Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
> I`d love some imput here. I have a 7month (edging on 8)male Newf. He came
> to me trained to paper, not to crate. Crate training was a loosing
> battle. He never stopped barking, peed and pooped in it (and all over
> himself as a result). This went on for weeks without any improvement. I
> finally gave in, and put paper down ontop of a plastic crate tray on the
> floor in a corner he would constantly picked to do his business. He is
> walked at least 6 times a day, There are times he does not do a thing no
> matter HOW long I am out there walking him back and forth at the areas he
> DOES at other times do his business. Needless to say, I give up , bring
> him in, and sure enough he goes on the tray with the paper. If there is
> no paper in the tray, he will go in the tray anyway. If there is no tray
> in the corner, and there is paper somewhere on the floor, he will go on
> the paper. If there is neither, he will go anywhere. If the tray and
> paper is down for him, he can havre the whole 1st floor of the house, and
> he will make sure to do his business on the tray. I am so torn, for I am
> afraid if I remove the tray, he will start going anywhere and everywhere,
> for he IS VERY good with using that tray. Imput from those who have been
> there and suceeded would be greatly appreciated. Should I just give him
> more time and hope he`ll just grow up on his own? My girls(newfs) were
> much quicker when it came to housebreaking. Is it more a boy thing too?
>

>>Hi,
>>> I`d love some imput here. I have a 7month (edging on 8)male Newf. He came
>>> to me trained to paper, not to crate. Crate training was a loosing
>>> battle. He never stopped barking, peed and pooped in it (and all over
>>> himself as a result). This went on for weeks without any improvement. I
>>> finally gave in, and put paper down ontop of a plastic crate tray on the
>>> floor in a corner he would constantly picked to do his business. He is
>>> walked at least 6 times a day, There are times he does not do a thing no
>>> matter HOW long I am out there walking him back and forth at the areas he
>>> DOES at other times do his business. Needless to say, I give up , bring
>>> him in, and sure enough he goes on the tray with the paper. If there is
>>> no paper in the tray, he will go in the tray anyway. If there is no tray
>>> in the corner, and there is paper somewhere on the floor, he will go on
>>> the paper. If there is neither, he will go anywhere. If the tray and
>>> paper is down for him, he can havre the whole 1st floor of the house, and
>>> he will make sure to do his business on the tray. I am so torn, for I am
>>> afraid if I remove the tray, he will start going anywhere and everywhere,
>>> for he IS VERY good with using that tray. Imput from those who have been
>>> there and suceeded would be greatly appreciated. Should I just give him
>>> more time and hope he`ll just grow up on his own? My girls(newfs) were
>>> much quicker when it came to housebreaking. Is it more a boy thing too?
>>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Start by having him medically checked. Switch to taking him out once per hour whenever you're at home and awake. Try setting up a tray out there like the one you have indoors that he does use. Teach him a cue phrase ("Go Potty" or whatever you want to say) that means to do it here and now, and reward him with treats when he does.

If you're not doing a lot of training with this dog of all kinds, get busy with that. It's a brilliant, willing breed, and training will help him bond to you and learn to look for the meaning in your directions to him. Here's a link to a lot of training info, including housetraining:

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com