Help! I have never had a dog before and my husband and I just got a mutt. I need help trainning her...?

Question

We are trying to potty train her. But I hate leaving her in a kennel all day. I feel so bad, also she takes forever to go to the bathroom outside. What is the BEST way to potty train a dog and how to I teach her to go outside and do her thing before she plays. Some mornings Its cold I just want to see her do her thing and then I can go back inside and let her play outside. I was thinking maybe take her out for 5 min's and then bring her back in for 30 mins....sooner or later she will know that outside time is not long so she better go if she has to go. Do you think thats a good idea? What are some really good websites to look at. Also, How do I teach her not to jump on people and not to bark at everyone she sees.

This is her and my husband playing with her ball: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPOIPT4uRvM

I said potty train..I mean house brake (remember I said I've never had a dog)

Thanks LoveMyLab....I know this is the best way to go. I just hate hearing her cry and bark! She loves to play. I just hate leaving her in there all day.

Sorry Dove, I live in Okinawa Japan, no petsmart here.

Answer 1

If he is a puppy which I suspect then the crate/ regular outting will take longer but you can weight the scales in your favor. Have a specific spot, take him out, give him a command and wait, don't leave the spot. If he doesn't go in ten minutes go straight back in and into the crate. Wait a short period and then take him out and repeat. Within a short time he will go, praise and reward with a treat or even better refuse to walk or go and play until he goes. Keep him leashed throughout. Don't punish the dog exessively or if you don't catch him when he is having an accident.

I know the crate seems rough but when it saves your couch, furniture, floors, sanity and puppy you will swear by it. You only need to put him in when you can't watch him enough to control him. Make it a fun nice place. Put lots of padding and make sure it fits him. Then throw food in it when he isn't looking and let him find it. Put in the front at first. When you put him in give him a special crate safe toy and ignore all attempts to release him if he is flipping. Let him calm down and discover the joys of their den. My dogs all go in and out of their choice. They go when they want a nap or if they are stressed out. It prevented children getting hurt because my dogs get up and leave when they need a break and you always find them in the crate. Never use the crate as punishment or punish in the crate. That is their safe place where no other dog/ person is allowed. It is like their own room.

In the next few weeks when you can't focus on the dog put him in the crate with a safe treat and relax. Pay attention to his timings and encourage a way for him to tell you he needs to go (i.e. going to the door/ leash). Once he is telling you then take him out, you have him trained.

The jumping thing, keep treats by the door tell the dog to sit and wait. Have the person say hi and give a treat only if the dog is sitting.

If no training- Get training help, call your local humane society or SPCA, ask friends with dogs or vet. When the dog is jumping lift your knee to chest level of jump (use foot with smaller dogs/ bigger people) and allow dog to jump. When the dog contacts the knee/ foot say "no". DON'T kick or knee or otherwise aim to injure the dog. The point is that the animal chooses to ram themself into a hard part of your body. They will stop because that isn't fun; then you can tell them to sit and reward them.

Barking- When you are around water gun or small glass of water. You can also hold food in your fist in front of nose and say shh or whatever. If they sniff it they can't bark, give treat and praise. Don't yell at them they think you are joining in the bark.

When you aren't there you are in trouble. Train the dog, give the dog something to chew when you leave, citronella bark collar (never with other dogs around your dog can be sprayed for another dogs bark); or you can trick your dog into thinking that you are always around.

Regardless of my advice find a good trainer that you like, the dog likes and who use positive re-enforcement (i.e. treats); run from any who say that treats are bad or suggests that the dogs are planning out bad behavior. Remember that there are no magic tricks everything is training, experience and socialization. Try reading "Don't Shoot the Dog" by Karen Pryor and "Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson. Those books changed my outlook on training.

Answer 2

Ha! The video is cool. She's an interesting mix - Golden/Corgi? Maybe some Shiba in there? Anyway, I got a lot from learning how to clicker train my dog - it might seem intense at first but it is the kindest and most fun way to teach your dog to do anything - because clicker trainers never use force or punishment to make the dog do what they want. You can build a fantastic relationship that way!
As far as using a crate, yes, it seems unfair to crate her, but the dog will learn so much faster about making the right potty choice! Get yourself a dog walker if you feel she'll be alone for too long. Dogs need to have things to do, or they will find things to do (you don't want this) Stuffed Kongs, bully sticks, and interactive toys make time in the crate a lot more fun.
** Please don't ever "stick her nose" into a potty mistake. This is a spectacularly ineffective and cruel thing to do to your dog - she will have no idea what you're doing, and you will create a dog who runs away from you, and mistrusts you. **

