I adopted a retired racing greyhound.
He's black. Named him Stax.
First time I've ever had my own dog.

This morning, he left a surprise for me.

Actually let me back up. Stax is 2 years old and raced at a track in Arizona.
Most of the dogs from the Greyhound Pet Adoption of Las Vegas go
to a foster home before they're adopted out.
During that time they're being transitioned from racing dog
to a house dog. They've never seen a couch, heard a TV or lived
in a house before, so the experience is all new for them.
I'm not sure how much time they had to house train him.
I got him on Friday, so it's only been 2 days.

I know that I reward behavior that is good and deliver a firm "NO" to bad behavior. Easy enough.
I've taken him out about 4 times the past 2 days OR if I see him pacing in a circle and sniffing the ground.
When he successfully goes outside, I always give him a treat and praise him immediately.
But last night we went out twice and he didn't go #2. It had me kinda worried there'd be a surprise.
But I woke up this morning with no surprise. Cool. I fed him and was going to wait an hour before I took him for another walk until....

...yeah. Surprise.
I really shouldn't be upset cause 1 accident with a new dog in 3 days isn't bad, is it?
I'm assuming I just missed the warning signs, right?
I'm not crating Stax, but I'm thinking I should.
Is it possible to get Stax on any sort of schedule if I'm taking him out every 3 hours?

Also, the treats I give him? He loves them. Some type of dog jerky.
Again, I use them to reward him after successfully going outside.
And Stax knows that now. Now it's to the point where after he goes, he's looking for the treat. That's good.
But today he jumped up in my face. I gave him a firm "No", but wanted to be consistent with the reward.
How do you reward a good behavior when they're in the midst of bad behavior?


Thanks.

the only real thing you can do is as soon as you find it take him outside

he just needs to get used to associating outside with going to the bathroom

as far as dealing with negative behavior.

id say redirect the attention to something else or completely ignore the bad behavior


for example we had a problem with the dogs jumping on us when we came in the house so we had to just ignore them until they calmed down, then we would pet them

that works pretty well

and if you can keep the leash by the door, too

He will be happy and dogs usually won't shit where they sleep Crate him anytime you are not going to be in the room with him until you are confident he is trained. Good luck.

And you have to learn Stax's language.

My sister's (now mine) minpin had house breaking issues until I figured out his language.

It started with my putting him on a very strict feeding schedule.
I'd feed him and then take up the bowl and water so he couldn't eat more later, off schedule.
Then I'd take him out about 20 minutes later to do his business and he'd usually do something.
If not, we'd go back out in 15-minute intervals. Then longer intervals
until I realized that when he has to go, he'll stare at you with a concerned look.
If I say "outside?" he runs to the door. So he never barked to let me know. He just stared. That's his language.

Never had any more issues then, because I knew when he was telling me.


As far as crating... I hear some dogs enjoy it and need that alone time.
But my sister crated the minpin as punishment, so he hates it.
He only goes in there when he knows he's done something bad.

Try to make sure that crating is a good, calming experience for Stax.

Also, it's never a bad idea to go to obedience class.
My minpin's 6 but I see that he learns from watching other dogs, so
as soon as I have him full time, we're going back to school.

Also, I like greyhounds. I want an Italian greyhound asap.

some of it can be difficult to pick up on too

i've had dogs for most of my life and the recent booger is all but untrainable for me lol

oh, he's house broken...

this is also the first dog i've ever had who wasn't most attached to me rather than my SO

so enjoy the ride...it's likely to be one u get on again

i've trained my moms pom pretty easily

they don't reinforce it but she was very obedient and still obeys most commands

edit - also, dog post w/ no pics? wtf bro?

www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

https://www.dropbox.com/s/neuap647wjlidc5/2014-11-28%2013.06.48.jpg?dl=0

it's dope that you rescued him

>https://www.dropbox.com/s/neuap647wjlidc5/2014-11-28%2013.06.48.jpg?dl=0

www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

I love sleek dogs.


