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From: ned@SCIRTP.UUCP (Ned Robie)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: Bonnie the Puddling Poodle
Message-ID: <230@SCIRTP.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 22-Jul-85 16:19:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: SCIRTP.230
Posted: Mon Jul 22 16:19:46 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 25-Jul-85 02:20:42 EDT
References: <416@ttidcb.UUCP>
Organization: SCI Systems, Research Triangle Park, NC
Lines: 42

> You say "anytime she gets loose".  A question that immediately comes to
> mind is:  Why isn't she always?  Why do you keep her confined to one
> room?

Because she's not housebroken, and her smell tends to diffuse.  The room
she stays in is not that small and we do let her free outside often during
the day.  Also, the other dog stays in that room too (when she's inside)
and keeps her company. (I did say all this in the original posting, didn't I?)

> I notice you also said that she will submissively urinate when you grab
> her.  That in addition to saying that you never go near her due to her
> odor might account for part of the problem.  Imagine, if you will, a
> dog that was never petted, and all of a sudden was grabbed.

We DO pet her but rarely cuddle her.  We also talk to her throughout the day.

> If she is trying to get out from wherever she is, it's probably because
> she's not happy there.

She doesn't try to get out (unless she sees the cat).  She seems very content
in her room.  When the gate is (accidently left) opened I believe it's natural
for her to go out and explore and run around.  I don't think it's necessarily
because she dislikes where she is.

> Consider correction:  Do you praise her after you scold when she's doing
> what you want her to do?  Do you show her an alternative behavior when
> she does something wrong.

The only thing we scold her for is barking at uncalled for times (the phone
rings, someone enters the front door, etc.)  How do we praise her for
not barking?

> The housebreaking problem is one that your dogs will never do successfully
> as long as you leave the newspaper down and don't neutralize the urine
> odor that remains on the floor.

The room is cleaned with Pinesol daily.  We'll try removing the newspaper
and working with her outside, as you suggest.

Thanks for the help!

-- Ned Robie