I must be doing this wrong...

[petertdavis]

My dog: a four month old collie dog

My goal: to get him to lay peacefully next to me in my home office while I work


We've had him out for three walks already today (it's only 10am), plus an hour or so in the kennel while we showered and ate breakfast. I bring him in to be with me while I work. If I leave the door open so he can go out, he's restless and paces back and forth and can't seem to settle down. If I close the door, he lies down almost immediately. However, within five minutes of me closing the door this morning, he's peeing on the floor. It's not the first time he does this, a couple days ago he pooped on the floor two minutes after coming in from a 90 minute walk.

Yes, we realize he's just a baby, we've only had him two weeks.
Yes, we're starting training classes next week.
Yes, we wash the area with vinigar and water after he does it.

I don't want to hit him or something like that, it's not really my style. We do give him a treat nearly every time he does his thing outside in an appropriate area. When he does do it in the house, I won't punish him but I do put him in his kennel. It's a nice kennel, 16x10 with some toys, so other than not being with his people I think he is happy there.

 

[Gempress]

Welcome to the forum, and congrats on your new dog! Good job getting him enrolled in training classes.

My dog: a four month old collie dog

That explains everything right there. Collies are herding dogs...they are known for their high energy and intelligence. And your dog is a puppy. He doesn't want to lay down, he wants to play! It's like you're asking an imaginative three-year-old toddler to sit next to you and be quiet for a long period of time.

Your best bet would be to provide him with a toy, something special that he gets only when you're working. I think a kong stuffed with treats would be good. Or perhaps a natural bone to chew on.

It sounds like you're progressing well on the housetraining. It can be frustrating at times, but stick with it. Be sure to keep an eye on your pup to see when he's going to pee. Just because he was outside walking doesn't mean his bladder is empty.

 

[Fran27]

Just to add something - you will NEVER teach your dog to pee outside if you just leave the door open. You NEED to be outside with the pup to be able to praise him when he pees there (or poops), otherwise he will never understand that it's better to pee outside.

So, close that door, and open it and go out with him for 10 minutes every hour or so. Then let him in and close the door again.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

Using some method to confine the pup will help him learn to stay in "his space" while you work.

Use a crate, an ex pen, a tether, whatever. Keep him near you so you can see him and then know if he needs to go out.

Keep him plenty of good toys to keep him occupied, and plan on lots of morning and late evening exercise for him.

At 4 mos he should also be in training class with you.

 

[petertdavis]

Just to add something - you will NEVER teach your dog to pee outside if you just leave the door open. You NEED to be outside with the pup to be able to praise him when he pees there (or poops), otherwise he will never understand that it's better to pee outside.

So, close that door, and open it and go out with him for 10 minutes every hour or so. Then let him in and close the door again.

I guess I forgot to mention, when I leave the door open, he does go outside on the lawn to pee. I haven't seen him go out on his own to poop yet, but if I leave the door open he will go out to pee.

And we do take him for frequent walks. This morning when he peed, we had just came back from a walk, five minutes before. There was no indication he needed to pee, he just peed.

 

[petertdavis]

Welcome to the forum, and congrats on your new dog! Good job getting him enrolled in training classes.



That explains everything right there. Collies are herding dogs...they are known for their high energy and intelligence. And your dog is a puppy. He doesn't want to lay down, he wants to play! It's like you're asking an imaginative three-year-old toddler to sit next to you and be quiet for a long period of time.

Your best bet would be to provide him with a toy, something special that he gets only when you're working. I think a kong stuffed with treats would be good. Or perhaps a natural bone to chew on.

It sounds like you're progressing well on the housetraining. It can be frustrating at times, but stick with it. Be sure to keep an eye on your pup to see when he's going to pee. Just because he was outside walking doesn't mean his bladder is empty.

Thanks for the post! I chuckled about the point about the three year old toddler. My four year old can sit for quite a while, ever since I got him his own computer and some games, he thinks is really cool to sit next to dad working on his own computer. Maybe the dog needs his one too.

 

[petertdavis]

Using some method to confine the pup will help him learn to stay in "his space" while you work.

Use a crate, an ex pen, a tether, whatever. Keep him near you so you can see him and then know if he needs to go out.

Keep him plenty of good toys to keep him occupied, and plan on lots of morning and late evening exercise for him.

At 4 mos he should also be in training class with you.

Yea, we have the crate, I just hate to put him in there too much. We do at night, because I don't want to leave him outside, and loose in the house isn't an option until he learns a few things.

The ex pen sounds like a great idea, that way I could put newspapers or something on the floor, so he won't make any stains. Heh, if I keep up buying things, though, the dog will end up with as many accessories as my kid has, and that's scary!

 

[poodlesmom]

Thanks for the post! I chuckled about the point about the three year old toddler. My four year old can sit for quite a while, ever since I got him his own computer and some games, he thinks is really cool to sit next to dad working on his own computer. Maybe the dog needs his one too.

You've hit the nail on the head yourself. While your 4 yo son is quietly playing on his computer he is actually doing something and using his mind. There would be a completely different scenario if you were expecting him to just sit or lay there with nothing to engage his brain. Your pup is exactly the same.

As far as pottying outside it sounds as though he's made great progress in the 2 weeks you've had him. With your staying attuned to his signs and getting him outside he will continue improving.

 

[vandynole]

Peter, see my post. I hate to burst your bubble, but dog is 9 months old and still can't calm down. I feel your pain.

http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30626