Dog Training Question

We are trying to train Gus to pee more reliably before bed.

Right now our tack is to take him out on the leash and give him a treat and big jubilation immediately upon performing a pee and then bring him straight back in. I am worried that this will result in teaching the behavior outside the yard, because we're taking him outside the yard to get the pee (he's a marker, so we don't have to wait long to get a pee). The thought is that once he associates the treat with peeing, we'll be able to offer the treat and get a pee IN the yard. Ultimately we want him to go out, pee and come straight back in when it's bedtime. We're using the command "go potty." It's not that he never pees in the yard, just not if he doesn't reeeeeeally have to (he does first thing in the morning).

Is our training logic messed up here? Other recommendations?

I've always taught my dogs the phrase "do your business", and offered the reward *after* successful completion. I tend to have hounds, showing them a reward ahead of time short-circuits their wee brains, and they go into prey mode.

I started out saying the phrase *whenever* they eliminated, and providing praise and (this part is important) random food treats.

It helps a lot if you can set the dog up to succeed, perhaps crating them, so you can get in a reinforcement to the desired behavior almost every time they eliminate.

YMMV.

Our weekly magazine, Macleans, has an article this week about dog cognition and a test that you can do to deal better with your dog. I read the article and don't quite agree with their some of their views. Their views as expressed in Maclean's are based on dogs' response to material action triggers. Since my emotions will stimulate all kinds of strong hormonal responses in m body which I am sure that dogs can smell, their tests about simulating emergencies to see how dogs respond don't seem valid. If a genuine emotion has not triggered a genuine bodily response, it doesn't seem a realistic test, IMHO anyway. https://www.dognition.com/how-it-works

Maybe I am odd but my different dogs over the years have talked to me mentally. My foxhound can get my attention by intently focusing his eyes on me. I swear that he is mentally (telepathically) trying to get me to listen and I understand his concern so often that it cannot be illegitimate. When I am down or stressed over the years, my dog will never leave my side until the tension eases.

I struggled with this foxhound since he was very different and found that if I treat him like a 2 1/2 year old child, we get along beautifully. If I expect any more, it is beyond him. I have had purebred and mutts and they have all been wonderful once I worked with their uniqueness.

To original post, my dogs have never got a treat predictably except after a long walk. If I wanted my child to piddle or poo, I worked with his/her usual pattern of waste disposal and they were toilet trained early so I approach the dogs the same way. Intermittent treats for both along with a cuddle worked best.

Probably more than you wanted to know. LOL

Marking isn't the same as getting out enough pee to call it a pee. I'd keep him out longer after the marking; he may mark several times before he takes a real pee.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by larknm

Marking isn't the same as getting out enough pee to call it a pee. I'd keep him out longer after the marking; he may mark
several times before he takes a real pee.

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This! My doggie is a three or four pee-er. We got him from friends-of-friends due to several issues ., one of which was "not housebroken" turns out he was being rewarded too soon and had not completely emptied his bladder. As soon as we recognized the neex to stay out with him longer the problem resolved.

A dog on a leash will take longer to pee or poop than a dog who can run around (both for the motion and for the getting to choose spots). Either way, I'd give him at least 20 minutes, thirty is better. Being less goal-oriented about it can help. Think of yourself as a little kid (or now) if someone is standing over you by the potty, impatient. It needs to be more a walk for the walk's sake. I think this will accomplish most for your in-the-yard goal--less or no anxiety attached Dogs don't learn as well, if at all, when anxious, and they feel the pressure in you.

I'd work on coming when called more than rewarding him for peeing. Then I would let him in the backyard for 15-20mins and call him when he needed to come in.

Never bring a dog home/indoors right after a pee. S/he will view that as a punishment, even if you give treats.

Giving treats after performance is right. Just always take your dog for a little walk after s/he is empty so you don't train her/him to walk miles before taking a tinky.

You're close. Just need to tweak the timing and distance.

I understand your need to keep on leash - we have coyote in my area and my dog is quite little. Lately the coyote have become so bold that they recently attacked a Lab! Yikes!

If you live in a city, you also have my sympathy. My little pug likes to run AT wheels when they are turning! She likes the sound. Yikes!