Make sure you never let him off-leash unless the area's fenced in.

I've been researching sight hounds because I want one so bad, and this keeps coming up, so I'm just sharing.

Peace to you my dude, but that dog is huge. I need some live animal like a fox or malamute/husky.

that's cool that you adopted one....I like their personalities...somewhat aloof but goofy.

Stax folds himself up similar to a cat. For how tall he is, it's actually pretty amazing how compact he can make himself. From the research I've done, they're great apartment dogs for this reason.

>I adopted a retired racing greyhound.
>He's black. Named him Stax.
>First time I've ever had my own dog.

***Congratz!!! A dog is definitely a mans best friend :-) :-) :-) !!!
>This morning, he left a surprise for me.

I have been a dog owner and lover most of my life. I do think it is common for a dog to #1 & 2 when they come to a new environment, to mark territory...

>Actually let me back up. Stax is 2 years old and raced at a
>track in Arizona.
>Most of the dogs from the Greyhound Pet Adoption of Las Vegas
>go
>to a foster home before they're adopted out.
>During that time they're being transitioned from racing dog
>to a house dog. They've never seen a couch, heard a TV or
>lived
>in a house before, so the experience is all new for them.
>I'm not sure how much time they had to house train him.
>I got him on Friday, so it's only been 2 days.

***You should invest in a cage, not to big and not to small and sort of make it his home, then you should be able to get more control as to house breaking your new dog. Once he knows that the cage is his personal environment, he probably won't want to use it in the cage. I say, the cage shouldn't be too big because he might decide he has plenty of room and will probably leave his waist in one corner of the cage. If the cage is just large enough for him to be comfortable, he should do good...
>
>I know that I reward behavior that is good and deliver a firm
>"NO" to bad behavior. Easy enough.

***Yes!!! The treats are the key to making the dog behave, always have a treat for him when he does good, especially with the house training. I would make that the most important time for a treat...

>I've taken him out about 4 times the past 2 days OR if I see
>him pacing in a circle and sniffing the ground.
>When he successfully goes outside, I always give him a treat
>and praise him immediately.

***Sounds good :-) :-) :-) !!!

>But last night we went out twice and he didn't go #2. It had
>me kinda worried there'd be a surprise.
>But I woke up this morning with no surprise. Cool. I fed him
>and was going to wait an hour before I took him for another
>walk until....
>
>...yeah. Surprise.
>I really shouldn't be upset cause 1 accident with a new dog in
>3 days isn't bad, is it?

***Your dog is still young but not a puppy. From what you are saying, it is going to take some time for him to make the adjustment to your home environment. I would talk to him a lot and he will be quick to understand, I don't believe in simple commands all of the time, I think simple conversation is better for a house dog.

>I'm assuming I just missed the warning signs, right?
>I'm not crating Stax, but I'm thinking I should.
>Is it possible to get Stax on any sort of schedule if I'm
>taking him out every 3 hours?

***When you say crate, I hope that you are talking about a cage with the cage, you and Stax should be able to work it out, it shouldn't be too hard.
>
>Also, the treats I give him? He loves them. Some type of dog
>jerky.
>Again, I use them to reward him after successfully going
>outside.

***A treat after using it outside is definitely a key to successful training and until he becomes totally trained, that would be the only reason that I would give him a treat...

>And Stax knows that now. Now it's to the point where after he
>goes, he's looking for the treat. That's good.
>But today he jumped up in my face. I gave him a firm "No",
>but wanted to be consistent with the reward.

***As I said, I would mainly use treats for toilet training, anything else, he would get some good words and a nice long rub and a :-) !!! As far as him jumping in your face, continue to say "No" and as he gets more comfortable with his training, when he jumps in your face, as you as "No", lift one knee and this will block him from being able to jump in your face and he should soon stop.

>How do you reward a good behavior when they're in the midst of
>bad behavior?

