tendercare
01-26-2006, 05:18 AM
hello, I'm trying to get my 3 year old male labrador retriever to pee at a particular spot in our backyard, but I have no idea how to teach him.
In the first place, I don't know how to make him pee on command. What I do is just leave him in the backyard to do his business. Before, I managed to get him to pee while I was in the yard with him, but recently it seems he won't pee until he's left alone in the yard. I dunno. Maybe he's unsure why I'm there with him -- maybe he thinks I want to play?
Doberluv
01-26-2006, 12:22 PM
When you see him go pee, (you'll have to be watching him) give a command word while he's going, "go pee" or whatever. The second he's finished, praise him a lot and give him a treat right away. Do this for a while....a week, say. Just let him go where he goes while he's learning to attach this command word to what he's doing. Then start taking him on a leash to the spot you want him to use. Walk around a little first, on the way to this area. Give your command, but only when he starts to go. You want to be sure he's associated that command with the act of peeing before you start giving it before he's peeing. You say he won't go with you around. What about on leash walks? Does he go then? I'd concentrate on getting that association going with the act of peeing and the command word, regardless of where he's peeing. And take lots of walks so when he has to go, he has no choice but to go in front of you or with you around. This way you can re-enforce that behavior of going in front of you. Don't forget lots of reward, special treats and party time. Then you can zero in on the training to go in the designated area in your yard. Be consistant. Stay with your dog. There's no way he can learn to go in one area if he's out there on his own. You have to go with him. Good luck.