Toilet Training

martyboy · House Broken

Toilet Training

BoxerSue · Congratulations!

Your baby, is still that, just a baby. At twelve weeks he has developed very little bladder control yet. FOr now, just be happy that he is making it outside.
Repetition and tons of praise when he goes in the right area, are what will eventually get it locked in his brain that the one area is for his potty. Patience, and positive reinforcement are the best rraining tools. IF you catch him while oging potty somewhre other than the area, say no, scoop him up and take him to the appropriate area. Tell him potty (or whatever) then give him a treat or tons of praise. You need to make sure you don't scold, or he may become afraid to potty in front of you. Hang in there, it will happen eventually.

PawPrint · Smitten by Boxers

12 weeks old and you are lucky to get him to potty outside at all :)
In addition to Susan's excellent advice, make it a one word command. "Potty" would work.

Just remember how far advanced you were at 12 weeks old :)

Jonney · All Grown Up

Hi! Congratulations on your pup!

I'm guessing by the phrase "going all over the place", you mean in the house. Pups are hard to keep an eye on every minute because they are inquisitive, following their noses all over their world.

When I was younger, I never thought to use crates because I was always available. These days I recommend a crate to everyone! When your attention can't be devoted to your pup, it should be in the crate. Until a pup is mature enough physically (bodily function control) and mentally (trustworthy) it should not have free roam in the house. Just as you would not let a 3 year old child drive your car, a pup should not be allowed more responsibility than it can handle.

As an aside, crating keeps bad habits from being learned. It is much harder to break a negative learned habit than it is to prevent one from being learned. Crating keeps a lid on your frustration by not allowing the dog inappropriate freedom to perform negatively. This means you get to be happy with your dog and it learns you are not only the center of it's universe, but a really nice person deserving of it's trust and loyalty.

When you take the pup outside to potty, have it on a leash. Being leashed teaches your pup that you are in charge. Like Sue said, use a *buzz word* to define the action you wish to be performed. It is crucial that everyone responsible for training the pup use the same words/phrases for the same desired action.

Just before you take your pup out to the bathroom (be by the door), ask it in an excited tone; 'Do you need to *potty*?' Then put on the leash to carry or walk your pup out. The leash also puts you in charge of *where your pup eliminates. It comunicates to your pup that this is not recess, but it is on a mission. LOL Use the buzzword often in encouraging the pup to eliminate. If you have soiled paper towels from cleaning up an indoor accident, it often helps to place the soil in the area of the yard you wish the pup to use. When the pup performs, praise like all get-out!

If you have been outside for 5 minutes or so and the pu doesn't eliminate, return indoors calmly and place the pup in it's crate. Please don't make potty training a negative or punishing experience. It is a baby and has not aquired full control over it's own body yet; much less made the mental connection between your words and the desired action. Wait 10 minutes then repeat the potty run. Do not allow the pup out of the crate to roam in the room with you until it eliminates. Toys and possible a Kong with a dab of peanut butter will suffice to adjust your pup to the crate.

This is a time to build trust by showing your pup you have control over your emotions. It is a building block in the relationship with your dog. If you get frazzled and *lose it*, your pup will be frightened and confused, learning not to trust you. It will equate potty time with negativity and fear causing it to attempt to hide this bodily function from you. In other words it won't perform outside where you desire, however it may hide behind furniture or in closets to potty. In some cases even soil on your personal belongings having made the incorrect association.

Some people find it helps to keep a pup tied to themselves with a rope. This allowed them freedom in whatever room the owner was in and it kept the owner aware of where the pup was. I don't have personal experience with this because I found if I tired my pup out, it would nap while I got my chores done.

If you are free feeding (leaving food out all day), stop. At 12 weeks your pup's daily ration should be split into 3-4 meals. Give it 10 minutes to eat (feed in the crate). If it does not eat or finish, take the food away. Wait 10 minutes and try again. If is still does not eat, remove the food and don't present again until the next feeding time giving the entire amount of food determined for that ration, not just the left overs. Present water 5-6 times a day and after *any rousing play time or hot outdoor time; allow the pup to drink its fill. If food and water is going into your pup all day long, you cannot determine when it will come out. This rationing will also help your pup learn a schedule and control of body function. Do not allow the pup to have water after 7 PM. This will help it be able to sleep through the night without and urge to go out for potty time.

Remember, this is a process accomplished by repetition. It won't happen over night. But with consistency and the proper attitude, you both will succeed!