***You don't. I would try not to do too much scolding because you really don't know him that well. I would have the treats handy and I would let him see the package or box and I would tell him, "No, you jumped on me or you did something bad, No treats, No treats!!!

Training an older dog is quite a bit different from training a young puppy. You and Stax got to get to know each other. Showing him lots of love which builds his confidence in you and conversation, to me is very important...

I got my dog when he was 4 months old and he was sort of difficult because he came from an abusive environment. If I had not gotten him a cage, I do believe that toilet training him would have been sort of difficult due the his stubborn, pitbull/terrier ways. I would remove him from the cage and take him directly outside and once he pooped and pee'd, I would praise him and bring him right back in the house and give him a treat. He shitted in the cage for about 2 weeks, maybe more but he had a problem with his digestive system and he had the runs everyday for about 3 weeks but after that second week, he started crying to go out because he did not want to step in his own shit. He is 3 years old and very well toilet trained. In fact, I had left him with my son for four days and he let my son take him out to pee but he held his shit for 4 days until I came back.

Be patient with Stax and take up as much time with him as you can. I hope everything works out well with you and your new dog :-) :-) :-) !!!



♥ :* I LUV ALL A' Y'ALL!!! :7 !!! :* ♥

my wife and i work full time so we didnt have the time nor energy to train our dog. We sent him to a trainer while we went on vaca. They'll get you started and its much easier to finish what they start.

But make sure your dog learns the crate is a good thing and not a bad thing. If you haven't been keeping him in the crate you need to slowly acclimate him to it.

Start off by putting some old clothing or an old towel that smells like you in there. I literally bought a towel, used it to dry off after a shower and then put it in the crate.

Put lots of treats and toys in there... Leave the door open and let him go in and out as much as he wants while you're home. If you get a wire crate, cover it with a towel or a blanket to make it more den-like. Then once he is comfy in there and sleep, close the door. Let him out when he wakes up and whines... Don't make it a prison.

It also helps to have a name for the crate. When I want my dog to go into her crate all I have to say is "go home" and she walks in... No fight. It's also useful because she associates "go home" with any space "designed" for her... I was at a hotel this past weekend and put some pillows in a corner between a table and chair with a treat... I told her to go home and she walked over there and laid down with no additional cajoling.

My dog loves her crate. Hell, sometimes I'm looking for her and she has decided to nap in the crate.

Also, as other people have said, you will learn your dog's tell. My dog will do tap the door knob when she wants to use the restroom. My sister's big ass pitbull will basically sit on your lap - like "I know you see me, walk me". My dog growing up would bring you his leash. You can also train your dog for a specific tell. I had a friend that had trained his dog to ring one of those bellhop bells when it needed to go out. My friend kept one in the main areas of the house so that if the dog needed to go out, he would come find the one closest to you.

coziness.

1)Cosign what everyone has said about crate training.

2)Waiting an hour after you feed him to take him out may be too long. My dogs usually need to go 5 or 10 minutes after they eat. I assume they are pooping out what was already in their stomach before what they just ate.

but you have to add a little something to them. I usually pour juice off of chicken or any other meat that I have down in the large rawhide bones and I also use something like Velveeta cheese and rub it on the bones and stuff some of the cheese inside of the rawhide bones. These bones can be pretty dull and boring if you don't add on to them. The rawhide bones will keep him occupied and keep him calm and prevent him from chewing on stuff that he is not supposed to chew on. Good Luck :-) :-) :-) !!!


♥ :* I LUV ALL A' Y'ALL!!! :7 !!! :* ♥

a better alternative is bully sticks. here's a site where you can get 'em way cheaper than you can in any pet store.

www.bestbullysticks.com

..personalities are just as unique in dogs as they are with people.

it appears you have a dog with a very detailed history.

as someone with extensive training & experience, i'd like to weigh in. i'll be back shortly with a few more questions and replies to everything you've mentioned.

congrats on the adoption!


