. The crate should be just big enough for her to stand up, turn around and lay down in. Whenever she’s out of the crate she needs to be supervised. First give her a chance to go potty where you want her to and when she does praise her hugely and then play with her awhile.
Begin with obedience training to deal with her stubborness, it’s really just good communication. She’s not being defiant she is not understanding you. It takes time and patience but your work will be well rewarded. If she is on top of a table just take her off and calmly say no. Do not deal with her in a temper or correct her in anger. Good luck!
Try training her with treats, when shes on the table throw a treat onto the floor, she should get off, once you have done this for a short period, use the word ‘off’ or whatever word you choose to use, (but stick with the same word).
You need to regularly take her outside to go to the toilet. This could be every five minutes or more longer, just depends. Give her a treat when she does this, then you can introduce the word ‘toilet; or pee ect.
Dogs do not understand words, unless you train them.
Hope Ive helped.
I was told by a trainer that dogs don’t understand no at all. The only thing they react to is the tone in your voice. So until you find a noise that startles her try coaxing her off the table with a treat and give it to her once she’s off and give her tons of praise. As far as potty training have you tried crate training? I think it’s a god send.
Puppy are so hard to train sometimes. I do believe that crate training is a very successful way to get your point across. Also, like someone said before me giving her a treat when she does what you say does work also.. they will do whatever they need to do to get a little treat but after the first couple days back off giving her a treat every time and reward her with hugs and applauds.. When she does do something bad push her down and ignore her… She will realize the only way to get your attention is when she is doing something good.. Also, use the same word all the time. AND when she does something bad don’t say her name. Only say her name for good things.. thats what the trainers say..
Maybe even get her some basic training classes..
Good luck.
I would suggest you to crate train him. As i believe crate training is the most effective way to train puppy.
When starting to crate training a dog, you must decorate the crate as a place which is comfortable to rest and attractive to your dogs. Presume the crate as the bedroom for your dog, bedroom which will be attractive to your dog to stay there for longer period of time.
I would recommend starting crate training a dog by playing and giving full attention to them before putting them into the crate. When they are tired of playing and feel like resting they will stay quite and rest in the crate. And they will understand crate as their ‘bedroom’ to rest and relax. And start to enjoy and rest while staying in the crate.
During the initially stage of crate training a dog, do not let them stay in the crate for more than two hours for the first few weeks of training. Because dogs are playful as they might get bored easily! Give them some time to adapt to this new environment. After some period of training your dog, they will get used to it and you can leave them in the crate for longer period of time.
Training your dog and how to attract your dog to get into and stay in the crate?
First, I would suggest you to attract them by putting some toys in the crate which will ease their boredom and increase the capability of adapting. Give them or reward them with some treats which will be eye-catching to them! Reward them with their favorite treats. Remember, rewarding during dog training is very important as by rewarding your dogs will only feel attracting to follow your instructions.
How to “invite” your dogs into the crate?
Prepare dog training treats; pitch the treat into the crate which will attract him to jump into the crate. When crate training a dog, choose a word that will be consistent such as “inside” or “kennel”, where slowly they will understand the word “ inside” or “kennel” to be “inside/kennel” + “ crate” will is equivalent to “ treat” which is appealing to them! Whenever you shout the word “inside/kennel” they will be waiting for their treats inside the crate! Great job, these make training your dog job easy and let your dog enjoy!
After getting into the crate how to make them stay in the crate for a period of time? This is another issue that you might need to learn and understand. Leave toys, blanket, or snack bones which can grab their attention for some time, to bite, chew or cleaning. Dogs can bite a toy for some period of time, they are addicting to biting the toys and will keep on enjoy biting it without feeling bored! But, do not give them all the toys they used to have as dogs are easily get bored, you might want to varies the toys or snacks which will be always appealing to them!
Dog owners do remember crate is not the magical solution. Do not crate your dogs all day long. As they will feel trapped and frustrated. Dogs do have physical and emotional needs that crating will not solved it. So, crate training a dog and let them enjoy the training.