Desperately Needing Help; House Training Our Whipp

[piucat]

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We have had a whippet since october, back then he was 5 months old, we thought we had him well house trained by december. About a week ago we expanded our house and he has been relieving himself all over the house...the new part of the house that is...how can he understand that the new part is also where he lives and not use it as a bathroom? my husband got so upset he was kind of harsh at him, and I felt so bad because he said our whippet is beautiful but stupid! I don´t want to believe that! since the fisrt time he used the new area as a bathroom, I tried the usual method: scold him, put him in his crate and leave him there for 5 minutes. Then take him to the garden (where he is supossed to go) and tell him to go pee there. (I am good at that cue). But today it was too much...he went pee and po...on the new stairs. I had left for 15 minutes the house and apparently he got upset...and he CAN CRY! he hates being by himself. I love my whippet so much I just wish I knew how to do it right! is an expert inerested on helping?

 

[jinnyfizz]

Oh dear. Poor little boy

He's feeling insecure because of the change in your living accomodation and he is doing this as a reaction to the insecurity.

If you punish him in any way, you are reinforcing his insecurity and he will become worse, so please don't get cross or shut him in a crate.

I know it's hard for you but you have to ignore what he has done and clear it up without making any fuss at all.

The other thing you must do is to go back to basics with his house training and treat him as though he is a small puppy. Take him to the garden every hour and after every meal or when he wakes up.

When he goes is the right place, praise him like mad and make him feel good!! :thumbsup:

This may take a while as he is obviously feeling very upset and insecure right now, and as you have only had him from 5 months he may have had a bad start in life too

He doesn't like being left alone for the same reason - insecurity. So gradually build his confidence again by leaving him on theother side of a door, for only a minute at first, and then returning and fussing him like mad again to reward him for waiting quietly. Extend the time you are on the other side of the door and gradually get to going outside the house.

Once again this will take time and patience but it will help him to overcome his worries and feel confident about being in the house on his own.

I hope this helps a bit and I wish you all the :luck: :luck: luck in succeeding.

I believe that all whippets respond ultimately to LOVE AND AFFECTION :huggles: :huggles:

 

[Jillb]

I had exactly the same situation last year when we extended our kitchen - Merlin couldn't understand that what was previously part of our garden was now part of our house, an understandable problem I think - therefore our new kitchen floor was used as a public convenience for a while.

I dealt with it by doing the same thing as i'd done when toilet training him in the first place - I never scolded him but if I saw him in the process of 'going' i'd pick him up and put him in the garden. I would also praise him and treat him for going where he was supposed to. It didn't take long to get the message across. Good luck.

 

[LottetheBushKangaroo]

I had exactly the same situation last year when we extended our kitchen - Merlin  couldn't understand that what was previously part of our garden was now part of our house, an understandable problem I think - therefore our new kitchen floor was used as a public convenience for a while.
I dealt with it by doing the same thing as i'd done when toilet training him in the first place - I never scolded him but if I saw him in the process of 'going' i'd pick him up and put him in the garden.  I would also praise him and treat him for going where he was supposed to.  It didn't take long to get the message across.  Good luck.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

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This is exactly what we are doing with 8 month old Bramble, who seemed to know what to do, but then started to wee on the sitting-room curtains. My husband saw him smelling them and cock his leg, Mark jumped into action and grabbed him (not in anger, but in a flash, sort of thing) and moved him to the balcony, where he is supposed to go. Bramble weed there, and got suitable praise. We have been watching him and he has been encouraged to go out to wee. When he has done it, he has been made a fuss of. He hasn't weed on the curtains in the last four days. We are keeping our gingers crossed.

 

[Cornish]

We have just got over this with Ben... he took a while to catch on

This is what we do

Firstly ask him/her if they want to go out and encourage him/her to where you want them to 'go' every 15 mins when younger as they can't hold it so when they figure out they need to go that is it, they go.

Stay out side with them for 10 mins and then if still not done anything come back in but 5 mins later do try again in the same manner.

When s/he has done it praise him/her as they have never been praised before and as I have found a small treat and say good boy/good girl.

Don't forget to ask if s/he wants to go again 15 mins later.... do this for a day or two to get them used to going out and asking.

Try not to carry him/her to where you want them to go, encourage them to go there themselves following you if needs be.

If Ben is caught in the act, we pick him up (sometimes upside down to keep the doodles in until he gets outside lol) saying OH DEAR OH DEAR.... never tell off as it makes them feel that going to the loo which is a normal act for any animal or human is a bad thing to do... they don't understand where they need to go , just that they do.

I get so upset when I hear of people who feel the need to wipe the dogs nose in it.... I mean come on :rant: how would they like it done to them!

This is a tied and tested method on both of our boys... Sidney caught on quicker than Ben but he has got it now and I have even said to a friend who has just got a pup to try it and she said it i working for her too.

I hope the penny drops soon..... it is frustrating but you have to remember that s/he isn't doing it to get at you.... they just don't understand

 

[Cornish]

I forgot to add that when they have figured out where to go, start the asking them if they want to go out ..... that then encourages them to ask to go when they feel they want to.

Hope all that helps.... :huggles: