troubleshooting young dog training
September 30, 2023 8:50 PM Subscribe
I got my dog that I posted about previously, and I'm instantly in love with and obsessed with her (small likely pomchi mix 9 months, Trixie). But I have run into a couple of issues!
The good news: so far she's very affectionate and isn't noisey or bitey or aggressive at all. She seems like she's already bonding with me, sleeping nearby or on my lap, climbing on me, giving kisses. She is using her bed and her ramp and blanket already. She alternates between playing, cuddling, and napping. She isn't trying to enter the part of the apartment that is off limits.
The trickier stuff:
1. She is completely disinterested in treats (I got both crunchy and soft ones) so I'm not sure how to house train her. (Her previous owners used a litter box but I want to teach her to go outside). Should I just try different brands/flavors, or is there a basic way to train her without a food incentive? She's also not responding to squeak toys.
2. Similarly, she's never been walked using a leash/harness before and hates it! Basically she won't follow me even if I call her name or make little click noises. Obviously I will not be pulling or dragging her by the leash! So what I've been doing is picking her up inside, walking downstairs, and then putting her down on the grass. This seems like a bad habit to get into, right? Once she's on the grass she's comfortable and pees, but how to teach her to get from point A to point B?
The good news: so far she's very affectionate and isn't noisey or bitey or aggressive at all. She seems like she's already bonding with me, sleeping nearby or on my lap, climbing on me, giving kisses. She is using her bed and her ramp and blanket already. She alternates between playing, cuddling, and napping. She isn't trying to enter the part of the apartment that is off limits.
The trickier stuff:
1. She is completely disinterested in treats (I got both crunchy and soft ones) so I'm not sure how to house train her. (Her previous owners used a litter box but I want to teach her to go outside). Should I just try different brands/flavors, or is there a basic way to train her without a food incentive? She's also not responding to squeak toys.
2. Similarly, she's never been walked using a leash/harness before and hates it! Basically she won't follow me even if I call her name or make little click noises. Obviously I will not be pulling or dragging her by the leash! So what I've been doing is picking her up inside, walking downstairs, and then putting her down on the grass. This seems like a bad habit to get into, right? Once she's on the grass she's comfortable and pees, but how to teach her to get from point A to point B?
There is probably some food treat she will be interested in, but you may need to make it better than the things sold in the dog treats section of the grocery aisle. Try meat scraps (or meat cooked specifically for this purpose, like a boiled chicken breast or some cheap cut of pork), sardines, cheese (could be something like cheddar or maybe whipped cream cheese from a spoon or your finger or in a squeeze pouch), freeze dried liver, or unsalted peanut butter.
She may not actually need treats as motivation to pee and poop outside. Just taking her out often enough that it becomes a habit may be enough. But it sure doesn't hurt to use rewards and you'll want to figure out something she finds rewarding for other types of training anyway.
I think carrying her outside is fine for now, while she's getting used to the leash. Wait until she's willing to follow you around pretty well while on the leash before trying to lead her all the way down the stairs and outside.
posted by Redstart at 9:58 PM on September 30, 2023 [4 favorites]
She may not actually need treats as motivation to pee and poop outside. Just taking her out often enough that it becomes a habit may be enough. But it sure doesn't hurt to use rewards and you'll want to figure out something she finds rewarding for other types of training anyway.
I think carrying her outside is fine for now, while she's getting used to the leash. Wait until she's willing to follow you around pretty well while on the leash before trying to lead her all the way down the stairs and outside.
posted by Redstart at 9:58 PM on September 30, 2023 [4 favorites]
Every puppy I’ve ever had I’ve carried outside to pee and have not used treats to reward going outside. It is my firm opinion that potty training is entirely about establishing a substrate preference and the key is setting them up to only ever go where you want them to go. You’ll want to figure the treats out for other training jobs though so just keep trying super stinky things like tripe, dried liver, microwaved hot dog slices, etc. and do your training when she’s hungry.
posted by HotToddy at 5:35 AM on October 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by HotToddy at 5:35 AM on October 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
Training treats need to be factored in to calorie needs, not as an extra on top. I often trained with kibble at mealtimes, when my dog was more receptive to food as motivation. See if she likes freeze dried liver, that was my highest value treat used for the most important reinforcements. Teach her to come to you for meals, build in 5 to 10 minutes of training this each time you feed her. Use some of the kibble as a reward, and be consistent.
Seconding you dont necessarily need to treat reward outside potty time. Definitely verbally praise though.
posted by ananci at 7:14 AM on October 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
Seconding you dont necessarily need to treat reward outside potty time. Definitely verbally praise though.
posted by ananci at 7:14 AM on October 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
Every dog I know loves cheese as an extra treat. Maybe see if she's interested in chunks of cheddar?
PS: puppy tax required for additional assistance!
posted by hydra77 at 7:28 AM on October 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
PS: puppy tax required for additional assistance!
posted by hydra77 at 7:28 AM on October 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
Can she actually climb up and down the stairs? Because they might be scary steep for her.
I suggest putting her on the top of the stairs and sitting down three steps down with your phone and waiting until she comes to you, and then carrying her the rest of the way down. Gradually sit one step farther down until she gets comfortable with it.
