[Dailydrool] Henry and potty training

[anitra palato]

Hi Maureen!

I wanted to let you know what worked for me with 2 bassets.  Both were
puppies.

Santana was bought from a pet store before I  knew about puppy mills.  He
was 10 weeks when we bought him. Lived in a pen and was far too young to
have been taken from his momma.

Lilly was rescued from Iowa BHR at 6mths.  She was found roaming with her
momma and siblings near a farm and the farmer was going to do away with
them.  She then was with rescue from 2-6mths, we adopted her at 6mths.  They
had a doggie door and someone with the pups all day long.

Well I have no doggie door and I have 2 dogs who probably weren't in the
ideal situations for "easy" potty training.  Regardless no puppy is "easy"
I have never heard of easy potty training.

For Santana we confined him during the day to the laundry room.  We both
work 8 hours/day.  My dad was working then and couldn't let him out mid day
until Santana was closer to a year when my dad had a stroke and retired.
Then he would come let him out.  So for the mean time we lined the ENTIRE
laundry room wall to wall with newspaper.  I did this for 1 week until I
started to notice the spot Santana would favor.  After this week of him
favoring the same spot I only put newspaper in that location.  If he had a
opps and missed that spot then I lined the ENTIRe floor again to make sure
he still likes that spot.  Eventually he got the idea OR I got the idea of
his favorite spot and then I would only put newspaper there.
I can tell you there were times during the 1st 2 weeks I was coming home to
poop all over him, all over the walls and washer and dryer. I stood patient
and kept plugging along.  While home he would only have access to where I
was...if i was in the living room the kitchen was closed off. or visa
versa.  I started to look for his cues that he was ready to go..it was his
sniffy pattern...he would zig zag really fast..then I would jump up and say
lets go potty!!!! outside we would go....outside he was on a leash for
4mths....he couldn't play until he went....as i was waiting for him to go I
would say Go potty go potty go potty over and over and over.  Then when he
did I would go haywire and probably had the neighbors thinking I was nuts.
Then he could go play.  I always took him out after a meal, after drinking a
lot of water, or after play or nap.  We would set our alarm int he night
every 2 hours to get up with him to take him out.  Regardless if he asked or
not.  It took us a good 3 months to where we could finally take the
newspaper out of the laundry room, and he could finally have free roam.  The
only accidents he has now is when he is mad at mommy or daddy and will
piddle on the bed to GET EVEN!

Now for Lilly.  It was harder because we had 2 bassets in the laundry area
but I extended it out into the hall with a baby gate.  I would come home to
paper moved all over from her playing with Santana during the day.  At this
point my dad could come let them out mid day but not as often as now.  I did
have to have more patience this time around because i would come home to 2
bassets with poop on them and on the walls and washer or dryer. But
eventaully she learned to hold it, (same as Santana with the favorite spot
is how we did this) The biggest problem was Lilly would not let us know she
needed out...she was used to a doggie door at her rescue.  Santana did help
her learn though but I had to find a way for her to learn to let us know.  i
went to the dollar store bought this huge bell during christmas and attached
it to a ribbon and hung it from the door.  1st I did treat training i would
say touch and point to the bell with the treat.  she would go for the treat
and ring the bell then i would open the door immediately and say wanna go
potty?  she got it and now rings the bell when she wants out.   I also did
the leash deal with her and potty parties I callt hem.

Took her about 5mths to finally get trained.  Until recently she had a
couple accidents but I think its from a non spayed female next door who just
came from the mother of the kid who can't take the doggie to her new place.
Lilly's boyfriend is next door Sam but she calls him Samuel and I think
Lilly is threatened by the new female so she is marking the carpet!  So I am
puzzled by this but think it will work itself out.

Hope this helps and sorry it is so long!
it's a lot of work but dogs can't train themselves!

-- 
Anitra | Momma To the Hounds |
Santana Mr Pants & Lilly Belle Rose
~~La Casa De Pantalones~~

"My family is not confined to mother, mate, and child; but it includes all
creatures be they tame or wild; my family upon this earth includes all
living things, on land, or in the ocean deep, or borne aloft on wings.~
Alicia S. Carpenter"
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