Trouble With Litter Training?
September 17, 2009 by admin
Filed under Care & Training Q&As
Hi,
We just (kind of) successfully litter trained our 3 year-old Papillon. However, the past two days when he’s been going to the bathroom, he’s been pooping outside of the litter box close to our toilet. He’ll pee in there though. I can’t really scold him, because I don’t catch him doing it, because he doesn’t like when we watch him (obviously) and I’m just happy he’s going in the bathroom. So, my question is, what could be the cause of this and how can I correct it? Thanks!
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why didn’t you just get a cat then?
the cause of this…. are ya ready….???
DOGS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO ELIMINATE IN THEIR DEN!
EVER!
your dog’s den is your house! that’s filthy, why didn’t you just properly train the thing to potty outside like other dogs??
don’t use the excuse that it’s small…. my m-i-l is a former breeder of mini dachshunds, and still has 15 of them in her large house, and the ONLY one who has accidents is 19 years old!
keep the box clean. change the litter each time he uses the box even if he just pees.
that’s why people don’t litter train dogs…
stop being lazy and take your dog outside like normal dog owners
Probably needs a bigger box?
It is against the dogs nature to eliminate where he lives. You’re asking him to do something that is not natural, so you need to be patient while he learns.
“he doesn’t like when we watch him” – well, who cares what he likes, you don’t like when he poops outside of his box, do you? stand there and watch him. when starts to poo outside of his box, then pick him up and put him in his box. Then give him a treat and throw him a little party (get all excited, jump up and down, clap your hands, tell him how good that was and how proud you are of him in a high pitched baby voice…seriously). He’ll get over his performance anxiety really quickly once he makes the connection that when you watch him do his thing in the box, then he gets treats every time. Be consistent with your rewards and he’ll be consistent in the behavior.
It’s basic dog training – reward the behavior that you want repeated. if you’re not watching, then his behavior is never reinforced, be it positively or negatively. you MUST reward or punish the behavior if you expect it to change.