[MakeShift Heart]

Upon reading the potty training book I did discover what I was doing wrong and have fixed that immediatly.

This whole time i've been allowing belle to self feed and keep food on the floor at all times for her. Well the book stated that there HAS to be a meal time schedule. I didn't realize it was so necessary since my parents let their last 2 poodles self feed.

So from now on I'm going to put Belle into a cycle, and have meal times for her.

Also I've decided even though she is very good outside of her crate when I am not home, I'm going to crate her when I leave. I'm starting to think that when I'm not home, the people who are home don't closely watch her and read her signals of when she has to go potty.

Since she does whine in her crate, the book said that even when crated our dogs like to feel like part of the family, so I'm thinking I might talk to my parents about putting her crate out into the living room when I'm gone so that she can be close to them still and may stop whining.

Except for the meal time I haven't put any of these plans in motion, I kind of wanted to get people's opinions first and see if there's anything more or less that I must do.

 

[Poodle Lover]

You are on the right track. All my dogs are on the feeding schedule, I would never let them free-feed. When they were puppies they were fed 3 times a day and as they got older twice a day. My spoos are not picky, but my Havanese was, so I would leave the food out for him for 15-20 minutes and then put it away and offer food again at 2nd feeding. He was picky, but he learned after going without food for a day and a half. Now when the food is down he eats, period.

Crating a dog who is not 100% reliable is the only way to make them so. When you can't watch her into the crate she goes. Aside from crate, another grate idea is a playpen (if you have a room for it) with a bad, toys and a wee-wee pad. But if you want her trained to go outside only, stick to the crate. Consistancy and persistance over time will pay off and you will have a dog who is completely housebroken/potty trained.

Good luck.

 

[MakeShift Heart]

Belle is almost 9 months old so should i feed her 2 times a day or 3?

And yea I want her to be 100% outside, and people have recommended pee pads but i would think that gives them permission to go indoors wouldn't it?

 

[SECRETO]

Utilizing the crate when your not able to watch Belle or when you leave is a GREAT idea. I couldnt live with out a crate and my house would be a disaster if I left my dogs out.

Also, stopping the free feeding is a good idea for your situation. I personally dont like to free feed and I wont free feed. Having a scheduled mealtime means you can monitor exactly what your dog is eating and can make sure they are not over feeding.

I think you are on the right track now and I hope the new training pays off. Good job for doing research and finding a better stradegy (sp). lol

 

[Harley_chik]

I think you're on the right track too. The only thing I'm not sure about is moving her crate. I would think being crated right in the middle of things would make her whine more. I'm guessing (and it's just a guess) that being crated somewhere quiet and out of the way would reduce the whining. I think ignoring the whining is the best way to make it stop. Don't give her any attention when she does it. Even if it's time to take her out, wait until she quiets down for a moment.

 

[gwtwmum2]

I agree with keeping the crate away from the activity. I also cover my crate with a light blanket in the beginning of training. That way, the pup/dog learns quickly that it is time to be quiet and relax. Once they are really used to their crates, I don't cover it anymore.
Also, no matter how loud and how long - I don't take them out while they are whining. I've had to move a crate to the basement before so that we couldn't hear Torie (in the early days) and now she goes right to her crate when I say "Kennel".

 

[MakeShift Heart]

okay i wont move the crate then. Unfortunately I have to put a lock on it, because my grandpa will let her out if she starts to whine even when I tell him not to.

 

[mandi]

Ok-I have completed housebreaking my mini poodle 100% in the last 2 months. 1) definitely schedule meal times-water should always be accessible when pup is out of crate 2) learn pup's signals if he/she gives any-mine didn't always so I set the microwave timer to every 45 minutes-I was basically home all day and took him out and did the encourage and praise thing each time-used same words+go potty-hurry up-yea!3)pup should always be crated when you are gone-I cover crate with light-wt towel just so front gate is covered-this means it is his quiet time and he stays quiet.

 

[Harley_chik]

okay i wont move the crate then. Unfortunately I have to put a lock on it, because my grandpa will let her out if she starts to whine even when I tell him not to.

That's why she whines! It pays off for her. Grandpa need to leave her alone, can you keep her crate in your room where no one will bug her?

 

[MakeShift Heart]

That's why she whines! It pays off for her. Grandpa need to leave her alone, can you keep her crate in your room where no one will bug her?

I already do have it in my room. He goes into my room and lets her out! I personally think it's rude not to listen to an owner's instructions.

I also put her on a tie out when I take her out to potty and told EVERYONE that when they want to play with her outside, please put her on a tie out because she does chase after people and other dogs.

Grandpa will not listen to me! He's almost caused her to get hit by a car three times already! So locking her in a crate when I'm gone will pay off for that too, because now I won't let him take her out AT ALL.