Two topics in one! ... House Training Rant & Clicker Training

[Joeturbo26]

First, please excuse my long windedness....lol

Topic 1

Ok, so, Rico is now almost 14 weeks old—my friends joke that I am a house training lunatic and that my dog is on a tighter schedule than the president..They are amazed that I can "make Rico pee/poop at a specific time" and how I can know which walks will require a poop bag.....LOL I take it as a compliment hahaha.

I brought Rico into my life, knowing that I travel a lot for work, but have total control over my travel itineraries and can opt to choose dog friendly airlines and hotels...therefore, I ultimately plan on always bringing him along. In the past 6 weeks since he's been home, I've managed to eradicate pads, for a few reasons. First, and foremost, because I believe that a dog should just be house trained, but also, because I refuse to live with pads, or have to rely on them... I simply just don't believe in the regular or long term use of wee wee pads.

So here is why I need some reassurance... In less than two weeks, I will be going to vegas for work, I will be there for a week. Rico will be staying at my dad's... due to my dad's schedule, the use of a pad, will be the only option during the day. Rico will have a playpen/crate/pad kitchen setup. Part of me secretly hopes he just ignores the pad, and has the "accidental" pee/poop on the floor....HAHAHA just so he doesn't realize a pad is for bathroom during this time and he doesn't think that indoor pee/poop is ok-- I have worked so hard at house training already! I feel like I am ranting, but basically, I don't want him to know that going inside is "ok" with or without a pad, if that makes sense! (In my head it somehow does... LOL)

Be honest....do you think this week long "pad situation" will set me back when he comes back home?

Topic 2

Clicker Training

Has anyone exclusively used clicker training with their frenchie? I started three days ago, to try and really work on his on leash walking. I can see quicker improvement, but it also made it very clear to me, that frenchies are just REALLY stubborn LOL.... He totally gets the concept, and believe me, once he hears that click, his ears perk up and eyes get wide... he definitely knows a treat will follow. Somehow, though, I feel like with the clicker, he is just looking at it as a treat situation, and not acknowledging the good behavior.... anyone have any advice?

 

[MunasG]

I can only respond to the clicker training question because I am the total opposite of you on the house training! My Nellie is 19 weeks and pee pads are our life right now lol. So i foresee house training taking much longer only because I just couldn't stick to a crate training schedule due to many factors but perhaps mostly because I value my sleep overnight and just refused to commit to waking up in the middle of the night for potty. So am taking full blame here and good on you for being strict!

Regarding clicker training it worked on Nellie for a bit but I agree she only started to associate it with treats. She was so good at it that before I even issued the command she's just do it already and look up at me for the treat. I have stopped using the clicker but it is still a challenge with no treats. Frenchies are smart and full of attitude abs there's no telling if Rico will respond better to clicker training

 

[hannah]

I don't think it will set you back. Its only a week. They gotta do what they gotta do. Its nice of them to watch him. Don't stress

Also I love my clicker, I have one that is also a whistle. I don't really take it too seriously though but I do find it makes my dogs listen better

Keep doin what you're doing

 

[davidh]

I agree, I don't think staying at your dad's and using a pee pad will set him back, especially since it is not at your house. I don't use the clicker. We tried it a long time ago with a Beagle, but stopped using it after a little while and just use treats to train now.

 

[kiminmn]

I don't have any answers to your questions but we have been successful with potty bells on the door for house training. We are at the point in training where she knows if she rings the bells she gets to go outside and she likes to be outside so we go outside a lot without pottying (at least the weather is nice). We used treats to reinforce each stage of training and then weaned her off - treat for ringing the bell, then a treat for doing her business after the bell, now we give intermittent treats. I think the same would work for clicker training.