jason@hp-pcd.UUCP (03/06/84)
I've recently acquired a puppy who is now 10 weeks old. She's coming along nicely and can do some tricks like sit and stay besides learning some manners. But I hate stepping in dog shit. Even regular poop patrols can't catch the fresh "surprises" just behind the gate, etc. Anyone have ideas on training the dog to a single area? Collecting a mound in one place doesn't seem to work. Did someone mention spreading food in areas you don't want it (that's only about 1000 sq ft)? There has to be a nicer way than pushing her face into the stuff. &-) <--note the winking smiley! Thanks in advance, Jay Su !hplabs!hp-pcd!jason
halle1@houxz.UUCP (J.HALLE) (03/07/84)
It can be done, but it's a lot of work. You have to carry her to the spot you want her to go, and wait till she goes. When she does, lavish her with praise. Always take her to the same spot. Make it a routine. If she goes somewhere else, show her her mistake (do NOT rub her nose in it), scold her with a sharp NO!, and take her to where she should go. She will learn that that is the one spot she is allowed to go. But don't expect it to be overnight. She'll learn outside quickly, but restricting it will take much longer. You probably also ought to throw in a command telling her it's OK to go. (Maybe some nonsense word so other signals don't get confused) This way you can let her know it's OK if you're away from home. You can start this by using the word when she does go so that she gets the association. Again, it's going to take work since it's not really natural for the dog to be restricted to a small area.
stanwyck@ihuxr.UUCP (Don Stanwyck) (03/08/84)
When we lived in Minneapolis (really Plymouth), we had a neighbor with a young black lab. They had a command that dog understood, and I have always wanted to teach my dogs the command, but they don't weem to undrstand. The command was,"Go be a dog!". The lab would immediately race over to the dog area at the apartments we lived in, and do everything it needed to. Then it would come running back. There were about 20 acres of area behind the apartments. We got 3-4 foot drifts of snow. That same dog could, on command, let you throw a ball into the field (and under a drift), and it would find it everytime. Unbelievable dog. -- ________ ( ) Don Stanwyck @( o o )@ 312-979-3062 ( || ) Cornet-367-3062 ( \__/ ) ihnp4!ihuxr!stanwyck (______) Bell Labs @ Naperville, IL
smkindersley@watrose.UUCP (susan sumo kindersley) (03/12/84)
my lab (2 1/2) follows the commands "do a puddle"
& "do a biz".
these are traditional for our family dogs, i suspect as a major
convenience on all those family road trips.
the training was easy: when she was taken out, she almost always
wanted to pee (puppies are like that). repetition and lavish praise
worked as well as they did for all her other commands/tricks.
it wasn't overnight, but it was pretty quick (1-2 weeks). of
course we all know (ahem!) about the incredibly wonderful labrador!
posting for the first time... susan kindersley.