I need some dog tips.

We just got a dog and I've never had one before (well, my mom had dogs but I had no part in their care). He is not a puppy, he is about 7.

How do I get him in the habit of barking when he needs to go out? We have been trying to take him into the yard every few hours but he has had a few "accidents."

Any other tips would be greatly appreciated. I got him from a shelter and he was very neglected before we got him. I don't know anything else about his situation so I don't know how hard it will be to train him.

Re: I need some dog tips.

I don't know about how to get him to bark, but with Bama, we'd take him out and tell him to go potty. When he'd go, we'd praise him in a really happy voice and give him a treat.
Eventually he would either stand by the back door until we noticed him, or now he taps on the door with his paw

Message edited 8/21/2005 9:06:49 PM.

Re: I need some dog tips.

Posted by Anniegrl

I don't know about how to get him to bark, but with Bama, we'd take him out and tell him to go potty. When he'd go, we'd praise him in a really happy voice and give him a treat.
Eventually he would either stand by the back door until we noticed him, or now he taps on the door with his paw

Re: I need some dog tips.

He's a male. I am going to look for treats when we are out later, but he also only had 4 teeth, so it's tough to find stuff for him to eat!

Re: I need some dog tips.

awww, the poor baby. Boomer does not bark when he needs to go out. He jumps on the back door. Bailey will do the same or if we are not up near the door, she woofs at us to let us know she has to go.

And as far as treats....what about pieces of bread or cheese? Those are soft. Most dog treats, even the soft ones require chewing

Message edited 8/22/2005 3:14:44 PM.

Re: I need some dog tips.

try peanut butter as a treat too - he can lick it right off your fingers or out of a bone.

Message edited 8/24/2005 9:52:18 AM.

Re: I need some dog tips.

We used Cheerios as a treat and that worked great!

Re: I need some dog tips.

Tiger rarely barks unless he has to go out. When he does have to go to the bathroom, he will scratch on the door to go out, or he will look at you and want you to follow him to the door.
We have a doggy door on the side door, so when Im home he goes in and out when he pleases.

Re: I need some dog tips.

we are training louie now, after only having him for 6 weeks at this point, he is starting to get he can either woof, or if we are close by scratch at the door and we will let him out....when he does it we give him lots of prasie and petting, and that seems to be exactly how to "train" him!

Re: I need some dog tips.

The way we potty trained Casey is that every time we took her out and she peed or pooped we told her good girl and gave her a little biscuit. It was sheer positive reinforcement.

Re: I need some dog tips.

its really tough, some dogs will bark and others will do a dance for you or scratch at the door. My male dog dances by the door , he still wont bark and has accidents too, he is 1 1/2 my other dog she barks so we know, which helps, my DH taught her at a young age. I believe that even at 7 dogs can still learn tricks and commands.
Bring him by the door and keep saying outside? asking him a question- then when we put him outside we taught them the command -" go make" and they do- when he did- we praised him and gave him treats. during the praise we would say good boy outside go make- so that he would understand those words together. you have to praise and give treats- also DO NOT yell if they make a mistake- they will get scared- bring them to it and repeat outside pointing to it. be prepared for accidents by the door too- we stepped in pee lots of times- I know ewwwwww but at least he is learning thats the outlet- he is pretty much good to go now outside but b/c he just wont bark we have to really notice that pee pee dance good luck and go get a training book too , every little helps.