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Most of mine don't mind, but The Genuine Little Princess hates rain and snow. I make her go outside and she learned quick that she can't go back inside until she potties. She relieves herself real quick and dashes back inside the house.
In order to make this rain training go smoothly, you need to do two things first. Train the dog to walk properly on a leash and put the potty onto a command.
Many, and I would say most, pet dogs are not properly leash trained, so that training is step one. If the dog is leash trained, you won't have to physically drag him out into the rain, no matter how much he dislikes it.
If the dog has a potty command, you can tell him what behavior will get him back inside quickly. If you move him swiftly back inside as soon as he relieves himself, he won't take many trips into the rain before he figures out how to get out of the rain fast.
I can stand under the covered patio and stay dry while The Genuine Little Princess dashes about one foot onto the lawn, does her business, and then dashes for shelter. She knows she won't get back inside until she pees, so she pees fast to get it over with.
I agree completely with this and my experience has been the same. Even a little foster mini dachshund quickly learned that the quickest way to get out of the freezing cold or rain was to quickly get her business done. I don't care how much a dog weighs, refusing to follow me on a leash is just not an option.
I agree completely with this and my experience has been the same. Even a little foster mini dachshund quickly learned that the quickest way to get out of the freezing cold or rain was to quickly get her business done. I don't care how much a dog weighs, refusing to follow me on a leash is just not an option.
sorry, I don't think pulling him out by his collar is an option with this dog. It doesn't show any weakness or lack of leadership on our parts either. We never need to leash him to go to the bathroom and he is fine with a leash when we have to take him to day care and other events. We are not going to undo all of the positive trying to overcome this issue, which is exactly what will happen if you are too heavy handed. What will really be achieved by physically taking him by his collar and throwing him out? You show yourself as "big leader" and he responds by cowering and displaying fearful behaviors.
sorry, I don't think pulling him out by his collar is an option with this dog. It doesn't show any weakness or lack of leadership on our parts either. We never need to leash him to go to the bathroom and he is fine with a leash when we have to take him to day care and other events. We are not going to undo all of the positive trying to overcome this issue, which is exactly what will happen if you are too heavy handed. What will really be achieved by physically taking him by his collar and throwing him out? You show yourself as "big leader" and he responds by cowering and displaying fearful behaviors.
You sure read a lot into my statement. But anyway, good luck with that! I'm sure you just haven't found the right flavor of cookie.
I think I might work with him a bit when it's raining but you aren't in a rush to get him to potty. I would try to desensitize him to being out in the rain in a relaxed way (in other words, not in a rush to potty) Just hang out with him in the yard and reward him for staying out in the rain. Try to get him to get over that part of it anyway!
You sure read a lot into my statement. But anyway, good luck with that! I'm sure you just haven't found the right flavor of cookie.
That's what happens on the internet. And I probably wasn't too far off with my interpretation either because a previous poster went down that road as well. And thanks, I probably didn't find the right flavor of cookie. Maybe I should try the bone shaped one with sprinkles and that will work.
I think I might work with him a bit when it's raining but you aren't in a rush to get him to potty. I would try to desensitize him to being out in the rain in a relaxed way (in other words, not in a rush to potty) Just hang out with him in the yard and reward him for staying out in the rain. Try to get him to get over that part of it anyway!
Yeah, you're right. Maybe we need to work with him on a weekend when we're not trying to get out of the door. And you were right in your previous post...maybe we need to find something super high value. This is probably the only real "issue" we have with this guy, so we don't want to screw things up. From day one he never had incidents in the house. He's loving, patient, gentle. He's trustworthy while we're at work. He's definitely timid/sensitive. Thankfully no fear-aggression. Don't know what happened to this guy in his past life but this is definitely one candidate for positive-reinforcement and praise when modifying a behavior.
ETA - LOL. Found out that our fear of him hurting the rabbit is unfounded. While he was in the room relieving himself, the rabbit was there (caged, of course), so he had to have investigated. Rabbit didn't seem fazed at all when we got home so obviously this dog elicited no fear in him.
Sorry, I'm not picking up a dog that's over 70 lbs and basically a dead weight. I lift weights, but no thanks. That leader thing goes but so far.
GOOD FOR YOU!
Quote:
Originally Posted by riaelise
sorry, I don't think pulling him out by his collar is an option with this dog. . .
Quote:
Originally Posted by riaelise
. . . Maybe I should try the bone shaped one with sprinkles and that will work.
Oh, lordy, now that I've stopped laughing, I can type again!
I think you've got enough handle on this that you guys will figure it out eventually. However, I will add this. My current two have hated the rain since day 1. We've gotten better about it, but they still hate the rain. IF it's raining when they need to go pee? They won't. If you go out for a run, which is fun? Well, I don't see all that much aversion there! Sure, and they won't hang around outside after the run, but going out - no problem!
The difference I've found is just like raising my children - or most of the crews I managed in my working life. If I wasn't willing to get out there - neither were they. I had to lead from in front. With these two, if it's raining and I need for them to pee, I have to go out and get wet. If I do that, we don't have much problem at all. I lead, they follow.
Sure, some dogs you can just throw outside and they will figure out they need to pee. And some you can't. I don't even bother with that method, as I think it is both antiquated and wrong-minded.
Now, if I were to step out into the rain, and the dog STILL refused to do the same? Oy, that could be a problem. But I know you'd have to get involved in some very specific and directed behavior modification if that were the case. Umbrellas, other suggestions - if they click somewhere - you'll pick it up, and worth a try or two.
Thinking about it - umbrellas. If you go out, and the dog refuses to go with - get the umbrella and coax the dog out under the umbrella. That should be doable. And that positive result can be stretched into something more extensive - with patience, I think.
My sister had a 95lb golden that was horribly afraid of thunderstorms. He was not so afraid when he was younger but got increasingly more afraid as he got older. Wouldn't even be in a room with a balloon because the possibility of it popping and making the "scary" loud noise, would literally shake. BIL originally got him and was going to be a hunting/retriever dog but never got around to the training for it. He got to the point he would run frantically and hide during rain or thunderstorms. It got to be pretty bad. They decided to desensitized him by playing storm noises on real low at first, increasing the volume over a month or two. Played it on low while at work too. It seemed to work. But never did get over his fear of balloons.
... Maybe I should try the bone shaped one with sprinkles and that will work.
We cook up chicken thighs, allow them to cool, and then cut into whatever size nugget needed. The we place them on a metal baking tray, whereas they do not touch. I then freeze them in freezer. Then take out, take off tray, and place in a 1 gallon freezer bag. Freezing them first separates them and keeps them from sticking when placed in ziploc.
These treats are loved by every dog I've had, and yes, right out of the freezer. We do this with organ meat too. Perhaps that would coax him?
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