Housebreaking an Outdoor Dog...

[esotericvision]

This should be good. I've been on top of the other areas of training but I'm still having trouble with housebreaking. Here's why. The dog is kept outdoors and not left in the house. So why do I want to housebreak the animal? Well, at times we have horrible storms, hurricanes, or there will be odd times when the dog is indoors or transported in the back of my truck.

The dog right now isn't inside much at all so he pees and poops everywhere outside except the front porch which is basically like a giant den for him. That's okay. But how can I start training him that when inside he has to go outside? Can I just do a partial housebreaking routine? Maybe keep him inside short leashed to my table at my feet in his bed while I work then let him out once an hour to do his duty, praise, reward, and tie it to a key phrase (go potty). At night he sleeps outside. Is this enough of a routine?

Best Regards,

Ben

[de la Luna]

Ben,

That's a toughee....make sure to keep us posted on what you do and how it works.

If he is inside only for a certain frame of time, what about a crate? Also when you are traveling in the truck?

Your leash idea sounds good to me. What about instead of every hour you do it every 1/2 with the verbal cues like you mentioned.

Sounds like you might have the right idea, good luck.

Best,

[esotericvision]

Thanks. Will keep you posted.

[esotericvision]

Hey Guys,

I need a bit more advise on this issue. Our dog doesn't poop or pee in the house for the most part now. It's been awhile. When he does make mistakes it's because we haven't figured out how to make him bark when he wants out of the house. However, he doesn't go very far and poops EVERYWHERE in front of the house. Part of the problem is that he is an outdoor dog and unsupervised part of the time. We now have two issues and hope to get some constructive advise:

1. How do we train him to bark when he wants to get out of the house?
2. How do we get him to poop in a distant part of the yard considering that he is unsupervised part of the time?

Best Regards,

Ben

[de la Luna]

Ben,

You sure like asking the questions that put us all to the test! Good for you, it keeps us youngish.

#2. My experience with my site specific elimination is either on leash or human hearding. Taking him to the area you want to be used, watch over him for as long as necessary. Once he starts to eliminate use a key phrase.... we use "Hurry Up", during the whole movement. When the movement is complete, praise. This would need to be done each and every movement at the times you were home. When we are training we use the '20 minute/Play 5 min/Eat' rule. Regardless of when they last went, go out side every 20 minutes to the 'area', within 5 minutes after any kind of play, right after eating. Standing there start using the key phrase over and over and over and over, etc. until elimination followed by praise. Patience in this is a virtue. We get to the point where we can command elimination at our convenience. Like at a show or when traveling. Maybe if you are determined enough consistently, the time you are away can be overpowered. Question for consideration, how often do you pick up the poop? If there is waste in a spot, he could vie for going somewhere else fresh to mark. Having 5 myself and being slightly OCD, I am outside with them each time and as soon as it touches the ground I scoop it up and garbage it. Consequently I've noticed mine will each go in pretty much the exact same spot every time.

#1 Do you have water in the house for him? I ask because we don't. With the 20 minute rule and thirst, all ours have learned to go stand and look at the door. Some sometimes do other little quirks in addition to looking at the door, but that is their cue to us. If you try this repetition method, it might work for you.

Boy, I kind of ran on a bit, but I hope I described what I meant well enough. Hope it helps with ideas, and again keep us posted.

Best,

[feddoc1]

We had the same problem early on with our dogs and what we did may/may not work for you. Then we did # 1 above, gradually replacing the water bowl as the dogs began going to the door. The only time they bark is when something needs our attention and I hesitate to try to train them otherwise.Our dogs are in the house most of the day; I think they would heart failure if they weren't inside where they belong.

I don't worry about number two so much since thier yard is about 2.4 acres. However, our dogs are very territorial about where they poop and go to almost the same spot, which sorta follows with what Dianna says in #2 above. I poop scoop once a week and let nature have it's way where I dump it, which is the same spot I take the horse poop too. When I feed them, it's 30 minutes and out the door where they can do their thing. I don't like doing it any sooner as I would rather the dogs have a chance to digest most of the food (and possibly help avoid bloat) before they go outside to chase whatever birds happen to be in the yard.

[esotericvision]

Hey Dianna,

Thanks for the input. I've been asking these kinds of questions somewhat out of a need to confirm my thoughts. We have two dogs on the property one is the landlords and the other (believe it or not) is feral. Neither dog poops in the yard they BOTH go out in the bush and do their duty every time. Neither has ever been trained to do so! I was hoping that the dogs would teach our dog. I was thinking about taking him to the same area and after elimination just shoveling it further in the bush. I'll take him to the same area each time.

Regarding the cues for the door, most of the time I sit in my office and work. It's out of site of the door. When he makes a mistake in the house now it's because I've missed the cue. Our dog has learned to stand by the door. That's why I wanted to teach him to bark when he wants to go outside. If anyone else has any input on teaching a fila to bark on cue I'd appreciate it. I've been doing videos off the internet but anyone with fila specific input is very appreciated!

Best Regards and Thanks Again,

Ben

[esotericvision]

Funny thing about this dog. Just today he figured out how to pee on command. Go figure.

Best,

Ben