I understand police dogs are trained to go on command as obviously they can't go while on duty. If I remember, coloured discs were employed at the start of training, but dispensed with when the dogs were trained.
The bark chippings are a good idea, unfortunately my garden is too small to give the dog a dedicated poop area. There's not really much point anyway, as whenever I go out to clean up poop, I end up cleaning up at least as much cat poo as there is dog poo. If anyone has any ideas for keeping the cats away, I'd be interested (have tried super-soaker filled with beer and that works for a while, if I'm quick enough and my aim is OK!). Welshonion, I think the discs you're talking about are distraction discs, for use when the dog is doing something it shouldn't. I have trained dogs to go in a specific place in the past, you need to be very patient, find out when the dog normally does it's business, then take it out ON A LEAD to where you want it to go. When it goes, tell the dog 'Wee-wees' or 'poo-poos', and give lots of encouragement & treats when they've finished. They then associate the word and action, and in time the lead can be discarded, and when the dog gets let out, you can say 'wee-wees' and the dog will go to the area and do it's business.
We used to have two (sadly one had to be PTS earlier this year) and they understand this AND bedtime wee-wees - they know they won't be let out until next morning, so when we let Max out at night, he knows what's happening.
He also knows the difference between 'collect the boy' (from nursery, 30mins) and 'going shopping' (a couple of hours). But then he's a GSD Collie cross, so probably cleverer than I am!!
Have found all these ideas really helpful. We have a terrier ( oh dear) and want to tackle the garden this year. He already knows to go when let out in the morning so we just need to confine that to one area. Thanks everyone !
....If anyone has any ideas for keeping the cats away, I'd be interested (have tried super-soaker filled with beer and that works for a while, if I'm quick enough and my aim is OK!). .... !!
Hadn't heard of that idea! Think OH would be running after it with his mouth open!
Anyone seen Mummy Muddy Paws lately?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
how did you get your dog to poo and pee in the same area. My dog will wait even if he needs it to go to the local park away from his house to do this thing. And he will go to the corner of the park where there are bushes and do it there. If you look at him, he gets shy and instantly stops and then find a new place to go when your not looking.
Posts
I understand police dogs are trained to go on command as obviously they can't go while on duty. If I remember, coloured discs were employed at the start of training, but dispensed with when the dogs were trained.
The bark chippings are a good idea, unfortunately my garden is too small to give the dog a dedicated poop area. There's not really much point anyway, as whenever I go out to clean up poop, I end up cleaning up at least as much cat poo as there is dog poo. If anyone has any ideas for keeping the cats away, I'd be interested (have tried super-soaker filled with beer and that works for a while, if I'm quick enough and my aim is OK!). Welshonion, I think the discs you're talking about are distraction discs, for use when the dog is doing something it shouldn't. I have trained dogs to go in a specific place in the past, you need to be very patient, find out when the dog normally does it's business, then take it out ON A LEAD to where you want it to go. When it goes, tell the dog 'Wee-wees' or 'poo-poos', and give lots of encouragement & treats when they've finished. They then associate the word and action, and in time the lead can be discarded, and when the dog gets let out, you can say 'wee-wees' and the dog will go to the area and do it's business.
We used to have two (sadly one had to be PTS earlier this year) and they understand this AND bedtime wee-wees - they know they won't be let out until next morning, so when we let Max out at night, he knows what's happening.
He also knows the difference between 'collect the boy' (from nursery, 30mins) and 'going shopping' (a couple of hours). But then he's a GSD Collie cross, so probably cleverer than I am!!
Hadn't heard of that idea! Think OH would be running after it with his mouth open!
Anyone seen Mummy Muddy Paws lately?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
how did you get your dog to poo and pee in the same area. My dog will wait even if he needs it to go to the local park away from his house to do this thing. And he will go to the corner of the park where there are bushes and do it there. If you look at him, he gets shy and instantly stops and then find a new place to go when your not looking.