Re: Pepper has taken over

In Reply to: Pepper has taken over
Category:   House Breaking
Posted by:  Mike Williams
Posted on:  March 28, 2003 at 20:44:16

: We are having some difficulty with our JRT female regarding house breaking and general obedience.

: Problem #1: Often, despite taking her out on a regular basis, she will urinate right in front of us. She then acts like she knows she was bad and rolls over on her back in a submissive manor. How can we get her to let us know when she needs to go? She is reluctant to go out into the back yard (that's where we put her to do her business) but when the front door is opened she is launched like a scud missile.

: Problem #2: In the back yard (fenced) she is very aware of us. In the front yard (open to the street) she might as well be deaf. She completely ignores us until we get close and then she turns on the afterburners.

: Is there any hope?

Response:

Dear Mike,

Regarding problem #1: It is your job to recognize Pepper's signal that she needs to go potty and then train her to "wait" until you take her outside. Correcting her after she's urinated only makes her afraid of you AND the backyard where you put after she's urinated in the house. Please see our Housebreaking FAQ (link below) for more information/tips.

Regarding problem #2: Do not allow Pepper out the front door unless she is on a leash. Unless and until you train her to respond to the command to "COME" every time, she must be confined -- either by a leash or in your fenced yard. FYI -- the number one cause of death for young terriers is being hit by a car; sadly, being "fast" isn't necessarily a "good" thing... :-(