Larian Studios Forums General Chat Chat (Anything) Does anyone know something about doggytraining?

ignoring is the worst punishment for a dog. Dogs want attention even if they have to do bad stuff to get it.

Yep it's really true but not only for dogs. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Barta

Yeah, I don't like doing it either but it's still better then beating your dog isn't? And I for one never ignore a nice person, soo I'm off the hook then? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

@ Lafille
I know I told you this before, but I think I'm gonna start to mop my whole house with vinegar. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/badsmile2.gif" alt="" /> She does it where ever and whenever she can!

@Seth
Thanks Seth, for the advice. But that was just the thing that we were doing, without the results we hoped for. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/puppyeyes.gif" alt="" /> I'm soo sorry, but nothing new here. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

When my doggy was still a baby i put drawsheets with absorbent cotton in the bathroom during the night.
In the morning i had just to throw away the dirty drawsheets.

Barta

Ok, like she's prolly to old to teach her new tricks. It's just your fault then. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
A mix of what LaFille and I told you should help.
They hate that smell.
But again... why doesn't she like outside?
Big dogs ore other animals there? A busy road near where you live? She's prolly scared of something.
Dogs love to mark their turf. And as it's a she, she wants to atrack males by leaving her "flag".

Gal, what do you do with her during the time that you are not at home?

When we first got each one of our two little dogs we put ourselves on a doggie
schedule. We took them out often (very often, every 30 minutes to an hour). Also
we never just let them out. We stayed outside with them and told them to pottie
(our word for them to go) over and over. When they went we told them how good
they were and petted them, and then took them back inside.

We also kept a very close eye on them when they were in the house and if they
started to go on the floor we immediately grabbed them and ran them outside so
they could finish there. Like the others have said, we made sure we told them
how good they were and petted them when they went. Then we took them back inside.

If they had an accident in the house, we told them no very firmly and took them
outside and told them they were suppose to go out there, repeating it over and
over and telling them to pottie. After giving them a few minutes outside, we took them back in.

Any time we had to leave the house, we penned them up. We had a box just big
enough for them to have a bed and put one of the girl's old baby blankets in it.
This kept them from messing up the floor and it also made them want to keep
their bed dry. We also put them in this at night. We took them out the last
thing before we went to bed, put them to bed and then took them out when we got
up the next morning. They soon learned to hold it all night or when we were
gone, because they didn't want to wet or mess in their bed.

One main thing like LaFille said, you have to get rid of the scent where they
have gone even if you have to clean or mop everything with something that will
kill their scent. If they can get even the slightes scent of where they have
been they will go there again.

Good luck. I know it can get frustrating.

Shan <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

*woof* bites shan feet. *woof* think she knows me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
*bites again+ *eeek, taste almost
human*

Thing said, thing done; here are some links that will be useful for you. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
It is from the Purina website (A dog food brand). Usually, commercial companies like that only provide infos that will allow them to sell their products better, but this one has very much trustful and quality information on a lot of aspects of dog training and education.

Housetraining and crate training.

About crate training, if you intent do try it (that's the technique I used myself to housetrain my dog, and it worked great):
A dog like yours reaches his physical maturity at the age of 6 months, so she should be able to restrain herself correctly for her poos and pees. (Be sure she doesn't do it inside because of physical disorders.) After that age, a dog usually can stay in his crate for a max of 8 hours. Begin gradually, as they explain on the link above, during the day, and make her sleep in the crate (closed) for the night. Put her in at the same time that you go to bed. I suggest that you begin that training on a weekend because if she isn't used to be locked in a crate she'll probably weep a lot the first times (what can be hard on the sleep, you see <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" /> ). Be sure that she doesn't drink for a little while, a big hour, before putting her in the crate for long periods such as the night or when you go to work. And bring her outside so that she can release herself and move before that long period in her crate. The first thing to do when it comes to get her out of the crate is to bring her outside so she can relieve herself; immediately, don't wait (and don't forget to reward her when she does it good). She'll also have a great need to move and play after that. This technique has been the right one for a lot of desperate dog owners. Good luck! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Another great and fun tool on the Purina website is the dog breed selector; an online questionnaire that lists what breed of dog could suit the best to your needs, lifestyle and preferences. A great feature for the ones planning to choose a canine companion, with detailed infos on each breed, and a fun one for those who are simply curious. Enjoy!