*skatin' the rings of saturn*


..and miles to go before i sleep...

other than that, this is out of my depth of giving advice as a dog owner.

great looking dog. glad you're reaching out to be a better owner. cy's great with dog advice so i'd give his input a lot of weight.

Is it crating them when you're away so they won't poop in their on space?

Because my sister's dogs just put their butts against the back end of the crate and let loose.
I'm sure she was doing it wrong. She's pretty terrible at training dogs.
But I'm just wondering, as I'm aiming to adopt a pup in the near future and foster as well.

..crate training is used for a variety of reasons, most notably for discipline and regulation of activity.

the theory that dogs are den-dwelling animals is what led to this form of instruction. however, there are many different variations of this, and it is often mistaken as simply a punishment for bad behavior.

when used properly, crate training should provide a secured environment for your dog, as well as discipline & scheduling.

new owners (and people unfamiliar with house-training) often use crates to help acclimate a dog to their new surroundings. like children, dogs need discipline & direction regarding lifestyle and obedience. unlike babies, you can't simply slip a diaper on a puppy and expect them to behave. when applied correctly, crate training helps the puppy adjust to a desired schedule, as well as a reminder of certain behavior. most dogs respond to proper crate training in a relatively short period of time, but that can vary depending on the circumstances.






*skatin' the rings of saturn*


..and miles to go before i sleep...

I think my sister definitely missed the mark with her pups, then.
The minpin loves to be in a little cave, but he associates the crate with a spanking and punishment. :-(

>I think my sister definitely missed the mark with her pups,
>then.
>The minpin loves to be in a little cave, but he associates the
>crate with a spanking and punishment. :-(

..unfortunately, that sounds like a negative experience in crating.

it can be corrected, but that involved time, patience, discipline, & consistency.


*skatin' the rings of saturn*


..and miles to go before i sleep...

>
>it can be corrected, but that involved time, patience,
>discipline, & consistency.


He's my baby boy and I will put in every bit of work it takes.
Once I get him full time, I might be blowing up your inbox with questions, lol.

..its always nice to see people that are enthusiastic about the well being of their pets.

*please take a moment to peep the info provided in reply #34.

i'll also bring back my "dog day afternoon" post to help deal with specific questions/comments/concerns people might have about their pets.

and yes, as always, my inbox is open.


*skatin' the rings of saturn*


..and miles to go before i sleep...

in our bed on the weekend and he will often jump down to get in his crate.

When we are leaving for the day we put him in the basement (which he doesn't like). Once we put oour shoes on, he'll run and hide in his crate lol.

We associated the crate with positive things like feedings and treats as well so it wasn't just a negative experience only.

mainly bc he has extreme separation anxiety so i used treats to ease the transition

he's really small and the first crate we had for him was too big so he popped in it...we got a more appropriate sized one and within 2 days he realized how bad an idea it was to poop and pee in it

he's a little dog too so it took a bit longer for him to get bladder/bowel control while at work...but now he's on a very good schedule...

we don't even take him out during normal work hours on the weekends anymore bc it helps even more...i think he's had one accident in the house this year and we've eliminated the crate quite a while ago

the treats were needed for his separation anxiety so it didn't feel like a punishment

He didn't want to go into the crate. And he's really too big a sumbitch to "put" in there (plus, they should go of their own accord anyhow).

I fed the dog in the crate to get him to like it. He now associates it with food and treats, so he goes into it the second I start making his food, wagging his tail and generally loving life.

If you have carpet. That stuff really works well.

I'm definitely getting a crate.
Anything that will get him on my schedule so I'm not at work stressed.

