Training the pup...not the pup training me

[awhitten]

Ok my Shelby is almost 4 mo young. For the most part, she is getting the potty training thing. She hasn't gone number 2 in a long time but if we're not watching, she'll just squat and pee on the floor. I don't like the fact that I have to be scared that she might go on the floor and I feel like I'm not training her but she's training me. I am looking for a solution to have her tell us that she has to go. I know it will take some work but I would rather have that then what I'm going through now. Does anyone have any suggestions? BTW, she does know how to speak on command but it never goes in conjunction with having to go out.

P.S. Here are some of Shelby's newest pictures for those who didn't get to see them.

[Chester B. Dickens]

Tether her to you by looping the leash around your belt. So you're never more than 6' away from her. If she begins to squat, yell loudly and WHISK her outside to finish. Then praise as if she's just cured world hunger. Lather, Rinse, repeat.

[imported_bacatherine]

I agree with Dweck the key is to prevent the accidents so she either needs to be teathered to you or in her crate when not 100% supervised so you can catch her before or during to get her outside in time.

Several people on here have taught their dogs to ring a bell by the door when they need to go out. I think they do it by ringing the bell every time they take the dog out if possible get the got to hit it with their nose or paw. They will start to associate ringing the bell with going outside and can let you know when they need to.

[Bob Pr.]

Shelby's a great looking Lab.

I don't like the fact that I have to be scared that she might go on the floor and I feel like I'm not training her but she's training me. I am looking for a solution to have her tell us that she has to go.

I'm a big believer in our dogs training us as much as we train them -- and that it's a good thing.

When we feed at the same daily times, most puppies fall into a rut for the times they're most likely to need to pee and poop. When we're sensitive to their preferred times, it saves a lot of worry at other times and leads to far fewer accidents.

But as they grow older, puppies go through 3 or 4 changes of ruts on their journey to adulthood so, once you adapt to one rut, be prepared to be flexible for a later needed change in the schedule.

My preference is to go with that which is most natural for the pup when at all possible. My often expressed maxims are "never try to swim up Niagra Falls" and "go with the flow."

Two things that help us in following Puff's adult ruts (outside at 7 AM, 2 PM, 10 PM; I'm retired) is:

-- at 2 PM & 10 PM, I bowl a softball on the sidewalk out front that she chases and retrieves. 2-3 runs usually promotes a poop sooner.

-- when I see Puff assuming either the squat position to pee or the arched back with enlarging anal sphincter to poop, I start reciting the appropriate mantra, "Puff, pee-pee!" or "Puff, potty!" and continue it through the action. This serves as a conditioned stimulus to promote the desired response (if ammunition is present in the firing chamber).

When we walk at 2 or 10 PM, my saying this promotes the action. ;D