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Permalink Reply by Betts on October 8, 2010 at 5:45am

I know a lot of people are going to tell you "puppy kindergarten" and I agree, that's a great place to start. If Bowser is laid back inside, I think once the newness of being outside wears off, it's going to get better outside. One of the things we learned in puppy kindergarten to teach heel was to put a treat in our hand and as we walked, keep it just in front of puppy, out of reach. It might be if he knew you were going to be a source of treats outside, he might pay more attention to you than surroundings. And, even if he pulls, I'd take him outside a lot, to desensitize him to all the new sights and smells. We live in a townhouse, and when we moved there, Chloe used to want to chase cars. It took quite a while to get her to stop, but eventually she did. We used sit and stay, but it literally took months before she stopped pulling everytime she saw a car.

I'm not completely sure what to tell you about pottying outside. What I would probably do is (and I know this would be a pain) take the puppy patch "grass" outside with you without the pan, put it in the place you want him to use, keep him on a short leash and give him your command to potty. If that works, I'd do that for awhile, and then I'd cut the grass in half and get him to use that for awhile, then cut the grass in fourths and so on. Eventually, you might just have to put a tiny square of the "grass" out and he'll use that spot. If he still won't go, I'd be tempted to walk him around until you're sure he really has to go, remove the potty patch in your apartment, take him back to where he usually goes and show him that the potty patch isn't there. Then, quickly, pick him up and take him back outside to the place you've got the fake grass sitting and see if he is desperate enough to use it this time. Other people might have a better solution, so good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Melissa and Franklin! on October 8, 2010 at 11:58am

Franklin was a HORRIBLE puller. I have been through 3 trainers with him and FINALLY found a method that works to help stop the pulling. Worst thing you can do is buy a harness, they actually encourage a dog to pull. Best method so far has been as your walking when your dog pulls you stop and stand still until he stops pulling and looks back at you and the leash slackens a bit then move forward. Stop again once he pulls again. Its a long frustrating process but he will learn that if he pulls he doesn't get to go forward at all. Most important thing to remember is to either a) keep your arm at your side pinned to your hip or b) step on the leash when you are stopped. My trainer had said if you have your arm out you subconciously are pulling back on him which will just cause him to pull harder. Doggy kidergartend would be a great way to teach him impulse control which will help solve pretty much any issues he has.

As for pottying outside, I had a REALLY hard time with Franklin because I lived in a tiny apartment with no grass anywhere. I did what many of the other posts are recommending, I moved his potty pad/grass closer and closer to the door, then outside. Its important that you don't take your dog outside and let hiim run and play for a long time if your goal is getting him to potty. You have to make seperate potty trips and seperate play trips. When you take him to potty, take him to his spot, give the potty command and give him maximum of ten minutes to go, if he doesn't go, take him back inside and in 20 min or half hour take him out and do it again, if he potties feel free to take him for fun play time, if not, its back inside he goes. That way he starts to learn that if he doesn't potty he goes right back inside and doesn't get to play and eventually will go outside and potty right away then you can take him to play.

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Permalink Reply by Jane on October 8, 2010 at 1:24pm

You could maybe try taking his poop or a paper towel soaked in his urine out to the spot you want him to go. Maybe the smells would help him figure it out. When you're taking him out to potty I would just stand in one spot, don't walk with him or let him sniff around too much. Eventually he'll get bored of that area. Give him ~10 minutes, if he doesn't go, take him back in and put him in his crate for ~15 minutes. Then try again. If you take the potty patch away does he just potty wherever? I would at least try gradually moving it closer to the door.

I would also second (or third?) the idea of a puppy class. They're really quite helpful IMO.

I personally would not recommend a harness as they tend to make the dog pull even more. I like limited slip martingale collars for my guys. When at rest they are loose and comfortable, but when the dog pulls it tightens up - but not so far as to choke the dog.

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Permalink Reply by Monica, Orion, and Laika on October 8, 2010 at 2:47pm

1. I agree with what has been suggested here: put the potty pad outside and allow him to get used to going outside, then stop bringing out the pad. Also, you didn't mention a command for going potty. So maybe when he's going on his bad start saying "go potty" or something as a command to go, then maybe using that outside will help.

2. Harnesses typically encourage pulling behavior so I'd switch back to a collar. What I did with Orion and Laika is if they got too excited and started pulling I'd shorten the leashes so that with my arms at my side the dogs were right by my feet. If they were going way too crazy I'd keep them there still until they settled down a little. Then I would walk, keeping the my arms at my side and the leashes short so they can't get in front of me. I used "walk with me" instead of "heel" for some reason but it seems to work just the same. Orion (now six months) has gotten pretty good at it. I say "walk with me" and he'll stay by my feet and usually look up at me as we walk. Laika sometimes has it down but sometimes gets over excited and won't listen (and gets in trouble!)

But be patient, puppies can be crazy and he'll settle down a bit eventually. As others suggested puppy kindergarten classes may be a great idea :) good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Jonathan P, Kim N. and Bowser on October 8, 2010 at 3:53pm

Thanks for the Advice everyone. I would have to save for puppy kindergarten, My fear is by the time i have enough money to take him he will be like 6 or 7 months old and used to his bad habits so as i save i will attempt some of the excellent tips and tricks everyone has offered.

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Permalink Reply by Lindsey Corkern on October 11, 2010 at 3:08pm

Also, remember that you have more patience than he does. Meaning, he can pull on the leash all day and you will still not move until he is behaving the way you want him too. My philosophy when training my dog is to be more patient and stubborn than she is. Needless to say, I win every time because I simply won't give up until I do. When she was younger, I used treats A LOT to reward her for appropriate behavior.

Just don't give up. I couldn't have afforded puppy kindergarten either, so I feel your financial pain. I spent about an hour a day working with Leia on different tasks. Just 5-10 min at a time, not all at once. Example: I spent 5 min training her to stay (about 4 tries and always a successful one at the end), then played with her for a few min, then let her take a nap for a bit. When she was up again, it was leash training for 10 min, reward: free run in the backyard (I know that's not an option for you) Maybe instead I would run with puppy on the leash. Hang in there. You CAN do it without a trainer. Tips others listed are very helpful too. Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Vee Luther on October 11, 2010 at 10:21pm

One way to get a dog to stop pulling is to change directions when they do. First of all, make SURE you are standing up straight and acting like a leader, with the expectation that he'll walk beside you, not in front of you. Take a few steps and if he pulls, turn right sharply and call to him. Keep chaning directions so he has to watch what you're doing. If you do this with a treat in your hand (and I mean a little tiny crumble of a treat, nothing big!), eventually, he'll want to walk beside you.

You can also turn and walk in the opposite direction when he pulls. You might have to call him but that's OK, too. make sure he gets that tiny treat when he catches up with you.

At this point, you might want to consider a training chain collar so that you can give him a quick correction. Just make sure you put it on the correct way, OK?

And practice walking inside with the leash, too.

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