treat plan backfiring

[doxaholic]

Ok we have been give my dog Shadow treats for going potty outside. He has begun to get us up and tell us when he has to go which is a good thing but lately he has been getting us up about 6 times a night and he will go out and either stand there or pee a little to get a treat. We aren't sure what to do about this! We will only take him out a few times when he comes up because we are afraid he won't develop a strong bladder. On the bright side we took everyone's advice and he hasn't had an accident in the house in a long time!<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm34.gif" border=0> <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm30.gif" border=0>
Thx to everyone your advice is great!

- Caitlin & Shadow<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm3.gif" border=0> <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm11.gif" border=0>

[Cindi]

Congrats on your success. IMO, it would be best to crate him at night until he is thoroughly housebroken. This would negate the 6 times a night going out (which is really sneaky of him), makes for better sleep for everyone (and he needs his little 8 hours, too) and helps him develop his bladder control. He gets his treat for going in the crate so he isn't losing anything.
Once his training is complete then he can come back out and join the world. I would do that reintroduction slowly, as in every other night or every 2nd night and if he has a relapse he goes back to being crated at night. It probably won't take long for him to get the idea of sleeping all night.

[Rusty's mom]

We've really been working the training/treat/going outside thing - especially since we got our third little guy. There's just no way that I can have three untrained dogs in the house. Rusty is now housebroken!!! He pretty much was before but the treats just finished it off nicely. Our Duffer is getting there quickly. He will now go and stand by the door rather than squat on the rug - that's a definite bonus. Our Hobbs (11 wks) is also coming along - he's not had as many accidents as the other two had by this age so things are definitely looking up. Hobbs wakes up about 3:30 a.m. to go out and of course his big brothers have to go out with him. (the place is a zoo) They have learned that if they don't go - they don't get - they tried that in and out thing. Dashies are one smart kinda dog!! But it's improving and that's a wonderful thing.

kathy