To "treats" or not !!!

[lexi]

My adorable mini dachsie is 10 weeks old and I've had her for 3 days. She seems to be doing sort of okay as far as the housebreaking training is going, of course with definitely a few accidents. Meanwhile, my girlfriend from New York who owns a Sheltie and also thinks she's the maven and the queen on how to housebreak dogs, says to me that I'm a total idiot for giving my sweet, little dachsie a treat for going poop, etc. outdoors. Then she went on to tell me my breeder is also an idiot for suggesting to give my dog a treat if she goes outside when I take her. Needless to say, I haven't spoken to her since we had this conversation and now I'm convinced that she is an idiot herself and not to mention, so totally cheap. I don't think she'd ever give her dog a treat because then she's have to physically buy them at the store. I think my dog will definitely, absolutely outlast my friendship with her. As a matter of fact, I think that was just the icing on the cake. I believe she has these feeling because she thinks that no dog ever needs a treat. She doesn't believe in them at all. I think she thinks the dog will prefer the treats over the food she or he gets. Please tell me what you think. Thanks for listening and awaiting your response...

[OwnedByChaucer]

Treating and positive reinforcement is a well accepted method of training. I have used it myself, and haven't had much trouble with housebreaking...

[Cheryl]

Sassys puppy school instructor also emphasized on treats as positive reinforcement during housebreaking or any other type of training. It worked really well w/ her potty-training as well as bath time, nail clipping, etc. Sassy is nearly 8 mos old now and is doing really well w/ her potty training. As she got the hang of it, I lessened the treats so now I dont have to treat reward her when she "goes"...the "good girl!!" praise will suffice just as well. I know people have different training methods, but its worked well for me.

[Mandy]

We still give a treat when we come inside. I would suggest cutting very small pieces of a treat and putting it in a ziplock bag. Find one kind of treat that goes in the ziplock bag. They only get that kind of treat when you are outside, after they potty. You don't need huge treats...just a little taste will do.

We had the extrems on potty training. Henry is a neat-freak, pos/ag, anal retentive, take care of his "babies" type of guy. He wanted to be paper trained at first, so we let him. Then one day he woke up and decided that it was time to start pottying outside. Henry also has an issue of privacy with pooping (don't look at him or talk to him or he can't do it).

Jake came home and was a total opposite....kill the toys, make a mess. And potty training? What's that? He was more of a "Hey, Ma! Look at me!" while he poops, turning around, grinning at you. He didn't care where or when he pottied...until the treat bag found our house. Then, and only then, did pottying outside mean something.

[Heather]

I was not able to fully housetrain my youngest until I started giving him treats when he went outside. It worked like a charm.

If providing a treat after eliminiation works for you, then go with it. As long as you dachshund is exercised enough, and is not overweight, there is no reason why you can't do it.

[Rusty's mom]

I think that if treats work for you - go for it. Dogs respond very well to positive reinforcement and I personally don't think it hurts them at allhttp://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

Kathy