Woodstock, eating out of my parents' dog, Lilly's bowl. Keep in mind, she's a 50-lb six month old Aussie Shepherd.Way to go little Woody!
I guess it's time for another venting sesh :) Last weekend I was able to go home and take a REAL weekend free from work. It was incredible, but just makes me yearn for a typical 40-hour a week job with weekends free. I digress. I was able to bring Woodstock home and let him play with Lilly and give him the first real day with me.
So for the first time, I didn't have to work and leave him alone for a few hours! And I got to do so for about four days. Meaning I tried to train Woody to do his business outside. He's completely puppy mat trained, but wouldn't go anywhere but his mat before. Well, now he kind of understands that he's supposed to go outside - or in the very least that he's allowed to go outside. He'll sit at the back door and wait for me to open it. His first instinct is still to bolt for his pads, but if I catch him and put him outside instead, he'll go.
I think it's a good start, but I'm confusing the hell out of him! Because now when he's alone, I think he forgets he can go on his pad since I made him go outside. So he had 3.5 (don't ask) accidents on Monday and only two accidents yesterday. I've actually halted the making him go outside training part because I think I want to get a crate finally! Everything I've read says to wait until a puppy reaches 10 weeks to crate train him. Well, Woody's now at that mark.
So my hope is that he won't go in his bed. Therefore, I'll leave him in a crate (once I buy one) for three-ish hours then come home and let him go outside for lunch. Then back in the crate he goes for another four hours and I let him out all evening to play and run around. When I'm with him, I can actively make sure he goes potty outside and not anywhere his confused little mind tells him to.
Now if only I can get him to stop chomping on everything.... (tried making hurt puppy noises, squirt bottle, saying a firm "no", flicking his snout, closing his snout, ignoring it, giving him hard chewy toys.... little guy's teeth just bug the crap out of him and he does nothing but bite anything around including my hands all day long!)
So for the first time, I didn't have to work and leave him alone for a few hours! And I got to do so for about four days. Meaning I tried to train Woody to do his business outside. He's completely puppy mat trained, but wouldn't go anywhere but his mat before. Well, now he kind of understands that he's supposed to go outside - or in the very least that he's allowed to go outside. He'll sit at the back door and wait for me to open it. His first instinct is still to bolt for his pads, but if I catch him and put him outside instead, he'll go.
I think it's a good start, but I'm confusing the hell out of him! Because now when he's alone, I think he forgets he can go on his pad since I made him go outside. So he had 3.5 (don't ask) accidents on Monday and only two accidents yesterday. I've actually halted the making him go outside training part because I think I want to get a crate finally! Everything I've read says to wait until a puppy reaches 10 weeks to crate train him. Well, Woody's now at that mark.
So my hope is that he won't go in his bed. Therefore, I'll leave him in a crate (once I buy one) for three-ish hours then come home and let him go outside for lunch. Then back in the crate he goes for another four hours and I let him out all evening to play and run around. When I'm with him, I can actively make sure he goes potty outside and not anywhere his confused little mind tells him to.
Now if only I can get him to stop chomping on everything.... (tried making hurt puppy noises, squirt bottle, saying a firm "no", flicking his snout, closing his snout, ignoring it, giving him hard chewy toys.... little guy's teeth just bug the crap out of him and he does nothing but bite anything around including my hands all day long!)
1 comment:
I am in love with Woodstock. Period. He is now my boyfriend <3
Post a Comment