Puppy training, discipline, and bad neighbors.

[slammin.e28]

So, starting things off, I got a 14 week old black German Shepherd over the weekend. She is awesome.

Enough about that.

She was doing very well as far as pooping and peeing in the house. She'd get someone to take her out, etc, etc, 3am, yadda yadda....

#1, for some reason she started going nuts inside. I take her out, she pees, comes in, and poops. WTF Seriously? How do those of you experienced with dogs get one to listen? She's so smart too, she'll drag her bed over her pee to hide it. I'll walk her all over the yard, even after she pees, to see if she has to poop, or vice versa.

#2, how does one discipline a dog as this? Seems she's just being bad to be bad. I praise her and give her treats when she goes outside. She's already learned sit, somewhat lay down, and easy when handing her a treat.

#3, the neighbors have a fucking rottweiler. She is super aggressive. All that separates our yard from theirs is a chain link fence. It's short enough to where the Rotti can stand up on it with her front paws. Short of shooting the bitch, what can I do to keep her from patronizing my Elsa? I'm thinking of building a tall wood fence along the chain link one, BUT the chain link fence is on our property. The neighbors fence just butts up to it.

I'm thinking that the Rottweiler is intimidating my girl and thus Elsa doesn't want to do her business in the yard. This is a problem, as I'm going to have to keep her outside when I'm at work so she doesn't shit all over the house.

R3V PLS HALP!

[redsubdivisions]

Don't "discipline" her. She needs corrective training. Dogs don't learn through ass whoopings and such (for the most part). They learn with positive reinforcement. Puppy pads will be a good start and slowly move them to the door so she gets the idea that if she has to go, she needs to go outside. Once you're outside, maybe put them out there and when she poops outside, praise her with treats and saying, "Good girl" and anything that she will be happy about. It's tough housebreaking a dog, but once its done, you'll be thankful. I had to housebreak a litter of 3 and I can tell you, it was nowhere near fun. Just be patient with her and it will work out.

As far as the Rotty goes, try and ignore it or take her to another part of the yard. Can't really do much about your neighbor's dog, unfortunately.

If you whoop the dog's ass for it, she will only live in fear and then she will start either pooping in concealed spots of the home to avoid trouble or maybe even eat it. Dogs don't have the best memory when it comes to scolding them for going in the house. If you catch her in the act, pick her up really quick and take her outside and let her finish. that worked with my 3 hounds and they rarely ever go in the house anymore.

[Thizzelle]

You need to establish pack leadership like czar. Dog whisper that bitch.

[ohthejosh]

Shoulda kept the opossum. It already knows how to play dead/

[slammin.e28]

Yeah, discipline is the wrong word. She's a great dog, just needs to get these issues sorted out. I haven't slept a full night since we got her, but I'd rather take her out at 3am than have her make a mess in the house. I normally catch her in the act and run her outside to finish. She was going to her leash and whining, but now she just seems to walk out of sight and drop a deuce. She did one right behind me. I thought she farted and walked away. NOPE.

I try to keep her on the other part of the yard, but it's only like a 1 acre plot, house included.

[giantkeeper]

Crate train, it's the best way!

At night, in the crate. During the day at work with nobody home, in the crate. Before long they associate the waiting until they go outside.

[spike68]

As much as she dosent want to do business outside the house, she has no right to be doing it in the house either. You need to show her that the house is YOUR space. Claim that territory and show her that wrong even if shes scared. If it occurs, immediately correct her by placing her in a cage or subduing her to something which she an affiliate in which she has some something wrong.

You could also just keep her outside until she does all of her business. When she does, reward her and let her know thats what she is supposed to do.

As far as the other dog, try to ignore it. If YOU ignore the other dog, so will she. Your dog can sense your mood and what youre feeling by gesture. If you are worried, shes worried. If you ignore it, then so will she.

[lambo]

Poop on the rottweiler. Show it who's boss.

[slammin.e28]

I really don't want to crate her. She already sees her room as punishment. She soiled her bed yesterday so all she's got is some cardboard I broke down for her to lay one. Yeah, I feel terrible, but she's got to learn.

I'm mostly afraid the Rotti will jump the fence. Her doghouse butts up to it and she could easily get on top and pop right over. I figure we'll wait a few months and see how that Rotti likes patronizing an 85lb Shepherd, maybe more. She's huge for 14 weeks.

Part of this is I really don't like Rottis. Not in the sense that I want them all put down, but in the sense that I want nothing to do with them.

The neighboring house on the other side is foreclosed on, so maybe we'll find a way to let Elsa loose in there, lol. The yard has an 8ft tall wood fence too. Maybe we'll just have that migrate over to my yard, haha.

[spike68]

Like i said, if you ignore the other dog, so will Elsa. Seriously. I do that with my other 2 dogs all the time. They can seriously sense that shit. As long as they know your the "pack leader"

[2ndName]

Google nothing in life is free to establish leadership. Crate train until your pup turns 1. Reinforce good behavior and not punishment.

[Stanley Rockafella]

Poop on the rottweiler. Show it who's boss.

[redsubdivisions]

crate train is the best way. plus a dog won't shit/piss where it sleeps and lays. plus when she gets older, she can lay in there and have her own space.

[Herr Faust Schinken]

crate train is the best way. plus a dog won't shit/piss where it sleeps and lays. plus when she gets older, she can lay in there and have her own space.

Do this I crate trained my sheltie got him at 8 weeks he was trained at 11 weeks had home for 7 years now and he hasn't peed or shit in the house since

[slammin.e28]

So, the GF is against crate training.