Friday, May 18, 2012
Day 14
I didn't think things would be perfect. Last night I found my first turd upstairs on the new carpet. I had walked Blue last night after dinner, so he had opportunity. I'm not responding to it, just continuing the walks and positive support. All the rain we've had lately does add some challenges to the experiment. Blue is terribly afraid of lightening, more specifically the thunder and loud noises. No amount of soothing alleviates his fear, but doggie valium does. Normally I wouldn't be an advocate of drugging a pet, but he is so much calmer. I'm hoping it will help him get over his fear.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Day 9
We finally have our first piddle on the newspaper in the dining room.
It's been a week since my last post, and there has been literally no urinating in the house at all.... at least, that we have found.
Part of our motivation to try a new training effort so late in Blue's life is that we desperately needed to replace the carpet that he helped so diligently to soil. So to protect the new carpeting and pad, I decided to try some techniques that I had learned in my Intro to Psyche class. I had to change MY behavior to create a change in Blue's behavior. I had to be very conscious of how I spoke (and facial expressions). Even if I was frustrated I could exhibit no negative energies. I had seen a documentary that demonstrated that dogs are one of the few animals that are actually able to read human facial expressions. Blue is VERY sensitive to any harsh words or anger. You can slap him with a word.
Operant conditioning is the positive reinforcement of a naturally occurring behavior. Since I am never able to catch him peeing.... negative reinforcement is just not an option.
For whatever reason, up to today, the newspaper kept Blue from peeing in the dining room. I began to have hope that perhaps when the old carpet and pad were removed, Blue would not urinate on the new carpeting. I even had the idea that should an incident occur, I should cover the area with newspaper as a deterrent. Fortunately, (knock on cyber wood) this has not occurred.
We will continue to be diligent in our walkings, as Blue is very vocal when he wants to go for a walk. My partner, Chuck, has been home during the day for a while, but when he returns to work, the dogs will come to work with me (a perk to being your own boss). I don't want them left alone for more than 4 hours. I want to insure that this positive, non-peeing-in-the-house behavior continues.
Dr. Reuter made a comment this week that stuck with me. Perhaps Blue was training me, not the other way around.
It's been a week since my last post, and there has been literally no urinating in the house at all.... at least, that we have found.
Part of our motivation to try a new training effort so late in Blue's life is that we desperately needed to replace the carpet that he helped so diligently to soil. So to protect the new carpeting and pad, I decided to try some techniques that I had learned in my Intro to Psyche class. I had to change MY behavior to create a change in Blue's behavior. I had to be very conscious of how I spoke (and facial expressions). Even if I was frustrated I could exhibit no negative energies. I had seen a documentary that demonstrated that dogs are one of the few animals that are actually able to read human facial expressions. Blue is VERY sensitive to any harsh words or anger. You can slap him with a word.
Operant conditioning is the positive reinforcement of a naturally occurring behavior. Since I am never able to catch him peeing.... negative reinforcement is just not an option.
For whatever reason, up to today, the newspaper kept Blue from peeing in the dining room. I began to have hope that perhaps when the old carpet and pad were removed, Blue would not urinate on the new carpeting. I even had the idea that should an incident occur, I should cover the area with newspaper as a deterrent. Fortunately, (knock on cyber wood) this has not occurred.
We will continue to be diligent in our walkings, as Blue is very vocal when he wants to go for a walk. My partner, Chuck, has been home during the day for a while, but when he returns to work, the dogs will come to work with me (a perk to being your own boss). I don't want them left alone for more than 4 hours. I want to insure that this positive, non-peeing-in-the-house behavior continues.
Dr. Reuter made a comment this week that stuck with me. Perhaps Blue was training me, not the other way around.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Day 2 - 5 May 2012
Well, I find that I write the morning, so Day 2 is really about Day 1, etc. So be it. Well, Blue thinks we have laid the newspaper down as a kind of carpeting for him. There is no association between newspaper and place to pee. Chuck caught him peeing on the carpeting upstairs and smacked his bum. There has been no other urinating in the house, in the dining room or anywhere else.
I should mention that our house is not a laboratory. There are really too many variables for it to be a great experiment. Recently, my partner, Chuck, has been home, so the dogs have been walked far more frequently than the day to day norm when we both work. Even with this factor, Blue continues to urinate in the house.
Next Thursday the upstairs will be re-carpeted, and we are getting some non-absorbent padding. I already own a carpet cleaner (which in no way could keep up with Blue). The ideal would be to house-break him prior to the carpet arriving, but I'm ready with cleaning machines in reality.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Intro - Day One
We have a Sydney Terrier, named Blue, whom we adopted from a rescue about 5 years ago. During this time, I have been unsuccessful in completely house-breaking this dog. I am taking classes at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale for Fashion Design, and one of the General Education classes that are required for my graduation is Intro to Psychology. While studying the Operant Conditioning and B.F. Skinner, a thought occurred to me. The technique is to take an existing behavior and modify it with positive reinforcement. Blue most frequently urinates in the dining room. I am going to do an experiment and document it. My goal is to train Blue to pee on newspaper. The final goal is to get Blue to pee on a single sheet of newspaper in a shallow litter box or sheet pan, and no where else in the house (a modern day miracle).
Friday, May 4, 2012.
I cleaned the floor with white vinegar and covered the entire dining room with newspaper so that if Blue pees anywhere in the dining room, it will be on newspaper. I sat him down and explained, "Ok, Blue, you can pee anywhere in the dining room you want now and I won't get mad." Of course he heard "Ok, Blue, blah blah blah blah blah blah.." Perhaps I should have attempted an Australian accent.
Friday, May 4, 2012.
I cleaned the floor with white vinegar and covered the entire dining room with newspaper so that if Blue pees anywhere in the dining room, it will be on newspaper. I sat him down and explained, "Ok, Blue, you can pee anywhere in the dining room you want now and I won't get mad." Of course he heard "Ok, Blue, blah blah blah blah blah blah.." Perhaps I should have attempted an Australian accent.
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