Here is Puppy 101
   Pup goes out *any time it wakes up
   Pup goes out after meals
   Pup goes out after play time

   Pup goes out after a big drink
   Nose hits the floor? Pup goes out
   Pup goes out before bed at night

Sorry this is so long, I just believe a sound relationship with your dog can be won or lost during potty training. It sets the tone for what your dog learns about you. And if it learns you are volitile or angry all the time, there will be a constant obstacle (mistrust) in future training. Here are some links that may also be helpful.
Crates
Crate Training-G.Thomas
Crate Q & A's
Dances With Dogs-Suzanne Clothier
Housetraining Checklist
Housetraining Guide
Never Say It Twice Twice.
NILIF
Pack2RaiseAPuppy-Suzanne Clothier
Fluence Effects Recall
Teaching Puppy to Come
Happy Recall
Rewards-Lures-Bribes-Suzanne Clothier
Submissive Urination Links
Manipulation & Leadership Issues
Who Is In Charge Here?
Fearfulness and Timidity

BluStorm · Grand Champion

Jonney wrote:

Sorry this is so long, I just believe a sound relationship with your dog can be won or lost during potty training. It sets the tone for what your dog learns about you. And if it learns you are volitile or angry all the time, there will be a constant obstacle (mistrust) in future training.

Well put, and I dont think it was to long.

martyboy · House Broken

Great advice all thanks very much.

My pup is an outside dog and doenst like being inside for some reason. For his fiorst 3 weeks with us he spent the night in doors with us but the last week he chooses to stay outside all night!!! He loves it and doesnt want to come in.

So my question is in terms of how to teach him to go number 2 in the same area of the yard? Number 1's dont bother us but just number 2's.

Jonney · All Grown Up

martyboy wrote:

Great advice all thanks very much.

My pup is an outside dog and doenst like being inside for some reason. For his fiorst 3 weeks with us he spent the night in doors with us but the last week he chooses to stay outside all night!!! He loves it and doesnt want to come in.

So my question is in terms of how to teach him to go number 2 in the same area of the yard? Number 1's dont bother us but just number 2's.

Since your pup has free roam of the yard, the only way that I know to teach him to eliminate in one area, is to confine him. Anybody else?

Not to start trouble in any way, I'm going to add information on outside dogs. It is the same stuff we hand out to prospective adopters who keep their dogs outside. Please give consideration with an open mind.

In many cases it is not safe for a dog to live outside. Yard dogs often become bored and look for ways to participate in activites on the other side of the fence. Boredom may cause the dog to become a nuisance barker. Being loose in the yard leaves a dog vulnerable to a neighbor who may get fed up with the constant noise, and do something to harm the dog. And we certainly have seen many cases where yard dogs have been stolen, especially if the dog is in tact. But many times for the purpose of pit bull baiting or to be sold to labs.

Outside Dogs
Outdoor Dog Facts
Outside Territorial Behavior

The Outside Dog
Dennis Fetko Philosophy

PawPrint · Smitten by Boxers

Seriously, Boxers are not an outside breed. And with how horribly cold it has been, that pup needs to be indoors now. So please bring him inside into the warm house and work on his house breaking.

A Boxer would rather be with their family and not left outside in the cold :(

martyboy · House Broken

Ok,
For one I live in Australia where the climate is not as harsh as some other parts of nth America or Europe. It is summer here and the temperatures at night are warm say the equivelant of 70-75 degrees in your measure.
We have great neighbours and a large yard for him to roam and play. When winter comes he will sleep inside but we dont get snow and it doesnt get below zero either and to be absoluitly honest he "DOESNT WANT TO COME INSIDE"
We want him to be happy and at this stage he is happy to have his adventures in the yard. We are outside a fair bit playing with him too.

PawPrint · Smitten by Boxers

Regardless of where you live with your Boxer, there is one basic fact of this breed: They are a family dog. Unless your family is living out in the backyard in a tent, your Boxer wants to be with you. I have had Boxers for far too long to not know this

.

Back to your question. You are not going to be able to train your Boxer to only use a corner of your yard when you are not actively living with your Boxer. At this time they are outside and master of their domain. You are a person dwelling in the house and am master of your domain. While eventually they may figure out what you want, the way you have it set up I don't see this being as easy to accomplish as a true house breaking.

I guess I have one puzzling question in my head with that layout you have described: Why did you get a Boxer? What was it about this breed that attracted you to them?

martyboy · House Broken

I got a boxer for a many reasons most relating to their temprament with children, their loyalty, their look and ability to be security or protective dog for the children and home.

I understand that most Boxers are indoors with their owners but mine doesnt want to!!! you seem to be missing that point!! whenever he is invited inside he goes straight for the door to get back outside. Like any other living breathing thing a boxer does have his own personality, likes and dislikes too!!

I am not apposed to him being indoors he just doenst like it. Which brings me to my next point!! when boxers were first dicovered years ago were they discovered in a home? I am not trying to be troublesome but trying to make a point that boxers werent not disovered living in a house with the family. From memory boxers were used as police dogs in europe many years ago.
He is a very happy pup.

PawPrint · Smitten by Boxers

martyboy wrote:
I am not trying to be troublesome but trying to make a point that boxers werent not disovered living in a house with the family. From memory boxers were used as police dogs in europe many years ago.