..congrats again on the recent adoption. considering stats on pet adoption, its always nice to hear about people adopting pets, esp those with specific backgrounds.

you mentioned that stax is 2yrs old and a former racing greyhound. do you have any other info regarding his career in racing?

i ask because the average career of a greyhound bred for racing is 4-6yrs, with exception given due to injuries or those that are no longer deemed competitive. more importantly, it would be helpful to know more info about his breeder, any previous issues, or injuries related to his career.

the 1st thing to recognize regarding pet ownership is that training is a mutual bonding experience. meaning: both the pet AND the owner will need to learn & respect a standard set of values. this involves a considerable amount of time, patience, energy, discipline, and consistency. both pet AND owner can & will make mistakes, but its important to quickly re-establish and affirm guidelines that will ensure the health, safety, and overall quality of life of this new family.

*PLEASE CONSIDER PET INSURANCE*

like children, dogs are curious, rambunctious, and sometimes mischievous animals. even the most docile and affectionate dogs make mistakes and get into trouble. although its debatable, annual check ups are always optimal. this establishes a solid rapport for you, your dog, & your vet. unfortunately, vet services are costly. a visit can average around $100, and any additional care, procedure, meds can lead to hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars. insurance may seem like an extreme measure, but will save you a LOT of $$$, heartache, & stress down the line.

--------------------------------------------------------------


introducing a new dog to your home is always a challenge, but these are the most important factors to consider:

*establish a routine*

every dog needs structure & guidance. by regulating their activity, you give them a chance to fall in line naturally, as well as giving them something to look forward to daily. try to adhere to a general feeding/walking/bathroom schedule. *important note: feeding schedules are much better when the dog is given a specific amount of time to finish their food. (ie: making their food available for no more than 10-15 minutes. after that, remove the food until the next scheduled feeding). this helps cut down on fickle feeders & stubbornness, and allows for a manageable schedule for you and your dog.

*set clear boundaries*

every home is different. some people allow free reign, while others have more restrictions when it comes to home life for their dogs. any areas of your home that is off limits to your dog should be established immediately and often. you can do this with simple verbal and physical commands. its also important to recognize that everyone needs their own space, and dogs are no different. this can be done with a bed or crate (depending on the personality).

*special note: like children, dogs often mimick our own behavior. if you're wondering why your dog sleeps with a random sock, shoe, etc, its likely because its smells like YOU! (this is not to be confused with bad behavior -- ie: destruction of property). if you crate your dog, its always helpful to make it a comfortable environment, complete with their favorite things and maybe and old sweater or tshirt that you've worn.

*use simple commands*

dogs learn by using all of their senses, so its important to note that the more we exercise these senses, the better the response. anyone who's ever spent significant time with dogs will quickly learn that dogs pick up on our voice, cadence, volume, and actions. what most people tend to forget is that dogs are great at reading our faces as well. at the same time, they learn to communicate with us in the same manner. develop simple commands that utilize these senses and be consistent (ex: good boy, heel, sit, stay, no, leave it, etc.). remember, dogs pick up on what you say AND how you say it.

*helpful hint: no need to yell. dogs are very keen and most have great hearing (w/exception to those with impairments). 9 times out of 10, if your dog isn't following your vocal commands, its not because they didn't hear you (its likely because they're challenging/ignoring your authority). yelling at your dog does demonstrate emphasis, but can often be misinterpreted. a steady, stern, and consistent tone will work wonders and avoids anxiety.

*correct misbehavior immediately*

discipline is crucial to a good home life for pets. every dog makes mistakes, so its important to establish a standard for corrective behavior. when your dog is out of line, correct them immediately (and often). this is an issue for many owners, as it requires a great deal of discipline, time, & effort for everyone involved. taking the time to re-establish boundaries/rules is vital to consistent behavior.

*reward good behavior*

every professional has a different approach to training dogs, and rewarding good behavior is often highly debatable. my personal approach does NOT involve treats. while i think treats are great and help encourage good behavior, its not always corrective and can result in bad habits. there are many accounts of dogs who are accustomed to being rewarded with treats, yet acting out and becoming more aggressive. the focus should be on the task, not the reward. as such, i reward dogs with praise.

why?

because every dog loves praise. its one of the ways they communicate with us, and a huge part of our bond with them. they praise us every time we come home, and they show their affection by barking excitedly or running around. using treats (sparingly) during specific training is completely understandable, but the real reward should always be your praise.

