ran@ho95b.UUCP (RANeinast) (02/21/85)
> Now, Does anyone out there have any tips on how to housebreak a beagle that > has no fear of punishment. At 7 weeks of age she went into the hospital for > *3* weeks, 2 of which were spent on I.V. close to death with parvo, pneumonia, > and a few other maladies and ever since her attitude has been 'ha. I've been > through worse than a two minute yelling/spanking/whatever...'. > What's an owner to do??? > Andrew R. Scholnick > Information Design and Management Inc., Alexandria, Va. > ...seismo!rlgvax!idmi-cc!andrew The following worked for me (actually it worked for my dog). BTW, we got her at 5 1/2 weeks, and she was housebroken by 2 months. First, remember you *must* catch them in the act. Scream *NO* and scoop them outside (it's the startle that's important--not the punishment). If you don't see it happen, all the punishment in the world cannot make the dog understand what it did wrong. Second, try to get the dog into a habit of eating at certain times, and being taken out at certain times (like first thing in the morning, before bed, etc.). Third (and this is the magic), whenever the dog does it outside, praise it *immediately* and give it a small piece of liver sausage (I've never met a dog who didn't *love* liver sausage). Soon, the dog will hold it just to do it outside, and start asking to go out (my dog is a non-barker; when she has to go out, she bows and sneezes--really!). Once the habit is well established you can cut down (switch to less appetizing treats, sometimes omitting the treat, etc). Make sure the treat is only given for really doing it, not just asking to go out, or the dog will figure out that scam real fast. Good luck! -- ". . . and shun the frumious Bandersnatch." Robert Neinast (ihnp4!ho95c!ran) AT&T-Bell Labs
halle@hou2b.UUCP (J.HALLE) (02/21/85)
A couple of things about the previous comments: First: one of my dogs HATES liver in any form. She will walk away from it. Now chicken is another matter. She goes crazy for it. As to housebreaking. It really is not necessary to catch the dog in the act if he knows that it is wrong. Take him to the mess, scold, etc. Of course if you catch him it's better, but it isn't mandatory. Dogs usually know if they've done something unacceptable. (With mine, merely looking at the paper they've ripped up is sufficient to cause them to slink into their "punishment corner"; yes, I do make them sit in the corner; it's effective.) A dog is not really housebroken until he's about a year old. Until then, he is apt to revert without warning. The biggest mistake most people make is giving too much freedom too soon. Keep him confined until he can handle his space, then increase it slowly. If he slips, shrink it. This procedure also will usually prevent other problems, like destruction.