Re training toilet command.... weird problem

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Lucy_Nottingham

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Ok
no idea if anyone has had this problem or if my dog is just a freak (more likely!)

When he was toilet trained as a pup I did the whole take him out side say the command ("do wee's") and he got so good I could say it, hed go sniff a bit then do his business

for the past couple of months I let him outside to do it, and he turns and stares at me....... doesnt do anything just turns to a statue and stares at me.......

If I walk into the garden he jumps around me then when I stop he stares at me again....... I literally ignore him but he just stares you out! If I give the command do wee;s he jumps up runs around then stares at me again......

ye my dogs a freak!

How can I get him retrained to the command?? he has not started having accidents in the house or anything like that, but if I can't get him back to doing his business when required I am worried he will start having accidents

Any help please?!
 
Try not to use the word without the behaviour, because the two do not seem to be connected in your dog's mind.

Think of it this way...imagine I said "pigene gia katourima'' and then just stared at you, you would not have a clue what I was talking about (unless you speak Greek!). As far as your dog is concerned you are speaking Greek to him because he has not associated the word with the action. To solve the problem wait for the behaviour and then after he has started say the word "go toilet" or what ever you want to use, then praise him. Keep this up for a couple of weeks, behaviour first, then word, then reward and he will start to associate the word with the behaviour (although at first learning is likely to be place specific, so he may learnt it in one place in the garden but not another, or in the garden but not outside, so keep up the 'naming' of the behaviour). Then when he knows what "go toilet" means you can use it as a cue and reward when he produces the behaviour.
 
when he was younger he knew the command, as in I could use it as a cue, then reward behaviour. But its like now the connection has just gone.
This is where it is difficult as now he wont go out in the garden and do a wee he will stand and stare at me, the only way he will stop staring is if I shut the door and walk away from it (as he can see over the top of the door through the glass) therefore I am unable to say the command when he does the action...........

does that make sense?! sorry its a strange situation
 
How old is he now? Dogs often go through a growing up phase where they seem to forget a lot of things from their training and it can be very disheartening but it does all come back.

Does he go to the toilet when you are not looking (or when he thinks you are not looking)? If he does, it may be that for some reason he has become shy about it. He may have had a scare that you didn't even notice or for some reason grown to be worried about going to the toilet with you watching. I would stay out of the way, let him go to the toilet and still reward him. Leave the cue out of it for the moment and let him settle into going to the toilet again. The main thing is that he is not soiling in the house!
 
He is 1 today!!!

I hope it is just a phase, as I say he isnt soiling in the house (thank god!) I am just concerned that I have done something to cause this sudden lapse in "knowledge" as it were!?

He goes when I am not there, when i close the door and walk off and come back a few minutes later he has done either a poop or I catch him out the window doing a wee. Cause it is so warm at the moment I am leaving the door to the garden open and so he is going in and out of his own accord and is doing business outside when he needs too....

I was also wondering if maybe he is now at the age wehre he just goes to the toilet less? He goes on a walk, and when at home maybe once or twice max now......
 
I think your last sentance may have hit the nail on the head.

My dog has gone through a similar scenario to yours.

As they get older their bladders get stronger so I suppose they don't feel the urgent need to do their business. As a pup you may have thought he was reacting to your command whereas infact, he may have just needed to go and would have gone whether you used the command or not?
 
I would agree, he just needs to go less now he is getting a bit older
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Mine probably go about 3 times max per day, maybe twice sometimes
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so it might just be he just doesnt need it then?!

that would be nice, and less stressful for me thinking omg hes not going but must be bursting!!!
 
Mine have started doing the same, not staring me out as yours has but are looking at me like 'ok Im on the grass but i dont need a wee so can i pleeease come in now?!' With ours I think its because they are now just over 1yrs and have more control but also with the weather being so good we have left the back doors open so they can come in and out as they please and therefore go as they please. Hope you figure it out
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ye I am kind of hoping its just a case of he doesnt need to go! but like its first thing in the morning as well!!! and im like come on?!!! really?!! u don't need a wee at all!? coz im DYING!!!! lol

O well so long as he doesnt start doing it in the house.... guess there is no harm right?
 
I wouldn't worry about it. I think it's a combination of not needing to go to the toilet as often anymore and going through a 'forgetful' stage about his training.

I used to help out at a dog club and it was quite common for dogs that had learned a few things really nicely to go through a phase of total amnesia. They do grow out of it!
 
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