That's what I would try, anyway. Good luck!
My guess is that besides not being used to your routine she's just a little bored and welcomes the extra trips as a change. I'd recommend taking her to the same spot at the beginning of every walk (ideally a spot other dogs use as potty area too, or a spot she has used before) and hang out there until she does her business. Only after she's done the fun (sniffing out new places, the walk, Food, a game, whatever) will begin. If it takes too long for her to do her business take her back upstairs and put her in her crate/on her blanket and let her stay there for 15 minutes or so and then repeat the procedure. Try as long as required and in case of success reward.
Not sure if I missed it, but what breed are we dealing with here?
She is a cross between a puli and a bolonka. Totally random and now more commonly know as a polonka - the poor thing!
A what and a what? Never heard of either. I must be getting old with all these new breeds appearing.
Me too, I had to look it up.
We're looking at a cross between one of these:
and one of these:
I need to see it.
Ah, I’ve seen pictures of the mop (puli), but not the other one. Yes, she should be a very interesting looking dog when she grows up.
Poor thing alright. I thought you said "Plonka". Where I come from, it means something completely useless.
(Conversely, "Plonk" is also means 'cheap wine')
she is certainly interesting! I have attached a photo of her so hope it works.
we had a nightmare night with her last night. we tried the ignoring her whines and barks method after we had given her the benefit of doubt and taken her out but she never stopped. our trainer had suggested we give it a go because as she is 6 months she should be able to hold herself through the night and so shouldn't be calling us for that. but between trips out she cried for 3 hours non stop! in the end we had her in her bed (not ours) in our room where she slept like a baby! do you think we should move her in there until she is comfortable or is that giving in and will we give ourselves long term problems? what have previous puppy/young dog owners done when trying to settle in their pooch?
We fell for this one
He sleeps in his cage in the sitting room (Which he loves btw . . . this was important to us as we travel) but sometime during the night he comes into our room (We leave the door open or he drives us crazy).
When our alarm goes in the morning (We hit snooze for about 20 minutes ) He hops up into the bed for the 20 minute snooze . .
Ugh, we have given him such bad habits!TBH it doesnt bother us having him in the room or when he jumps into the bed in the morning but I know we should never have allowed it. I think it blurs the line between Master & Pet. And as such is not healthy for him.
No such thing as bad dogs . . . Just bad owners!
So I believe he doesnt have the bad habit . . . . we do! Completely our fault! So now, we need to address this issue before we have children or I think we will deal with some jealousy issues!
I think we should get her a crate, we need one for travelling in the car anyway. we thought she would be ok in the room as that was what she was in at her old house but clearly not. I am leaving her in the room for short periods of time during the day and she is better than at night but maybe it is because she doesn't like it for long periods that she gets upset at night. it's hard work trying to figure them out!
These trips out she wants, in between your scheduled walks, does she just want to go out and release, or is it more of a she doesn't want to come back in?
I am just curious as to the stimulation and exercise she's getting indoors vs outdoors which might explain why she wants to be out more.
I am fortunate, I have a bulldog breed so he is not fussed about going out. He loves to go out, but he loves equally laying bed/sofa if thats where I am. He has fortunately always been that way, will stay in bed all day sometimes until I am really like lets go YOU NEED TO PEE!!
I have read a bit about the breed last night, you have a head strong, stubborn, but intelligent, master devoted, herding dog in the Puli. The Puli seems to be the dominant genes in the dogs looking at your pic.
So that would suggest to me a few things, she needs a lot of exercise, she will test you mentally with training and needs but should be adaptable to anything you enforce, but that you will need a lot of patience.
I would keep practicing with the already given advice, a routine of walk, release business, treat, praise, back to the house for meal. Then after a short while letting food settle, go for a long walk incorporating some challenges for the dog, that she will enjoy. Her boundless puppy energy and breed would suggest she doesn't just need long walks or runs, but some challenges mentally too be it leash training, nose games, or working on commands.
They are supposedly very eager to learn, but need a strong minded leader, like most dogs of course, but certain head strong breeds need it more so. My trainer (female) has expressed this is where women can sometimes struggle in being firm enough, as a lot of it is pitch of your voice and body language. The body language and tone must be serious, if the dog senses or knows that it can get away with not following instruction, or you reward by laughing at its disobedience (sometimes this is hard) then it enforces the bad behaviours.