Answer 3

You can sort of guess what a mutt may have if you know the dominant breeds (like in some cases where mutts are bred purposely >_<) You just have to guess that you could get behaviors from either or both of the breeds and guess that you may notice behaviors NOT known of either breed, and you need to know that the dogs may not show ANY of the known behaviors. Mutts from the shelter are much harder to guess or research since you don't know a thing about their past. Like my aunt's dog. He had German Shepherd in him but we can't tell what else he has! Yet my dog we know is half Schnauzer and half Poodle - still a mutt but has two dominant breeds in her! I think you can never do too much research or prepare too much for a dog. People who have owned certain breeds for YEARS are still finding out things about their dogs, and what they find may or may not be breed specific. You can never learn enough, either! I'm still learning things about dogs that i never knew even though i've had a dog my whole life! You can cover the basics like feeding and watering, how much you should exercise a dog, but most things like learning when a particular dog has to go potty has to be learned through experience. Training is also a learning experience for an owner while they train the dog - it can be researched, yes, but again it's the experience that teaches you the most.

Answer 4

Crate training really is the best way. It truly isn't cruel, they feel safe and comfortable in the crate BUT the crate should be no larger than her to stand, turn around, and lay down. A dog won't go to the bathroom where they sleep. Only allow her out when you are actively playing with her and watching her all of the time, she is eating or drinking, or she is outside going potty. She should not have free reign of the house unwatched until she is full housebroken. I know it's hard leaving them in there, I always hated it, but it really does work and should take long at all. I don't recommend puppy pads because really, the dog is going in the house and that's what you're trying to stop right? I don't get that whole theory. But crate training worked wonders (and fast) for my Lab. You can leave a toy or bone in there with her to keep her occupied.

BTW, your dog is sooooo cute!!

I know it's hard, I went through it myself but remember, it's best for your dog....really! I always wanted to let Kya out of her crate, it broke my heart, but after a day or two, they get used to it and don't whine and cry anymore. Kya fully enjoys her crate now and gets in it on her own and she's fully house trained! lol

Answer 5

The best way to potty train her is for one let her know the leash means potty only take her out on a leash when it's time to potty.Two every time she goes potty outside tell her she's a good girl and give her a treat when she gets inside this will only help her to know that going to potty outside is good.Anytime she poos or pees in the house get a newspaper and swat her once or twice hold her point to the mess she made and say no or bad puppy.Then immediately take her outside and after she goes say good puppy and give her a treat.It'll take a little time but it works.

Answer 6

When you say leaving her in a kennel i'll assume she lives in a crate? Dogs take forever to go to the bathroom because they look to sniff around and because their nose is so much better than ours they tend to find such interesting scents that they forget they gotta go until they REALLY gotta go. It's good to let your puppy sniff around, let her take her time. (I know it's cold, i hate waiting outside for my dog as well). But if you have a fenced yard you can just let her play outside by herself and you can go inside =]

The way I taught my dog was that when I let him outside I told him to "Go pee" and everytime he did it when I said "Go pee" (whether by accident or correct timing) i would give lots of praise. That way he learned that "Go pee" is to go do your business. You may use different words as long as it's not too long and not too complicated your dog will pick it up fairly quickly if you use it all the time when she needs to go outside.

Hmm... I don't think dogs will actually learn the concept that "outside time isn't long so I better go". It's best to just let her take her time.

Jumping on others is a big problem. It's annoying to many as well. To teach not to jump every time she jumps on you (whether it's out of happiness or because she just feels like stretching her hind leg muscles) you have to say firmly "No."
Don't push her off because she'll think you're playing with her. A firm "No" will do the trick. Also let her know that you are not happy with her jumping. Leave out happiness from your tone and stare sternly at your puppy. It may seem mean but it will work.

Answer 7

its a good idea but when u know she has to go walk her to the door and before leting her out say "go potty" or "wanna go potty" then let her out, and let her know she has to do it fast, by doing what ur doing except don't wait for 30 min u dont want her to hold it that long. jsut wait for 5 min or so. and when she finally does it out side praise her. when i was training by toy poodle i always made her sit by the door before opening it. this became a habbit so know when she wants to go outside she waits by the door.

Answer 8

Petsmart has free Potty Training classes. Call the nearest one and find out when the next one is. They can help you out.

Answer 9

u dont have to lock her up unless you leave the house. when you do that, put newpaper down in her kennel to mak eit easier to clean when you come home. Then take her outside. watch her all the time. when you see her squat, tell her no really loud to scare her and usually, they stop. then take her outside. if she goes on the floor anyway (u have to see her) stick her nose in it, tell her no, then spank her and stick her in her kennel. works all the time.