Also, is it better if you always carry her downstairs, as you would do if you discovered she has a bad hip, or better that she uses a litter box? I don't think carrying her where there are obstacles she can't easily manage is a bad practice for a little dog - in fact, it's a good idea to have her trained to run to you and signal "pick me up!" You want her to do that when she is suddenly in danger of getting walked on, or if she gets a sore paw, or if you want to take her on long walks and she runs out of stamina.
The leash and harness may take some getting used to. Put her in it more often, rather than less. She may not be willing to follow you because she doesn't realise that following you is how she gets to see and sniff and play with fun things and ensures she doesn't get left behind. Once she starts to connect the idea that the harness and leash means walkies she'll grow to accept them as the better alternative to being stuck inside all the time.
So look for things she enjoys doing outside. Maybe she is actually scared of being outside because it is a strange neighbourhood. If she has separation anxiety you may just want to go back to your home. In that case take her out somewhere out of sight of the house and simply stay there and play with her, or cuddle with her. If you can tolerate it, take her to a park, put a blanket on the grass and sit on it and use your phone while she does whatever she wants, while wearing harness and lead beside you. That way she'll start to associate harness and lead with being safely close, but also a change of scene.
posted by Jane the Brown at 11:58 AM on October 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
I suggest putting her on the top of the stairs and sitting down three steps down with your phone and waiting until she comes to you, and then carrying her the rest of the way down. Gradually sit one step farther down until she gets comfortable with it.
Also, is it better if you always carry her downstairs, as you would do if you discovered she has a bad hip, or better that she uses a litter box? I don't think carrying her where there are obstacles she can't easily manage is a bad practice for a little dog - in fact, it's a good idea to have her trained to run to you and signal "pick me up!" You want her to do that when she is suddenly in danger of getting walked on, or if she gets a sore paw, or if you want to take her on long walks and she runs out of stamina.
The leash and harness may take some getting used to. Put her in it more often, rather than less. She may not be willing to follow you because she doesn't realise that following you is how she gets to see and sniff and play with fun things and ensures she doesn't get left behind. Once she starts to connect the idea that the harness and leash means walkies she'll grow to accept them as the better alternative to being stuck inside all the time.
So look for things she enjoys doing outside. Maybe she is actually scared of being outside because it is a strange neighbourhood. If she has separation anxiety you may just want to go back to your home. In that case take her out somewhere out of sight of the house and simply stay there and play with her, or cuddle with her. If you can tolerate it, take her to a park, put a blanket on the grass and sit on it and use your phone while she does whatever she wants, while wearing harness and lead beside you. That way she'll start to associate harness and lead with being safely close, but also a change of scene.
posted by Jane the Brown at 11:58 AM on October 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
Puppy Training When Your Dog Isn't "Interested" In Treats. (Also check out the channel more generally).
posted by oceano at 12:01 PM on October 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by oceano at 12:01 PM on October 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
For (1), have you tried the freeze dried chicken treats? Also try fresh cooked chicken, little pieces of hot dog, cheese, peanut butter. Is she motivated by praise? My dog has never been super food motivated, but he loves really enthusiastic praise and attention.
For (2), it will just take time to adjust. I carried my puppy outside initially - there's nothing wrong with that for now. I would practice having her wear the harness for a little bit inside (without the leash at first), then just have her with the leash + harness without trying to actually lead her anywhere. It just takes time for dogs to adjust. You can also just spend some time with her on the leash + harness letting her sniff around outside - don't try to lead her anywhere, just get her used to it.
You're not creating bad habits at all. In fact, it's often recommended when potty training puppies (especially in an apartment building) to carry them outside and then set them down on the grass - it helps avoid accidents on the way there. Plus, it takes time for dogs to get used to stairs!
Also, to help get her used to following you, try playing a game where (off leash, in the apartment), you act all excited, run into another room and then call her. Make it fun! Then when she comes to you, give her lots of positive reinforcement. This will help get her used to the idea of following you and is also a good foundation for eventually training a recall command.
Lastly, it sounds like you've only had her for a few weeks, so it will take time for her to adjust.
posted by litera scripta manet at 4:59 AM on October 2, 2023
For (2), it will just take time to adjust. I carried my puppy outside initially - there's nothing wrong with that for now. I would practice having her wear the harness for a little bit inside (without the leash at first), then just have her with the leash + harness without trying to actually lead her anywhere. It just takes time for dogs to adjust. You can also just spend some time with her on the leash + harness letting her sniff around outside - don't try to lead her anywhere, just get her used to it.
You're not creating bad habits at all. In fact, it's often recommended when potty training puppies (especially in an apartment building) to carry them outside and then set them down on the grass - it helps avoid accidents on the way there. Plus, it takes time for dogs to get used to stairs!
Also, to help get her used to following you, try playing a game where (off leash, in the apartment), you act all excited, run into another room and then call her. Make it fun! Then when she comes to you, give her lots of positive reinforcement. This will help get her used to the idea of following you and is also a good foundation for eventually training a recall command.
Lastly, it sounds like you've only had her for a few weeks, so it will take time for her to adjust.
posted by litera scripta manet at 4:59 AM on October 2, 2023
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In the meantime, when she goes outside, praise the heck out of her. Like, unless you're thinking "I look/sound a fool to anyone walking by," you're probably underdoing it.
(puppy taaaaaaaaaax)
(*) Does she actually understand stairs? It's not unheard-of for a rescue not to.
posted by praemunire at 9:30 PM on September 30, 2023 [4 favorites]