to spank or not to spank? that is the question!

[JamieLee77]

My three year old Chihuahua, Lucy, whom I rescued from a local animal shelter three months ago, has yet to be house trained. I take her out regularly while I am at home and she is confined to one portion of my bedroom while I am at work. She will not pee in her area of my room while alone during the day, but will run to my roomates' closests, a certain area of my room or to the hall to squat.

I have been told that spanking a dog, unless you see him or squat, is futile. But, my parents and other dog owners swear by this method and claim that is the way they trained their dogs, who are completly house trained. I am at a loss and have no idea what to do. How else can I train my dog if she doesn't realize what she is doing is wrong?

Desperate for clean carpet,
Jamie

[adunphy]

Spanking will do no good. It isn't going to teach her anything. Please read some of the articles on this site about house training. Crate training may also be of interest to you.

Amy

[JamieLee77]

I appreciate your response. However, how do you explain so many of my friends' and family's dogs being trained this way.
My boyfriend has a house trained american bull dog living in their home and she is totally house broken - they claim do to a rolled up newspaper on the mantel.
I have tried crate training, have bought all of the clean up sprays and have kept her under constant supervision. As soon as I think she doesn't need my supervision 24/7 she sneaks into the hall. Earlier this week I took her out and no more than ten minutes later she peed in the hallway.
This is a very frustrating problem, especially when it seems that everyone else with a dog easily trained their dogs.
Jamie

[adunphy]

Its not that they CANT be trained that way. It isn't nearly as effective though. Think of this - if you are trying to learn calculus. Everytime you messed up you got punched. Would that help you learn it faster? Probably not. The reason why hitting with the newspaper can work is because it is creating a negative association with peeing. Hopefully the dog will associate it correctly, but often times what you get is a dog who becomes fearful of the owner. They dont think that peeing inside is bad, they think that the owner seeing the peeing is bad - so they will begin to run away and pee elsewhere. Then you dont even catch the behavior.

Also, let me just advise you that your dog is MUCH smaller than a bulldog and much more fragile. You should never hit your dog with anything.

My advice is to properly house train to TEACH the dog where to potty. You could look into the indoor potty as a means to help save your carpet as well.

Amy

[JamieLee77]

I hope you are not misunderstanding me. I do not beat my dog and neither do my friends. I was simply stating what other methods my friends have used with their pets, who are perfectly obediant and loving family dogs.
I understand that I must teach her where to properly use the bathroom, and I believe I have done that to the best of my ability. I have read all of the literature and even invested in a dog trainer. I am running out of solutions, however.
Thank you for your response and I will take your advice into consideration.

[adunphy]

I didn't take it as you beating your dog by any means. But even a slap or hit with a newspaper could do serious damage to a little dog.

Small dogs can often be much harder to house break. That is why so many people opt for the indoor potty.

Amy