[Dailydrool] The new guy, Augie

[Pamela McQuade]

Housebreaking an older dog is the same as doing it for a puppy: 
repetition, repetition, repetition. The only difference is that an older 
hound should be able to hold it longer. You will need persistence and 
consistency to get the job done.

But the first place I'd start, especially since you're talking a dog who 
has obviously been kept outside, is with a vet visit, to make sure 
there's nothing healthwise that's causing trouble. UTIs are rarer in 
males, but they do happen. And lots of other problems cause peeing. A 
vet's office is the place to start.

The experts tell you not to yell at the hound during potty training. 
Wish I were better at keeping my mouth shut, but it's true that yelling 
really doesn't help. What may help is praise and giving treats for good 
behavior (peeing outside). At least one study showed that food is more 
effective than praise, so I'd probably use both. You can also hang some 
bells on the door, so your hound can ring for service. The down side to 
that, of course, is that you may hear a lot of ringing. Be consistent in 
ringing the doggy doorbell before you go out with Augie, and he may pick 
up on it. Our Jane did so within one day, but perhaps I was not 
consistent enough with my other dogs, or perhaps they were not as smart 
as Jane, since they never got the message--which may actually have been 
a blessing in disguise.

I also find it helpful to tune in on the dog's natural schedule. Horton, 
the last of our dogs to get training, likes to go out immediately when I 
get up--he'll even wake me sometimes. Since I work from home, I take him 
out about every two hours in the morning. But afternoons don't require 
as much "outness." See what times your hound naturally needs to go out, 
and cater to them as much as possible. Also, listen to Augie's requests. 
Some dogs will quietly let you know they need to go out--our Holly 
simply comes up to you. Others, like Horton, will pester you, jumping up 
or barking. Do not discourage that, since it's the only way he knows how 
to let you know what he needs. If you watch carefully, you may find that 
Augie has tried to let you know, but you have been missing the signals.

You have not had Augie all that long, since you've had him just short of 
a month. When dogs are rehomed, it takes a while for them to settle in 
and feel confident. Often the pottying thing is related to that, and as 
he feels more at home, Augie may improve. I would still do all the 
things I suggested above, because Waiting for him to feel comfy and not 
training could land you in a more difficult situation. And the training 
may actually help his confidence. Dogs take varying times to settle in. 
I believe that they only fully settle in a year (though they usually are 
doing extremely well before that), but some take longer, and if you have 
a major change in your home or have a dog who has had a tough life 
before you got him, that may extend the process. I know he was with his 
breeder for at least part of that time, but perhaps he had been adopted 
and returned, or perhaps his life with the breeder was not as ideal as 
we'd all like to think.

As to training for down, I think that's a tough one--furniture is very 
comfortable, and your hound knows that. You will have to give Augie 
positive reinforcement, not just a command, and the treat you offer him 
to get down will have to be a very special one--perhaps a treat you only 
use for that situation. You need to give Augie something that he thinks 
is better than being on the couch.

Just like people, dogs don't appreciate negative reinforcement, but you 
can get them to do a lot more for great treats. It's like the old adage 
about catching more flies with honey than vinegar. Having said all that, 
I like my hounds on the furniture, so I don't bother trying to change 
that. I would also suggest that you get a really cushy dog bed for 
Augie, which should help him with the transition. I would put it in the 
same room where his favorite furniture is. But in the heat of summer, 
it's possible that he'll want to be cool, not cushy, and will opt for 
the floor instead.

As for the question about digging at the carpet, some dogs will try to 
"make their bed" before they lie down. This sounds like such behavior, 
and I don't know if there's much you can do to change it. Maybe someone 
else has advice there.

Above all, remember that at one and a half, Augie is still a puppy--an 
older puppy, but a puppy all the same. If you are consistent and 
persistent, by the time he hits three he will be a well-trained adult. 
But be patient. Remember that you are dealing with a teenager, not an 
adult. Keep your eye on the kind of dog you want him to be, and with 
patience you will get there.

Pam, food slave to the Dashing Bassets