Scarlett or I Will Be Sleeping in Pajamas

[Olive600]

And please remember, out really does no good to yell at them or even, in most cases, to correct them when they make the mistake. Doing what's necessary to be able to use positive reinforcement when she does right is the best.

You're absolutely right, Beth. I feel terrible about the times I've lost my cool and yelled or grabbed her. I'm not proud of it, but it's happened. Now that I know more, I'll do better. I even made special potty training treats. Tuna! My house smells like tuna casserole. I read that she should have a special treat that's used only for potty training, so that's what she gets.

[Bethers]

I love tuna casserole. You could sure train me with those treats!

[Olive600]

They smell better than they taste, but Scarlett and Olive love them.

She's been crated all day except for trips outside, so we've had an accident-free day, and I've gotten a few things done around the house.
Thanks to everyone for talking me down off the bridge and for all the good advice.

Nikki

[Acadianmom]

Hope things improve and the tuna treats help. I made some cat crackers with tuna one time and the cats told me that was a waste of good tuna.

Martha

[Olive600]

Thanks, Martha. Things have improved a lot. And thanks to everyone who chimed in. I actually followed directions and what a difference it's made. I won't bore you with the details, but our new routine seems to be working for everyone. It's a combination of crating during the day with potty breaks and potty treats and limited access to water. Today is our third day.

In the evenings, after 4:00 dinner, I don't crate her until it's time to go to sleep. During these hours I enjoy keeping her with me, knowing that I've had all day to do what I want to do. The best part is that she gets only positive reinforcement. I'm not upset with her; I'm getting my chores and projects done; and I get to bond with the dogs during the evening. We all get on the couch where I read and the dogs sleep. It's pretty wonderful. Olive is a lot happier when I'm happy and not scolding Scarlett. Poor Olive thinks I'm scolding her when I do that. Now everybody's happy! Yay!

Nikki

[JoanE]

Yay is right. Glad you are having success.

[monik7]

I'm so glad it's going better Nikki. My Krissi is extremely smart but I have to keep myself from expecting too much of her. They are dogs after all so they're not necessarily going to learn as fast as even a child might. Keeping that in mind, I think, makes for a better training outcome. Keep up the good work!
Sandi

[Cudedog]

Just my two cents. . .

I'm assuming that you don't have a lot of history on Scarlett, if I am off base on this, I apologize in advance.

Have you had Scarlett to the vet's to be sure that she does not have a urinary infection/irritation of some sort?

Urinary tract infection could cause lots of peeing.

There is also submissive urination to think about . . . but you probably have all this covered.

Cudedog

[Olive600]

Thanks, everybody. I think we're making progress.

Cudedog, thanks for the suggestions. You're right, I have no real history on Scarlett, but she has been to the vet twice in the month I've had her and been thoroughly checked out. The problem isn't so much frequent urination as sneaky, in the house urination. If anything she puts off doing any kind of business until she can't control herself. I've read that dogs who spend long hours in crates or kennels learn to do that. She was in a shelter for quite a while and the more I think about it the less certain I am that the woman who rescued her took very good care of her. .I don't think she told me the strict truth about Scarlett being housebroken. So, we're getting her on a schedule of going outside every two hours except at night. She does fine with holding it from midnight until 8:00 a.m.ish. She has a couple hours outside morning and evening when it's cooler, so she has plenty of chance to take care of business after each meal. It seems that she's on a two hour schedule for everything. I thought dogs eliminated within an hour of a meal, but my two both seem to go about two hours.

At her 2:00 outing this afternoon, she looked at the treat bag, went to her spot, peed and came back to me for a treat, which of course she got along with lots of praise. She wanted more treats, but no tinkie, no treaty. So, brilliant girl that she is she went back to her spot, squatted, dribbled, and then came back to me for another treat. I think she's catching on.

[WickedLady]

Dumb she ain't

[grammynmaggie]

Sounds like progress to me...my Maggie was 8 weeks old..when I got her
I took her out every 2 hrs... (except at night) she got a treat of a little taste of cream cheese on the tip of my finger...she did very well ...she wised up at that young age and
would go hunch up like she was doing a pooper and then come running for her
treat...but in about a couple months she was house broke...with very few
accidents in that time...and now she never goes in the house...but the every
two hrs and cream cheese did the trick...now she was a tiny dog (Papillon) so
she did not need a big treat..looks like you two are on the right road to success..
donna

[Olive600]

Thanks for the encouragement. I know it will take time, but sooner or later she'll learn that going in the house is a no no. She's such a sweet little thing, and I'm very attached to her already.

[BarbaraRose]

Yay! So glad to hear things are going so well now!

[Bethers]

So glad to hear things are going better.

And, Sandi, do you really think it's easier with babies? I find it to be the opposite. Kids take way longer ... and some way longer than others.

[monik7]

So glad to hear things are going better.

And, Sandi, do you really think it's easier with babies? I find it to be the opposite. Kids take way longer ... and some way longer than others.

Well Beth, maybe I had it easy with my two kids. Both potty trained at 2 years old and took only 2 weeks for each (one girl, one boy)! My puppy took 2 months.
Sandi