Where do I start?

lilnanm · Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 12:54 am Post subject: Where do I start?

I've had Gracie since she was eight weeks old. She is now eleven months old. We got her from a pet store that buys from local breeders. They had only had her for that one day, so I don't think that is her problem. First of all, I had a heck of a time training her to "go" outside. She will still "go" in the house if we aren't careful. "In the house" does not include in her box {crate}. She still goes in her box daily and I can't figure out why. I don't think her box is too big for her. I tried a smaller one and she refused to go in. She will "go", then lay in it, no problem. We used to crate both of our dogs together until it got so bad that we never wanted to touch either dog. Amy has long hair and daily baths get old. It is also not good to give the dogs baths that often.

Gracie also destroys everything. She eats anything and everything, too. This includes stealing from our hands. If it is halfway to our mouths, she still thinks she can get it.

When we get near the door, she is right there, and not just to be with us. More often than not, she runs as soon as the door is open. She doesn't come back until she feels like it, either.

She knows sit, drop it, and lay down. When she wants to. If she doesn't, that's not her problem!

The biggest thing is our dog, Amy is taking up her bad habits. We never had a single problem out of her until a couple of months ago.

Please help, I love my Weim, but she is getting impossible to live with! {and my house smells, too}

DanniGirl · Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 12:51 pm Post subject:

Hi and welcome to the forum!

When I open the door, Danni must sit (hup) before I turn the knob. I make her stay, I walk outside and give her the release command. If she moves I make it very clear I won't touch the door unless she obeys. I don't repeat the command...I just wait until she figures out what I want. If she bolts, I catch her, tell her "no" and sit her back down. It took a while and a lot of patience (and opening and closing the door... Rolling Eyes

) but now I'm the first out the door and she sits and she waits. Sometimes she sits longer because I make her... Twisted Evil

I remind her I'm boss and she doesn't move until I say so.
Nothing in life is free, Danni earns her privileges.

emily · Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 7:46 pm Post subject:

Definitely instate the Nothing in Life is Free policy. It sounds like she doesn't respect you as the leader of your family. Its pretty simple and definitely helps to make them more respectful. Basically before they get any privilege, it must be earned. So if she wants her supper tell her to sit then give it to her. If she wants up on the couch(if she's allowed) tell her lay down. If she keeps jumping up on the couch without listening to you, force her off the couch and repeat the command. You may have to do this quite a few times before she catches on. But this should be done for every privilege, throwing a toy, going out the door, coming in the house, getting in the car, etc.
As far as the peeing in the house and crate, I'm not sure i have a ton of advice for you on this one. Unfortunately it sounds like the breeder didn't do a lot of potty training beforehand and that she got used to going in the pen since being a pup. The only thing I can think to recommend it to pretend like she is a little puppy and keep her on leash. If she tried to potty in the house a firm NO, and a quick trip outside to show her the correct place. If she goes outside praise her and make a HUGE deal out of it. You can even use treats. Do this for a week to see if it helps. Hopefully she'll start giving you queues that let you know when she has to go out. You could also try and teach her to ring a bell to let you know when she needs to go out. But I'm not sure how to do that. Maybe you could google some methods? Or maybe someone else will pop in with some more suggestions.

lilnanm · Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 8:59 pm Post subject: Thans

Thanks ,guys. This is helpful. The thing is, she knows she is suppose to go outside and does regularly. It's just while she is penned at night or during the day if I'm not home. It doesn't matter if it's ten minutes or a few hours. Most of the time when I let her out of it, there is already pee in the box. She also gets crated when we eat and that's only about a half hour. If she goes in the house {not her box}, it's usually in my bedroom, especially poop Confused

but this is very rare anymore. I have the opinion that it may be resentment. We have tried letting her stay out during the times we normally would crate her and, she does OK for a couple of times, but then she starts to tear stuff up. My choices at this time are, to come home to a stinky house, or trash all over. Either way, it's a mess I have to clean up. If it was my kids, they'd have to clean up their own mess!