OT: Dog Question

[Dorothy]

This may seem a weird question but I'm not real experienced with dogs so I'm looking for some input. We had a dog that we raised from puppyhood (my only experience with a dog)who died last year. When he had to do his business, he let us know by prancing around the door to get into the backyard. I could actually get him to pee by telling him to 'go potty'. Now we've adopted a stray who is around 2 yrs old (Sasha). She never indicates that she has to go out. In fact, she won't even do her business in the back yard--I have to walk her. I've been walking her once in the morning & once in the evening & she seems okay with this routine. Yesterday I had an early morning appointment & thought I would be home early so didn't walk her before hand. I got delayed and didn't get home until noon. I thought she would be dying to get out but she seemed unconcerned & not in the least bit stressed. Is this normal? I would like to get her to go in the yard, but don't have a clue how you would relate this to a dog. Any thoughts on the subject would be appreciated.

[Ralph]

After they're mature & house-broken, dogs will go when they need to & often can go quite a long time between voids. Only when they're desperate (such as when they're sick) will they mess up indoors.

As for going in the yard, you've got to just use the same positive reinforcement as if you're house-breaking. We got our dog when we lived in a townhouse, so she was house-broken by walking her on the leash. When we moved to a house w/a fenced-in yard 2 years ago, she wouldn't go without a leash & a walk! She's better now, but usually still prefers being leashed and walked out front.

[BlueMoose]

My dog can go for a long time without going outside. When he's really tired or it's very hot or cold outside sometimes I have to push him out the door after it's been 12 hours or so!
I would try teaching her the phrase "go potty" when she does it when you walk her, and then tell her to do so it the back yard once she seems to know the phrase. Of course, use lots of praise!
I'm glad you chose to adopt a dog! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Chrisi

[JillC]

I have some suggestions for trying to get Sasha to do her business in the yard.
1) Try to get her to associate the act with a command like your previous dog did. As she's starting to do her pre-potty routine on your walk (pacing, sniffing, etc.), you may want to start saying "go potty" and then praising her when she does. (oh, I see that Chrisi already suggested this)
2) After you've done this a while, put some of the poop that you've picked up on your walk in the backyard (salting the mine, as they say). Then give her the command.
3) Keep some treats in your pockets whenever you're out back so that if/when she does go, you can give her a treat and tell her what a smart dog she is.
Good luck!

[JillC]

I have some suggestions for trying to get Sasha to do her business in the yard.
1) Try to get her to associate the act with a command like your previous dog did. As she's starting to do her pre-potty routine on your walk (pacing, sniffing, etc.), you may want to start saying "go potty" and then praising her when she does. (oh, I see that Chrisi already suggested this)
2) After you've done this a while, put some of the poop that you've picked up on your walk in the backyard (salting the mine, as they say). Then give her the command.
3) Keep some treats in your pockets whenever you're out back so that if/when she does go, you can give her a treat and tell her what a smart dog she is.
Good luck!