m&m's mom

We had a rough morning this morning. I am trying to get my two kids (8 and 4) ready for school and me ready for work. Marshall and Molly are 17 weeks old and we still do not have this housebreaking thing down. I know it takes time, especially with them home alone during the day, so I am trying to be very patient, but today I need to vent.

Will they ever Learn??!! There I've said it. I love my hounds, but I really wish they would understand the house rules.

I took them out first thing and they did their business - at that point. I brought them back in and commenced getting ready. As the morning progressed I ended up with poo in my bathroom, poo in the living room, and pee in at least one other room. And of course they did not get reprimanded because I did not see them actually do it - except for the one and it was all over by that time.

I know "they" say that when a dog has an accident in the house it is because they are not being watched, but believe me I am trying. It's hard when I have so many other things to take care of with the kids and all. I didn't even get my makeup put on this morning until I got to work. I sat in the parking lot and put it on there.

Again, I know it takes time, and my working during the day slows down the process, but I will be so glad when this all works itself out. I know it is possible, because we have gone through this before.

So, how long did it take for you to housebreak your dear hound(s)????

Vision

I'd take their head and stick it in it and yell no; then put them outside.

And if they tired to eat it I'd yell NO more.

__________________
Marquis de Lafayette brought Basset Hounds to the United States as a gift to George Washington

murraysmom

Um, not the best tactic.

Getting them on a rigid schedule might help, with lots of praise when they do the right thing.Try training them to ring a bell to go out- it's easier than it sounds and allows them to give you a clear signal that they need to go.

Bassets respond much better to positive reinforcement than to punishment.

MissMolly

17 Weeks!

My Molly turns two in July and STILL isn't 100% potty trained.

I agree with the positive reinforment. Bassets do not like to be punished, but respond very well to praise.

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Andy, Amanda & Molly

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Nestor

Olivia is almost 11 weeks, and I'm still housetraining her.

I have to constantly keep my eye on her. If I can't, she goes into the crate while I'm taking care of whatever I need to deal with. Even if it's for 5 mins., it'll save you a lot of aggravation.!

Just remember to take them out just before and right after being in the crate.

Vision

I understand actually disciplining a dog( or anyone) nowadays is not politically correct, but with those problems I'd experiment a little.

__________________
Marquis de Lafayette brought Basset Hounds to the United States as a gift to George Washington

mgbrown66

you can't let a basset out of your sight at that age. If you can't watch her, you should crate her.

My Venus is 2 and can't hold it very long after she rings the bell on the door to go outside. At that point I'm hurdling everything in the house to let her out.

Rubydoo

Crate training and positive reinforcement works best.

Sticking their face in it and saying no, is negative reinforcement and it's more than not politically correct. It teaches the dog to be scared of you.

Janice and Ruby

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Take a basset hound to lunch today!
--Bassets rule....and drool!

Nestor

Using "NO" isn't the issue. The problem with "rubbing the nose in it" is the timing. They don't know it was them that made the mess on the floor in the first place. The most this will teach them is, whenever there is a pile of poo near them, you get mad.

Scold them with a "NO" if you catch them in the act, but immediately take them outside so you can praise them when they do it outside.

I remember someone once saying, when a pet owner finds a mess on the floor, they should rub their own noses in it, as it is their fault they let their dog do it in the first place. <_<

Byron Luv

Rubbing his nose in his mess is actually punishment and not reinforcement. The goal of reinforcement is to increase a behavior; negative reinforcement is achieved when something is withdrawn and the behavior increases. (ex: If you take your dog out of his crate because he is crying, it is more likely he will whine again next time because he knows you will eventually take him out of the crate. You are reinforcing his whining by withdrawing crate time). The goal of punishment is to decrease a behavior. So rubbing the dog's face in his mess is used to decrease his accidents, but from my expirence this is not as effective as other methods such as reinforcement, positive or negative.

I agree with those who suggest crating them when you can't watch them. It took us eight months to break Byron and he still does not run of the house when we are gone. I crate Byron at night, while I am in the shower, and even to get the mail. If I don't he always finds mischief to get into. Be patient; they are still very young.