Looking For Tips On Bringing A Previously Outside Dog Inside?
Filed under Care & Training Q&As
I have a dog we got a couple years ago at the pound. She appears to be a greyhound mix. Very energetic. Likes to stand on her hind legs and give bear hugs. I bring her in and put her in a crate when it’s cold but have never let her run around the house. She’s just so rambunctious. It’s not the potty training that concerns me as much as the fact that I have cats and don’t want her to torture them and I don’t want her to get on the furniture. Will it be impossible to teach her that she’s not allowed on the furniture when the cats are allowed? Any tips are welcome. Thanks.
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Yes, it’s very possible, and fairly easy to do so. I’d crate train her like a puppy just to be sure. When not under direct supervision, she should be in the crate. When she has been let out and has relieved herself, you can put a training collar (a choke or prong collar) on her and a leash. At first maybe try sitting on the couch, leash in hand, while watching TV or something. When she shows too much interest in the cats, give her a light correction. If she’s hyper and bouncing about, give her a medium correction and tell her to lay down, if she doesn’t know that command then push her into a down position. Your job is to put her in a submissive state, one where her ears are back, she’s laying down, and she’s calm and minding her own business. When she gets the idea of the energy you expect her to bring in your home and she’s being calm and submissive, give her a pat and a little praise, not too much though because excited energy begets excited energy. I hope I helped, good luck, e-mail me if you have any unforseen problems!
-edit- Oh! And as far as the furniture goes, if she gets on it, give a medium correction and a “No” and make her move off, don’t push her off, she has to leave. When she leaves on her own accord after a correction she’s acknowledging she is your subordinate and she respects your wishes.
hi,
it would be possible to teach her to stay off the furnitures. here is an answer from an expert.http://dogtime.com/train-dog-to-stay-off…
hope this helps.
regards.
Any dog when they are introduced to a new environment just need to understand the rules. Yes, in the beginning she may want to get on things or bother the cats, but a firm “no”, and show her what you want, and she’ll get the idea. Also, Greyhounds are typically very laid back (unless they’re chasing something around a track!), so depending what the mix is, you may find she is doing more laying around the house than anything else.
Keep her confined when you cannot be with her, so she doesn’t get into trouble. Then, when she is loose, just keep an eye on her. As soon as she starts to do something she shouldn’t, a good firm “no”, and distract her from what she was doing. Then, when she stops and pays attention to you, a lot of praise.
I would start with a little time wach day. Bring her inside and if she gets on the furniture when the cats are there you tell her NO and dont let her get to close to the furniture. She will be tempted to do so since this is new for her but BE PERSISITANT you must tell her NO eveytime and not just when a piece of furniture is occupied by another pet otherwise she will never know the differance on when she can and when she can’t be there. Also be patient just like teaching a puppy this will take time and patients. Remember to reward her when she listens this makes it easier to continue the training. When she wants to get up on the furniture tell her NO and if she moves away give her a little treat she will catch on soon enough.
You have very wise answers here already but I wanted to comment.
My dogs do very well at the indoor thing or they know they will be put outdoors. The key to me training our dogs was that when they disobeyed, they went back outdoors. It works very quickly as a punishment. My dogs are scared of thunderstorms & one was born being scared of the sound wind makes so they had to be let in during those times. I have one dog that immediately goes in to the bathroom & lies down because Noah knows that that is his bedroom. He’s the one scared of the wind. The other dogs have various rooms they are allowed in. None attempt the furniture anymore, mainly the linoleum or my computer/library room floor.
We have one cat & somehow through all of these dogs he’s managed to make them think he rules the roost. They leave him alone.
They leave our hens alone also. They are great protectors of the hens.
Hope this helps a bit.:-)