From the beginning of this breed, they have long been a dog that could go along with their owners to work and live in their homes to protect their family. Long time Boxer owners from many years ago love to tell stories of growing up with a Boxer in their home. Watching over them when they were little and even pushing them away from a hot fireplace. A dog locked in your backyard cannot protect your family. Nor can they be a member of your family. They are simply a dog in the yard.

But if you want to go back into history, man lived in caves and tried to keep warm with buffalo hides. Thankfully both they and their Boxers decided a warm home was better .

Sister Ray · All Grown Up

I've never known a dog, including nortic breeds, that doesn't want to be indoors when its people are inside. Boxers are very needy (a Doberman rescue site I visit says about this trait "You'll never go to the bathroom alone again".).

BoxerSue · Congratulations!

I understand that most Boxers are indoors with their owners but mine doesnt want to!!! you seem to be missing that point!!

=====================================================

I don't think anyone is missing that point, but it is just so overwhelmingly unusual for a Boxer. Can I ask how long you've had this pup? I have an idea that the pup may not have really bonded to you and your family yet, which is why it might be preferring the adventures to be found out in the yard. Or perhaps your pup is not getting enough exercise, so doesn't want to be cooped up.
What area of Australia do you call home? Are venomous snakes common in your area? I personally would really worry about a young, curious pup, alone in a yard where a venomous snake might cruise by, begging for a "look see" from the pup.
Can I suggest you work on building a strong bond with your puppy? This will require you spending lots of time, both playing and training your pup, snuggling, and romping. I can't remember any more special time than the first months of building a relationship with a new puppy. It is so special to watch them discovering new things, learning games you teach it, growing and maturing into a well behaved, goofy, and loving Boxer.

Jonney · All Grown Up

The word I hear repeated in this thread is *bonding*. And it is vital in order to effectively train a dog.

As was mentioned, your pup at this point is master of the outdoors and you are master of the indoors. This is not an ideal way to raise a pup you wish to be obedient; especially a boxer since they can grow up to be quite stubborn.

Please consider going back to the previous post where links were provided on outdoor dogs. There is some very good information in them by people and agencies that have a multitude of experience.

BluStorm · Grand Champion

I do see his point. That the dog does want to be outside... My dogs love to go outside they love to play and run around but there is more then one of them and they have each other to be with. I just one of them are out there.. they just sit by the door and wait for me to open it to let them back in... But maybe he has an exception to the rule. If the dog is not in harm and is loved and cared for and is happy outside then maybe it is best for him.. now the rest of a Boxer owners know that ours love to be inside. But his sounds like it loves the outside....

Now I have a little story.
I have a cat named CC (camo cat). She is an all American barn cat. She is named camo cat because she loves to sneak around and hide from you and her fur has a green tint to it and with the black striping it seems like she has a camouflage look to her... ok I got her because my neighbors a few house down got her when she was a kitten and they have about 17 kids over there... I am not joking they really do... they are Romanian and I use work with one of the kids.. and soon as she quit being a kitten they started abusing her.. quit feeding her would kick her and just be all around mean.... so after she was roughly 1.5 years old I am not sure of her age.. I noticed her hanging around my apartment and appeared hungry and she looked pregnant.. but she wasn't she had worms so bad she was just a bloated ball of fur..so long story short I started feeding her and got rid of her worms and got her back to health... but this whole time she was not a loving cat... was nervous would not let me pick her up and just was offish... I couldn't take her to the vet because she was so skittish.. it took me a year to get her to trust me enough to pick her up and carry her around. I brought her in the house.. totally different cat.. I could pick her up and hug her and pet her and she did not run away.... but she hated the house meow meow until you let her outside again.... she would not even come in during a ice storm, snow, rain.. nothing was getting that cat in... I moved to a house bigger she had the place to herself... lots of loving lots of food and water... she hates the house meow all the time.. until I let her out... she does not purr never in almost 10 years now and I never heard her purr one time. she will not play with you.. if you try and play she freaks out.. she is roughly 12 now and to this day will not come in the house unless I pick her up and drag her in.... she hates it with a passion... So now that she is old we have reached a compromise she lives in my garage.. I built her a nice little pad.. up high so the dogs cant bug her with food water her own bed and a litter box.. she can stay in all day if she wants or I will let her outside.. I have two Siamese cats now.. only indoor. they are total opposites.. one is a loving has to be near me all the time.. talks all the time.. the other I hardly ever see her she is totally independent.. I have treated them the same gave them the same amount of love and time and they are very different.. So my point is maybe this is one of the excetions to the rule for this Boxer.. Like my cat CC.. who ever heard of a cat that never wanted to come in a house.. or purred or didnt want to be picked up and loved.... or Blu that just wants me to let her be and not bug her. she comes to me when she needs loving.. I wish all my cats were like Storm.. but I have to accept them for who and what they are..