Dh training

[GeorgianMumto5]

Right, I'm starting to think that dh is harder work than the puppy. Pup is just 5 months and not fully house trained. He's improved a lot but still has a way to go. He can be quite anxious, which I don't think helps. I've been teaching him that it's ok to go in the garden without me and then that's it's ok for me to shut the door. (I watch him, still.) We're getting there, which is good because it's cold with the door open.

When pup wees in the house, dh tells him off (I ignore, but praise success), throws him out, shuts the door and ignores him. He's been doing similar if pup hasn't been but needs to. Pup won't go under these circumstances - he just stands and yaps.

Pup has taken to pooing in house...and eating it. Dh does the whole 'tell off and shut out' thing. Pup's poo snacking was getting me down, so I looked it up in a book. One of the reasons suggested is if pup is punished, he tries to eat evidence. I share this with dh and he refuses to believe me. 'Pup isn't that intelligent! No way! Why would you know that, anyway?'

Er...because I read books, look it up on Internet, watch YouTube, speak to vets, dog trainers and dog owners...why wouldn't I know?!? Dh continued to refuse to consider changing his approach until later today. Dog is now a bit calmer, has only pooped outside and hasn't eaten it. We've had fewer puddles too. It's a no-brainer but I'm fed up of training dh as well as pup.

Is this normal in other households? I've tried leading by example, sharing my findings, relating convoys with others, but have finally had to resort to telling dh that he's part of the problem and needs to change his approach if he wants to see results. Stop bloody screwing up the dog, in other words. Childrearing has had its moments of progressing in the same manner.

convos, thank you, Autocorrect. I don't walk in a long line of other dog walkers.

Oh yes Georgian, you are absolutely right, your dp is creating real problems with his behaviour towards your puppy.

Punishing does not work. Puppy will just get fearful and will, as in this case, start showing fear by eating his own poo. He doesn't work it out. It's nothing to do with intelligence. He's acting on instinct and his instincts tell him to get rid of the thing that is causing the frightening reaction from your dp. Poor little thing is so scared he's eating his own poo.

Yes, you can get a dog to do what you want by training it by fear, but you will end up with a frightened, unhappy neurotic dog. Is that what your dp is aiming for.

Your puppy is a very young dog who is possibly still not entirely in control of his bowels and bladder. He will learn to respond more quickly and more consistently to kindness and a system of training that rewards when he does well.

Please don't let your dp destroy your puppy's spirit and happiness with his wrong headed approach.

My puppy eats his own poo sometimes but has never been told off for pooing in the house, he will sometimes bring poo in from the garden to eat it in comfort. Any ideas why this is?
My DH doesn't tell the dog off but doesn't listen to what commands I'm using and then wonders why pup won't do as he asks. Training DH is far more difficult than training the dog!

It is an instinctive thing to eat poo NCSI: their's, other dogs', horses, sheep's or anyone's they can get there paws on really, so generally it's not something to worry about. Just unpleasant. I have a permanent battle with my dog as to who can get to the cat's littler tray first.

Not sure how you train them out of it, or if it's possible.

With Georgian's puppy though, given that he's started doing it since he's started being punished for pooing in the house and he's quite anxious, it sounds like his instinct to cover his tracts is kicking in and he's doing it in order to avoid punishment and he needs to hide the evidence.

Our 5 month old pups house trained but eats poo from the garden or other dogs poo is she finds any. We now drop a tablet from the pet shop in her food, it contains yucca, brewers yeast and small amounts of cayenne among other things and makes her poo smell (more) unappetizing.

Agree that your dh's attitude is counter productive. Can you get a book on positive dog training for him to read?

Yes, but I'd have to hit him with it first. (Kidding - not advocating violence!!!)

Thank you. If things regress, with dh's all-new gentler approach, I'll try those tablets.

We brought up the kids via gentle methods, so I know he can do it. He's just a grumpy sod atm.