I'm laughing but crying inside too. Why are they all so crap at this? As my husband had dogs growing up (in fact, his grandparents won Crufts in the 70s!), I thought he'd be good at this stuff. I think his mother did it all and he just played with the dogs I've always had cats. I'm good with cats. But have read the books and forums to educate myself on dogs.
Oh, and needless to say, me and teen girls have red Happy Puppy books and Labrador book. Husband - no reading at all. He is sort of copying me but thinks my manic Jakey Jakey Kajey for recall is too high for him. As my recall, it works every time (at home/garden) so far expecting an epic fail once we get distractions added in. Told him he has to work on his recall. Before he takes Jake out alone. I'm not holding my breath.
I must admit I'm quite lucky with my OH but I've stopped telling him my ques as he repeats them tooooo muuuuch
To be fair to my OH, he is a master at training in context.... His cue chup-chup Charlie works. It really does. Because what OH wants the dog to do is always in context. He wants the dog to jump in the car, he gestures to the back of the car and says chup-chup Charlie, Charlie jumps in and gets a seabiscuit. He wants the dog to sit on the mat in the kitchen, a hand gesture towards the mat and a chup-chup Charlie, Charlie sit on his mat and gets a seabiscuit. OH leaves the kitchen and wants the dog to come with him, chup-chup Charlie as he leaves the room, dog follows him and gets a seabiscuit.... It's not all that bad as a training technique! Just doesn't work anywhere else, but since OH never does anything new with the dog, it's fine!
Hand gestures do work well. Jake always sticks his head in the fridge/cupboard if it is opened. A hand gesture to say get out works wonders. I always think of Snoooy hearing humans talk as "bla bla bla" when I'm talking to Jake.
This is great reading after sticking my head under the trampoline in the dark and rain to check if Molly had poo'd while OH went to bed
@PuppyJake really sorry but I've had to laugh at your posts this evening. I think it strikes a chord in all of us. I made my husband read The Happy Puppy Handbook before we brought Juno home, and sort of kept checking as to where he was in the book and what he'd read , and we all have nightmares with the repetition of cues. Give the dog a chance to SIT! at least before you start repeating . Oh and I threatened my OH with physical violence if he EVER touches one of my whistles again I think that's more with OH
I use a head torch(just hold it rather than actually wear it) as its really bright and easy to see if Jake is going or just wandering around.
Yes I did miss the poo last night! Under the trampoline is covered in bark so it blends in. Is a good place to go though, better than the lawn. Have had a lovely afternoon as Molly had her jabs today and has slept most of the time....
We have had a good day. Jake had his first walk and behaved very well. Had a good run around off lead too and met two dogs and their humans. He was not fussed with the dogs but flopped on the feet of both men for a belly rub. Think he's a bit of a tart! No wee accidents either today so far - fingers crossed.
We have a 13 week puppy and I maintain she is easier to train than her humans! We still have the occasional accident indoors, mainly if I leave her too long, mostly I think "ooo I should take Luna out for a wee it has been nearly and hour but I will just do this....." And she wees. Might it be worth going back to taking her out every half hour and devote a couple of days to it. What I did around that point was take her out every half hour and if I needed to stretch it a bit I would put her in her crate after about 20 mins inside while her bladder filled then take her out as soon as I took her out of the crate. I am just steadily extending it, but I am happy to let her potter round outside now for a while so that has helped.
We have had 2 days without accidents - yay. We still take him out very frequently - he was catching us out by weeing inside within 10 mins of weeing outside and seemed to have a time period when this was more likely to happen. So we have been hyper vigilant at these times (around 5-7pm). The 2 clear days have been since he could go on walks - so we can walk him around 5 which tires him out. He doesn't like weeing on walks - prefers to wait til he is back in the garden
That's good news @PuppyJake , sounds as if you're in the home straight now. 2 days without an accident is real progress. That is very common with puppies, and it may be some weeks before he toilets outside the garden
Cancel that thought. He used the neighbours garden when meeting their dogs today then we took him to the rec and he both wee'd and did a huge poo there. I just admit to poo picking using a trowel in the back garden, so had to do this one "by hand". It's the warmth that gets me!
Pah - you get used to it. Come winter, you'll think oooh - lovely, hand warmer. It happens to us all.
Cold poo is fine - I have 2 cats and a litter tray. Although litter tray is now put away as the puppy thinks it's a play thing for him.