The hardest thing is not letting frustration into the tone of your voice. They pick up on that and makes them reluctant to act. AND BELIEVE ME, there will be times. Deep breath and stay positive.
If you need some ideas for exercises with the dog, and training techniques I am sure people can chime in.
EDIT: BED DOGS
As for allowing the dog in the bed, guilty as charged!
Though there are mixed theories on that. I see no issue with it as long as it's not enforcing other bad behaviours. He knows when to get off, knows its my bed, and doesn't assume ownership of anything else and never gets on until I have.
My trainer told me of one woman who's dog held her hostage in bed. She couldnt move without the dog growling and snarling. How that ever happens to someone I don't know.
thanks so much for your thoughts. I really appreciate everyone's comments and makes me feel less overwhelmed!
I am not sure about the purpose of the trips out. we take her to give her the benefit of the doubt but I don't actually think she needs them as she doesn't do anything and is happy going out and coming back.
she has a lovely room with lots of toys and we play with her when she is not sleeping. she gets 2 long walks of 1hr - 1hr 30 mins each day which I believe is long for a puppy of 6 months. we take toys on these walks and play fetch etc and hide and seek in the grass. we thought we had totally tired her out last night as that is what we tried to do but to no avail.
I think you're right that we just need to keep practicing and perservere. it's getting used to her and her needs and you're right always being enthusiastic even when you are knackered!
Dogs like to sleep in company. When you bring home a new (young) pup you should not have him sleep alone. When I brought my first pup home, she slept in her cage and I on a mattress next to it. I did this for several nights and then started leaving her alone (still in her crate). If you don't mind having her dog bed in your room that appears to be the perfect solution. You may be able to slowly move her chest out of your bedroom when she's comfortable enough in her new surroundings.
Crates are great tools for potty training and they provide a safe den for the dog. If you decide to get one, make sure your pup loves it. Feed her in there, play with her while she's in it, in brief, make it a good place for her to be. Make sure she goes in there on her own (you can toss in treats, that helps) and don't close the door the first few times. Then close the door for a very short while only (some seconds) and stay there. As training proceeds, you can make times longer and get out of her sight too. Make sure though that you never open the door while she's whining or barking because that will only teach her what to do to get out of the crate.
Never use the crate to punish her.
Good luck!
thank you. this is what I wanted to know. I think therefore that she is fine in our room as it was the only time she was quiet. she is her own bed after all and not in ours! she hasn't been used to a crate for the first 6 months of her life so I think the adjustment to that will be too great as well as everything else. we are seeing our trainer on sunday and we can devise a plan for everything.
I remember when I couldn't get my dogs to accept where their new sleeping spot was.
I adopted what I called "The couch theroy"
Dogs always want to sit on the couch with you, but that's not where you want them to be.
I thought I'd modify this approach and engineer a bit of "reverse psychology" and ended up buying brand new dog beds.
I would then sit on the dog beds and read the paper and wouldn't let the dogs sit on it....... of course they whinged and moaned like the spoilt little bastards they were, but that was what I wanted.
I would also drag the beds in front of the TV when I wanted to watch, and again the dogs were all "but I wanna sit there".
Soon I would catch them sleeping on the dog beds, and in an 'unconvincing' manner I would scoul at them and make them feel uncomfortable about it.
Eventually (in the dogs perception) I gave up and let them sleep on the beds, and would drag the bed in front of the TV when I wanted to watch it 'on the couch'.
It worked for me.
I guess the thing is.... make the dogs bed her special place. Somewhere that's truely hers. She will always sleep there then.
That's really hilarious
Nevertheless, I'd recommend the standard practice of rewarding good behaviour as most dogs are very willing to please and to cooperate rather than using reverse psychology
Gosh, having a dog is hard work!
Absolutely!
I find it very rewarding though, as, usually, changes/improvements happen quickly and the doggies are very eager to learn and want to please you and they eat what you serve them...
(as opposed to my kids )
oh she's so contrary! just been out for our lunchtime walk when she normally does her daily poo and another wee and she didn't poo! I bet she will want to go in about half an hour! on with the wet weather gear and out we go again. add that to the 2 little excursions we had earlier in the day coz she was yapping and I thought that was what she wanted. exasperating!
I still don't really understand why some people say that it is good for the dog to sleep alone in a separate room . My dog always sleeps in my room either on his own bed or sometimes at my feet. I actually like to know he is around me. It feels like we are watching over each other at night