witzend
Well-Known Member
OK, so we have absolutely fallen for Mandy, the 11 month old Lab mix that we have taken in. Even Bubba the curmudgeon dalmatian is warming up to her. It's hard not to, she's such a happy go lucky goof-ball.
She does have some issues, though. (What other type of creature would come to our house, anyway?) While she is technically house-trained, she doesn't seem to know how to go potty by herself. She has had two accidents in the house, one the first day, and two weeks later this weekend. She walked to the door, turned around, and let loose. She had been acting all goofy and lost track of it, and I think that it isn't unusual for her age.
On the other hand, I know she was in the crate a lot when she last lived with a family. And when she was being trained in the correctional facility, she was in the crate unless it was training time, and the boys were actively spending time with her.
The problem being, I am beginning to realize that she doesn't know what to do when I let her outside by herself. She gets about four feet out then comes right back to the door and wants in. When she goes out with us she wants to play play play, and piddles here and there. She doesn't ever actively seek out a spot to go. I don't know that I have ever actually seen her go up to the door to ask to go out.
Any ideas on how I can get her to know that just going outside by herself to go potty? I'm working with the letting her outside as soon as I get home and let her out of her crate. Even then she just tinkles a little bit then doesn't ask to go back outside again. That's how she ended up going all over the floor the other day - she didn't go completely when I let her outside when I came home.
She does have some issues, though. (What other type of creature would come to our house, anyway?) While she is technically house-trained, she doesn't seem to know how to go potty by herself. She has had two accidents in the house, one the first day, and two weeks later this weekend. She walked to the door, turned around, and let loose. She had been acting all goofy and lost track of it, and I think that it isn't unusual for her age.
On the other hand, I know she was in the crate a lot when she last lived with a family. And when she was being trained in the correctional facility, she was in the crate unless it was training time, and the boys were actively spending time with her.
The problem being, I am beginning to realize that she doesn't know what to do when I let her outside by herself. She gets about four feet out then comes right back to the door and wants in. When she goes out with us she wants to play play play, and piddles here and there. She doesn't ever actively seek out a spot to go. I don't know that I have ever actually seen her go up to the door to ask to go out.
Any ideas on how I can get her to know that just going outside by herself to go potty? I'm working with the letting her outside as soon as I get home and let her out of her crate. Even then she just tinkles a little bit then doesn't ask to go back outside again. That's how she ended up going all over the floor the other day - she didn't go completely when I let her outside when I came home.