With very few accidents over the last week, we've moved from just learning to go outside, to also learning WHERE to go outside.
When you have kids running around, and occasionally find yourself rolling on the ground, you want to make sure you are in a safe area! Ike has been trained to "hurry up" behind the garage. Only rarely does he, for whatever reason, forget this rule. It has worked out great and kept many kids (and adults) from needing additional baths/showers.
Rogue, of course, didn't start going in the same area as Ike...maybe this is some sort of territory thing...I'm not sure, but we all need to get over that!
Yesterday I took the dogs out and called Rogue and stood in the area and wouldn't let her leave until she went. It took a long time too.
She was off-lead and comes pretty reliably when called now. She sat by me, stared at me and kept trying to leave the area and head to "her area". She responded perfectly to my calls each time she tried to leave.
Knowing that she had to go meant it was a battle of wills. I just waited; and so did she. After about 5 or so minutes, she started to sniff around. A few redirects when she started to sniff her way out of the area worked well. Eventually she went and got lots of praise and high energy rewards.
This morning I took her out again with Ike. She headed to her spot, but I called her and she came. She went right away. In the right area. Now for the tough part. Consistency, not just on her part, but on ours too.
We are also working on returning to the backdoor when she is finished, sitting and waiting. Ike has done so well for so many years. In the winter you can open the door, say "hurry up" and he goes right to the back of the garage, does his business and comes right back to the door and sits and waits. Rogue is going to take some work on this, but so far is doing great.
I also maintain that having Ike helps tremendously. I don't know how much dogs learn from observing other dogs, but it can't hurt!
"The Teacher"
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