In french, sh*t-zus ("ch*e dessous" when pronounced fast) means "poop under". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

If *woof* keeps biting at Shan's feet, *woof* will get in big trouble. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Shan doesn't like *woofs* that bite her. It hurts. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />
Shan likes good *woofs*. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Shan <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Sorry Shan. *bites again*
I guess it was wolfie in me. I won't do it again.
*Tears Shan shoes apart* <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
*puppy dog eyes - it wasn't me. I found them like that*
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

@ Seth
You sure seem to get away with it when you use you puppy eyes on Shan! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

About her not going outside, she wants to go outside, because there she can play with the chickens and chase after the cats. She likes that a lot and when it's warm enough I leave the door open, so she can run in and out as she pleases.

Today we went to a vet. Guess what she told us? She let her smell some samples of pee and poop (it was on some small cards that she had used to test doggie-urine) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> from other dogs, just to see her reactions. She reacted by peeing on them. She peed on every card!
Diagnosis: We have a very dominant dog and she will pee in the house as long as we keep our shoes on inside the house. Our shoes leave the scent of other dogs everywhere in the house and she wants to cover them up. That is why she scratch her feet over grass or sand when she's finished. Not to cover up like a cat, as I thought, but to cover up the smell of the other dog.
She is also not afraid of other dogs, even bigger ones or giant dogs.
But she recognise us as her masters even my boy who is not taller then 1 m.
She will prolly never stop peeing in the house because you bring in the smell of other dogs anyhow. By visitors or people that go in and out.
Lucky for me I know how to handle a mop! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
But I will try the vinegar and continue to put her outside when she pees, or on the regular base as we were doing at the moment.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

So you have found possibly why she does that. Ok. Now this is not a reason to accept a such behavior; even more from an animal that has a dominant temper. If you accept these behaviors, let her be dominative and do not assume your "Alpha individual" role, she might come to try to challenge you and developpe disturbing (even agressive) demeanors. It is even more important to take care and handle that aspect of your dog since you have a baby at home and that dominant dogs easily developpe "dominant agression" behavior.

Canine pack dynamics: this page explains the general hyerarchy, dynamic of packs among the wild canine species, and the points that apply to the dynamic of a family living with a dog in order to avoid that he developpes agressive/dominating behaviors.

Dog drives: about the different general inborn behaviour tendencies. It's helpful to determinate what traning/correction techniques to use for your dog.

And here is a link to the table of contents about canine behavior from that same website ( <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" /> ). That should help you to understand your dog better and give you some keys on how to set things right. At least read these three articles: "Firmness works for dogs, too!", "Who’s in charge here, anyway?" and "This dog is driving me crazy!". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

Once the problem of authority has been solved, you'll be up to enjoy better all the good sides of the life with a dog; this is a hard time to go through, but it's worth it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
Give us some news of your progresses! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

Fille <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

Very good advice LaFille. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I have a little Pekingese who would now rule our house if we hadn't put a stop to
it. Don't let your little dog take over. You have got to get control now while
she is little or she will never have any respect for you and do what you want her
to do. It is not going to be easy, but it can be done. Even if she is a dominant
dog, she can be trained not to potty in the house and to do the other things that
you will want her to do. (come when called, sit when told to sit, stay when told
to stay, be quite when told to be quite, etc)

The main thing is teach her to live in your house and be a member of your family
instead of you giving her the house and you living in it with her. This may sound
funny, but it can happen. It is not easy and it takes a ton of time and patience,
but the reward in the end is well worth the effort.

