Poodle Problems

There are others who are excellent trainers on here --

My way is to work on ALSO training her to have a way to **tell** you she needs to go out.  You miss that FIRST cue -- and then they think if they get away with it ONCE - voila!  you don't care!! 

Essentially you have to make it impossible for her to screw up even AFTER you let her off leash.  If you can't supervise her -- crate her or put her where she can't goof.

See, a doggie door ASSUMES she wants to go out.  Many dogs don't.  I mean it's either raining or hot out there, and if you can go right here and get away with it?  Why do anything else?

So you have to go back to housetraiing 101 -- and bash yourself over the head with that newspaper (it's the only good thing to do with a rolled-up paper!) and *teach* her what you want her to do.  Put her in the situation over and over where she can't screw up -- and reward her for doing it right.

"freedom" can be vastly over-rated - we think of it as "fair" -- they see it as "I can go back to doing what I did before" so you will have to adjust HOW you do this. 

Mostly this is a great place with caring people.  Welcome!!!

 Hello, and Welcome!

And thank you for rescuing this girl!  You said you have had her about 2 years, but no indication how old she is.  Also, no info re her background - other than the fact that she wasn't house trained, lol!. Oh and any idea what the poodle is mixed WITH?

Potty Training

I ask because --

- bichons are often crossed with poodle, and bichons are notorious for being hard to house train

- one of my dogs, Tasha, was from a puppy mill, lived in a cage all her life, and was almost 5 years old when she was rescued and came to me.  It took 18 months but we FINALLY got her house trained!  WOO HOO!! Of course, she had a LOT of things to adjust to, in addition to house training.  And having lived in her own filth for so long, the basic instinct to not go in the sleeping area was missing and had to be restored.

Yes, you CAN get this girl trained.  It will take time and patience.  I think using the tether method right now is a great step!  Oh, and since you've had her almost 2 years, she now thinks it is permissible to do this in the house, so you are breaking a learned 'habit' with her.  Often, dogs learn something in one situation and it takes time to carry over to all situations.  She's been with you long enough that she thinks this is 'right in this home,' so you have to change that too.

What do you do when she goes outside?  Are you using any commands?  I use 2 commands "busies," and "outie side."  We go outie side for walkies and all sorts of things.  I use "do your busies" when we are out for a potty trip.  Once she goes, HAVE A PAWTY!!!  Clap, dance, jump in a circle, praise praise PRAISE!  Have treats with you, reward her lavisciously, lots and lots of bits of treats.  If your neighbors and your dog are looking at you like you are nuts you are doing it right; anything less is not enough celebrating!  Get her happy and bouncing!  Dogs DO want to please!    

While you are training, always have a baggie handy, in your pocket or in the fridge ready to grab, with really high value treats:  bits of hot dog, bits of cheese (string cheese and cheddar work well), boiled boneless skinless chicken breast.  (FYI one hot dog can make AT LEAST 60 treats!) 

 When she goes in the house, do not scold.  Clean it up.  You can make sounds of disgust (yuckies, icky), do NOT look at her when doing this. 

 I really can't offer much re the aggression to your young son (age?  ) or your older dog, as these are not things I have any experience with.  I do know others will have help for you.