Root Beer Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 How on earth did you attach the cue to the behavior without interrupting the "flow"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz P Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 LOL. I've done it with every dog I've owned. It's a gradual process that starts with potty training. When they go to the bathroom outside, I praise by saying "good potty" when they are done. As they get older I start saying it before they go, as they are getting in position I say "go potty." If they stop to look at me I ignore them. When they get in position again I say "go potty" again. Eventually they do relieve themselves and I praise. So, basically, you say your command as they are getting in position to go, then ignore them. Eventually they link the command with going to the bathroom and will go on command. Very useful when you are traveling, the weather is bad or you want to teach them to only go in a certain part of the yard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maja Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 I did to all my puppies . Just added the word quietly when they were in the process relieving themselves and then praised them when done. Great for traveling as Lis says good too when the dog is excited and you're about to trial - they go like "oh yeah, that's what I've been wanting to do, I jes' forgot" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CptJack Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 Yeah, basically I just go outside and say 'Go pee' or 'go poop' depending on what they were doing, then threw a party when they finished. Eventually it goes from 'paired with action' to 'command', the same way any capturing thing does. Never had a dog stop midstream because I was talking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maralynn Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 Yup, pretty much what they said. With Kolt I started from day one - take him out on a leash, say "hurry up", wait for him to potty then praise and start playtime. I never waited until the dog was actually peeing, I just give the command and wait for it to happen. They seem to catch on pretty quick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moosikins Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 When Callie was tiny, we'd just say stuff like "Good potty" or "Good outside" so we don't have just one cue - but she knows that something along the lines of "Potty time" or "Go potty" means to go quickly. She still takes her time to sniff for a good spot, it's not an instant command...but it lets her know that I'd like her to finish up. It just sort of clicks eventually! I think she also knows the difference between "Let's go outside" and "Want to go for a walk?". The first is asking her if she needs to go out, so she'll usually expect a quick run out and return to the front door. And the second means my husband will take her on a really nice, leisurely romp around the neighborhood and she gets to sniff all the things before deciding which one to pee on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cass C Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 I lived in an apartment with no fence with Lyka for almost a year and while potty training her I would take her out on a leash and say "go potty" then stop and wait for her to go once she did it was a party with attention and yummy treats. After a while I just said go potty (only when I know she has to go) and she just peed with out question. Lily seemed to pick it up from Lyka and started peeing whenever I told them to 'go potty', because I didn't feel like standing outside watching them to make sure they went in below freezing tempatures. They also picked up 'get out there and go poop' from me reminding Lily to poop when I knew she needed to go, but she was running around like a crazy puppy instead. Lyka just started stopping to poop whenever I said that, so I assume she got it from Lily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urge to herd Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 Gibbs was trained when I got him, so it was a pretty simple process. Praise for the act - it never seemed to interrupt him. Then praise just before he lifted his leg. Then, (and here's where I made a brilliant tactical move, if I do say so myself) I'd take him out and let him run and play soccer for a few minutes, then stop and give the cue. The first couple times he was a bit confused. I took him inside, and just ignored him for 20 minutes or so. Outside again. Again with the soccer. Twenty minutes or so and the cue. If he didn't pee, inside we'd go, with me being simply neutral about it all. Repeat until he really has to go - then the minute he was finished peeing, the soccer ball was in play again! Hooray! The post-pee soccer was a big reinforcement for him peeing on cue. It took maybe 3 days, start to finish, to get him really solid. Nowadays that's the routine - kick that soccer ball, run like a crazy dog for a few minutes, cue for pee, desired result, more soccer. Works like gang busters. Every time that he doesn't pee, the play ends. Every time he does pee, he gets another few minutes of soccer. I have to time my departures to leave a few minutes for the routine, but even if it's under 5 minutes to do soccer/pee/soccer, it still works. Ruth and the Very Clever Gibbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riika Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 When I took Duke out in the morning, (all night with no potty he had to go) I'd just say "go bathroom." He had to go so bad it was pretty much instantly, as I was saying it. Lots of praise and several days, and he learned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sekah Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 I wouldn't worry about interrupting the flow. However I'd probably only reward with praise and pats after the fact so the allure of reward isn't too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurelin Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 Does anyone else have a dog that fake potties? If you tell Summer to go potty and she doesn't need to she will do a fake squat then just stare at you waiting to be released. I dot ever set out to teach potty on command but all my dogs of various breeds have picked it up just from me saying 'go potty' every time i let them out and praising them when they do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz P Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 Yes, I've had many who did that. Easier to fake if they have long fur. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcv-border Posted April 16, 2015 Report Share Posted April 16, 2015 Yep, it is a HUGELY useful command when used fairly. I start the minute I get a puppy. Every time they pee - of their own accord - I say "Hurry Up" and stand there until they finish. If I happen to have treats, I will add a treat or two after they have finished. I have never had one stop in mid-stream when I say "Hurry Up", but I think that if I started walking away while they were going, I think they might stop. It depends on the dog, its age and its personality. Eventually, I start trying to time it. When the dog is just starting to squat, "Hurry Up". The next step is to try to gauge when they are going to pee even before they squat. It is a process. I will also, at times, not allow play until they pee - bringing them back inside for a while before trying again. And if they are doing too much sniffing and traveling while sniffing, I will also put the offender on a leash to get him to concentrate on peeing rather than too much sniffing. One of the most reinforcing rewards for my dogs is a ride in the car. Before they get in the car, they have to pee. But I am fair about it. If one, or both, have just peed 5-10 or 20 minutes prior, I don't ask them to pee again before loading up in the car. And yes, Torque will pretend to pee. He is older and doesn't have to pee as much as Kiefer. He can hold it much longer. So when I say "hurry up", he will try to get away with just a leg lift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borasaurus Posted April 17, 2015 Report Share Posted April 17, 2015 Kieran came already potty-trained, but when I would take him outside to go (the joys of apartment living), I would whisper "go potty" or "good job, that's potty" and he eventually internalized the cue. Now, I'm back in a house. I'm pretty sure Kieran likes playing jokes on me because he'll go sit by the back door and look at me, then at the handle. I'll then say, "you have to go potty?" and head toward the door. He waits until I'm about to open it and then bolts straight to his bed. This dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushdoggie Posted April 17, 2015 Report Share Posted April 17, 2015 I don't reward during the activity, but immediately afterwards. But I say the conditioned words (at our house it is "do your thing") quietly while they go, then with praise and petting (and occasionally a cookie) after. And yes, most of mine have learned to fake it by squatting or lifting a leg or going behind a tree for a second if they don't have to go. Poor Argos will do his level best to squeeze something out even if he is bone dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maja Posted April 17, 2015 Report Share Posted April 17, 2015 My Bonnie takes "out-of-politeness potty" - if she has already peed and then I ask her to do it, she only squats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Root Beer Posted April 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2015 Thanks everyone for your input. Definitely some good ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttiffany20191 Posted April 20, 2015 Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 Trying to think back to how I did it..I think every time she went potty Id say good potty. Then she realized what "potty" meant and now I just say "Go potty" and she does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brookitar Posted April 21, 2015 Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 When they start waiting at the door to use to the restroom I would say "go potty". I would also say go potty as they go and use reward after. Now the puppy even does it on cue outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B Point Posted April 21, 2015 Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 And if the weather is bad..... PEE OR DIE DOG...!! Works for me.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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