Don't let her train you, you train her. (and when you are always having to follow
along and clean up after her she is training you) You can do it. We know you can
and like LaFille said 'we want to hear of you making progress not the dog making
progress' <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

Shan <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

And Seth, don't try to pull those puppy dog eyes on me. I've got 2 little girls
that I don't let get away with that and also 2 little dog. And if I won't let
them get away with pulling that stunt on me, I'm sure not going to go for it
when you try it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

Shan <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/offtopic.gif" alt="" />

@ Shan -> *looking at Seth with evil eyes* <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/badsmile2.gif" alt="" /> Spanking! Spanking! Spanking! Spanking! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" />

um... jang
Remember who has your soul... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" />
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/badsmile2.gif" alt="" />

bu.. bu.. bu.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" /> i'm gonna tell Barta! *runs off crying* <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/silly.gif" alt="" />

back on topic: i know this sounds silly, but most of u do not live in tropical weather so maybe it's hard to answer this;

i do appreciate dogs (though i am mainly a err.... pussy lover <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> ) but it's always the smell that puts me off. i cannot stand strong smell (u'll see me sneezing to no end). an aunt of mine told me that to get rid of smell, doggies need constant bath. but on tropical weather, doggies always give out smell in a day or two after bath so should i bathe it that often? won't doggies get sick, especially if given bath on a day that is not hot (the fur won't dry up soon & might give it cold)?

i'm not choosy about the kind of dogs, so long as it is a good guard doggie. consider me a newbie. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

janggut! You're interested in dogs!? Cool! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/party.gif" alt="" />
And, in fact, dogs and cats are not necessarly incompatible. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

About the smell, I'm not sure about anything, but I'll try to get some infos and will post it here a bit later. But know that the different breeds are reacting differently to the temperatures. For example, in a general way, the dog breed's resistance to cold goes along with the proportionnal lenght of their muffle. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" /> I know it sounds funny but it really seems to be true; most dogs with flat noses are very sensitive to the cold but deal very easily with the hot temperatures. There are three different people owning boxers in my neighbourhood, and all threes do the weird thing to sleep clung on the electric heating plinthes in winter. On of them even does it with the "wood stove". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />
Anyway; that was to say that different breeds have different climate adaptations. If you plan to get a dog and are disturbed by the smell, probably that a breed that is adapted to hot&humid climates would bring you less problems on that point. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

As for the baths, it is very important not to wash a dog too often. It brings skin problems if yo do. Personally, I wash my dog once per season if she doesn't need more (like when she played all the way in the swomp, or tried to sneak in a cat & skunk fight... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ouch.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/memad.gif" alt="" /> )
The bath frequency should ideally be around that: 4 to 6 times a year; but again, that depends much on the breed. Same thing for the "guard dog" potential.

If you plan to get a dog, you have everything to win by choosing your breed wisely and carefully; it can count as much as its innate temper/the social position he has towards other dogs and his litter.
Tell me if ever you intend to do so; it would be a pleasure for me to help you in the process.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

I haven't found anything concrete yet about the natural general odor of dogs; I only found info about bad smell caused by precise factors. This page gives a good summary of the main incidents & problems that can make a dog smell stronger/bad. Apart from that, it is a fact that dogs will smell stronger when they suffer from the heat,

That way, what I would tell you to avoid a dog to smell strong two days after his bath is to go with a breed that has a "single coat", short fur, that doesn't shed a lot and that handles the heat well. And about the dog getting sick because of its wet fur, it is not likely to happen; especially not in your country, and even less with a single coated doggie. Its fur would be dry before he needs to return outside (if you make him live inside the house, of course). Considering more the breeds that origin from countries with a similar climate to yours would help a lot too, since they're already genetically well adapted to those climates.

I just discovered that there is an indigenous breed whose origin is Malaysia: the Telomian, which has good aptitudes as a guard and hunt dog. And it's a really beautiful breed!


Hope that answered your questions; don't hesitate if you have some more. And tell us if ever you decide to make the big jump. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

wow, that's great, Fille! thanks! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/kissyou.gif" alt="" /> i mean woof! woof! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> will chekc out the links & such.

i know single coated doggies are less prone to smell (easier to deal with lice problems too). this beard is very sensitive at the nose. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shhh.gif" alt="" />

since i can't stand a bit of dirt in the house, the doggie will stay out. of course he/she will have his/her place. a guard doggie is a great thing & this is one of the primary factors in decision. thanks for thinking of it, Fille.