Is My Dog Hopeless? Why Is He So Bad Off?
Filed under Care & Training Q&As
I have tried training, to no avail… my dog didn’t graduate.
He does not listen, poops and pees in his cage (he thinks he has to poop at 3 in the morning, and I’m not waking up for that). He barks constantly, is hyperactive. I play with him, give him exercise, discipline, and affection per Cesar Millan supposed genius dog trainer’s instruction. He still acts this way. Could this be medical? He is 13 months, a Westie.
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Ok you need to get up and take him to the toilet… no matter what the time!
He is not hopeless you need to be more stern! You need to teach him you are the dominate alpha dog in the family, not him. If he doesnt learn that now you are going to have a very stubborn older dog.
Here are a few things you should do:
- Teach him to sit. Be persistent. Keep doing it. Do training at least 2-3 times a day for no more than 10 mins.
- Feed him last at EVERY meal time – feed morning and night. Make sure you and your family eat first and any other pets eat first before he is fed. Its not mean and its not like dogs can tell time.
- When he is being naughty, turn him on his back. This will reset his mind and teach him you are boss and can over power him. After he has calmed down and laying still let him up and do something else. Do this whenever he is naughty. If this does not work read my next point….
- IGNORE, IGNORE, IGNORE! Do not talk, or acknowledge him in anyway. Turn your back on him if he jumps, stop talking and avoid eye contact. If he persists with jumping or being naughty leave the room or place him in a naughty spot for 5 mins. Make sure the naughty spot is not his bed/food/play area otherwise you are rewarding his bad behaviour. Try locking him in the toilet for 5 mins. When you let him out still ignore him so he learns this behaviour is not accepted.
All in all you need to be persistent and show him you are boss. Make sure everyone in your boss follows any rules you put in place. If you all stick together your Westie will learn to behave. Once you establish who is boss enroll in another dog obedience class.
Good luck!
It’s not medical it’s you. If you are unwilling to take him outside to go to the bathroom when he needs to go, even at 3 am, then you will be stuck with cleaning up after him. As far as the barking, that is your fault also. Barking dogs are usually bored dogs, who need to have more mental and physical activities. Whtever you are doing for him for exercise, you need to either double or triple the time you are currently exercising him. He needs more. he won’t listen because you are not training him correctly. you need to go to a professional trainer and get some help on what you are doing wrong and how to correct it.
there’s got to be a way to train him. go to your community center and find out what types of dog training classes they have. they normally are affordable and have good trainers.
somehow he didnt learn to NOT poop or pee in his cage. are you letting him out enough?? maybe he needs to go out at 3am for that?maybe you are going to HAVE to take him out. it sucks, but maybe he needs that to learn that it is NOT acceptable to poo/pee in his crate. you have to be willing to do whatever it takes to get the point across to him. he’s probably NOT dumb, just doesn’t “get it” based on the training he’s gotten so far. try other methods and see what speaks to him.
First, be sure that (1) puppy is not deaf, (2) there is no problem with his bladder and bowels, and (3) his thyroid is normal.
For the bathroom issues, try changing his feeding times. Note how long after a meal he needs to poop. If you’re feeding him at the wrong time, yes, he will have to poop at 3am. Also, are you feeding him a high-quality meal? Is he allergic to his food?
For everything else, try a better trainer. It’s worth it!
If, AFTER training he still barks, try a bark collar. Don’t use a shock collar. Use one that gives a beep when the dog barks.
Good luck
I suggest you talk to a local member of the Westie club for tips and to see if he is a typical specimen. Ok so he has to go pee or pooh at 3am. You must get up and let him out or he will never be a clean doggy. It won’t be forever. He will get it eventually if he doesn’t have to be in a dirty crate all night. Also don’t give him too big a crate as then he will be able to poop away from himself. When you are getting up to let him out just think of yourself as a mom doing it for her baby. I think everyone should give any new dog 2 years before giving up on them and re-homing.
hey when you get the runs at 3 am would you be locked in your room?
make sure he potty’s before you go to bed,he is not hopeless,you just have to retrain
the smell is in the crate,disinfect,if the crate is too big he will potty in it,he only needs enough room to stand and turn around
or you can keep him in a laundry room but have his crate in there for him to go in and out of,leave papper or pee pads if you don’t wan to get up early
feed him at 5 pm last meal,and stop water at 9pm,take him outside after meal and 3 or 4 times till 10 pm from 5 pm,
What do you expect him to do? If you refuse to let him out when he needs to go…
WHAT ELSE IS HE SUPPOSED TO DO?
You can only control yourself for so long, then Mother Nature takes over and you mess yourself. Same with dogs!
Westies are high energy dogs.
They’re smart and stubborn.
He needs at least 2 hours of hard exercise. Not walking. Walking isn’t good enough. He needs to run. He needs a “job” – something to do with his mind.
Flyball, agility, or something to get his energy out.
You need to learn to deal with him on his terms or deal with the consequences.
I don’t believe it’s always the person’s fault when u have a dog with special needs?
I don’t have experience with Wesie’s but their are some dogs that just require more work. Sounds like you are doing a great job, cept for the 3am poo, sucks for u both but maybe put some newspaper by the door when ur sleeping ~ dogs usually figure it out and it’s easier clean up. Otherwise I seriously would consider investing in more training. Best of luck!
You need to find a really good trainer to work with you and your dog and they are out there yes hard to find but there. They will teach you techniques to be able to work with your dog and teach you the best way; to potty train and how you should be exercising him. You really need to invest in a trainer, that will help you more than any thing good luck!!!
take your dog outside on the grass three times a day in the morning, afternoon, and night. make sure your dogs poops and peas. feed your dog hard food from petsmart like Eukaneauba.
p.s dont buy chicken flavor or diet
Um.. why does he sleep in a cage?