*diet & exercise*

try to be vigilant and aware of everything you feed your dog. pet food recalls and notices about possible issues involving food, treats, etc. are important. like humans, dogs respond much better to foods that are good for them. avoid feeding table scraps or "human food."

foods that are hazardous to dogs (and why): https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/foods-are-hazardous-dogs

while you might find some debate regarding the proper environment for specific breeds, every dog needs exercise. unfortunately, some dogs only get out for short walks (bathroom routines) or are simply confined to gated yards (or worse). a responsible owner will recognize that regardless of their living arrangements, its important that every dogs gets plenty of exercise.

*safety*

our pets are a part of our families. as such, their safety & well being are important. please consider micro chip identification:

http://www.aspca.org/about-us/faq/what-microchipping-and-why-it-important

its inexpensive and has saved the lives and successfully reunited thousands of pets and their owners.

*also: using colored ribbons for at-risk behavior.

dogs tend to be very protective of their families/packs. responsible pet owners are proactive about social activity among the dogs in their neighborhoods. if your dog is subject to sporadic behavior (or extremely shy), its helpful to alert other dog owners. tying a yellow ribbon on your dogs leash (the LEASH, not the collar) gives a clear indication to other owners, and they'll usually avoid approaching for social greeting. this info can greatly cut down on the number of incidental snips, flare ups, or fights.





*skatin' the rings of saturn*


..and miles to go before i sleep...

yelling and treats.

Treats are the simplest and easy reward/training recipe especially for busy folks. We eventually ween him off the treats to the point where he just gets the praise. I wouldn't recommend using traits for good behavior for years lol

I yell at him too...but its only when he's being extremely unruly with his barking and ignoring commands to quiet. It usually hurts his feelings and he'll come apologize(lick me) lol

>yelling and treats.
>
>Treats are the simplest and easy reward/training recipe
>especially for busy folks. We eventually ween him off the
>treats to the point where he just gets the praise. I wouldn't
>recommend using traits for good behavior for years lol

you mentioned that treats are the "simplest" and "easiest" training method for busy people, only to then point out that you have to "ween" your dog off the treats.

that's a bad habit.

you basically took one task and created two. not to mention, it creates confusion for the dog. what happens when you need the dog to respond, but don't have a treat available?

training a dog without using treats eliminates confusion and ensures that the dog understands and responds to YOU, not their unyielding desire for pup-peroni. when verbal commands are not enough, the next step should be to include physical action/correction. again, time, effort, patience, & discipline are the principles of training, not treats.

>I yell at him too...but its only when he's being extremely
>unruly with his barking and ignoring commands to quiet. It
>usually hurts his feelings and he'll come apologize(lick me)
>lol

most people raises their voice at different times. some through excitement, others in anger/frustration. what you want to avoid is confusion and anxiety. dogs pride themselves on earning praise. your dog is listening to what you say, when you say it, and HOW you say it. eliminating yelling provides a more stable environment for dogs (and people as well). you can display the same emphasis through cadence (being stern), without raising your voice and avoiding any confusion.

all while maintaining a stress free environment.

*as always, i recognize that everyone has their own methods. at the same time, you'd be surprised at the results when you eliminate bad habits altogether.

*skatin' the rings of saturn*


..and miles to go before i sleep...

I just reward him with the treat less and less. So in training he gets praise + treat. After about 2 weeks (for example) he'll get the praise but only the treat about 75%. Then 50%...etc. When he responded to something and we didn't have a treat around...he just got the praise. It didn't take away from the learned behavior.

As for yelling, it's a last resort after I change posture, cadence etc. I usually only need to resort to it once every 2-3 weeks when he isn't responding to anything else.