Re: housebreaking

In Reply to: housebreaking
Posted by:  kari
Posted on:  August 28, 2001 at 18:27:52

: I have searched through the forum, and have tried a few suggestions. The problem, our jack is 8mos. old a male, he was nutered at 6 mos. we leave the back sliding door open for him to come and go as he needs to, our yard is fenced. When we close the door, Caesar won't show any sign of having to go out, then uses the house as his personal toilet. We crate him at night and when we are gone, he never soils the crate. I don't want to resort to crating him except to take him outside, do you have another suggestion? thanks for the help

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Hi Kari,

What you are experiencing is one of the reasons I don't like the come and go as you please approach to housebreaking. This is setting your dog up for failure. At this age going out should mean going to relieve himself and nothing more, not until he is 100% mistake proof should you allow him free access.

He is still at the age where you should be accompanying him out to do his business to reinforce good behavior.

If he is making messes in the house then more than likely you are missing his signals. It could be as subtle as a tiny bit of restlessness on his part, not all dogs give grand displays of when they need to relieve themselves, and it is up to the owner to really pay attention to whatever signal the dog is giving.

If you cannot determine what that signal is, then you are going to have to train him to give a signal you can understand. Some people hang a small bell near the door and teach the dog to paw the bell when they have to go.

This dog is getting very confused right now and you need to start going out with him to relieve himself and be there to praise him when he does it.

Take a few steps back in housebreaking and study your pup better, believe me he IS giving you signals you just haven't picked up on them yet.