Housebreaking Vizslas

fdsjr · Post by **fdsjr** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 6:48 am

How long did it take for your Vizsla(s) to get housebroken?? Any tips would be appreciated!!

Post by **Greg Jennings** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 6:55 am

Read some articles on crate training. Housebreaking using the crate is no problem at all.

Using the crate, my V was 95% housebroke in two weeks.

Best,

fdsjr · Post by **fdsjr** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 7:00 am

Greg Jennings wrote:Read some articles on crate training. Housebreaking using the crate is no problem at all.

Using the crate, my V was 95% housebroke in two weeks.

Best,

When you say "95% housebroken" what do you mean??? What was still occuring?? Im guessing chewing...

Post by **Greg Jennings** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 8:48 am

fdsjr wrote:When you say "95% housebroken" what do you mean??? What was still occuring?? Im guessing chewing...

I mean that he still had 2 accidents in the house after that point. Both were when he was in the house and we didn't read his "I got to go potty" signals.

I tell all my friends now, "The crate is your friend, the crate is your friend".

Best,

Post by **Ayres** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 11:01 am

fdsjr wrote:Im guessing chewing...

Not to be a rainy cloud, but a viz will always chew. You can't break it, only curb it. Make sure your pup is stocked in toys and, while young, make sure to spray some bitter apple on things you don't want chewed (like furniture legs, etc.). Then just keep an eye out and immediately stop any chewing of valuables.

fdsjr · Post by **fdsjr** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 2:55 pm

Ayres wrote:
fdsjr wrote:Im guessing chewing...
Not to be a rainy cloud, but a viz will always chew. You can't break it, only curb it. Make sure your pup is stocked in toys and, while young, make sure to spray some bitter apple on things you don't want chewed (like furniture legs, etc.). Then just keep an eye out and immediately stop any chewing of valuables.

I figured they would always chew toys, all the dogs I have had do. I was refering to unwanted chewing like shoes, furniture and other things. Will this stop eventually or should I expect him to for a while?? Ive got this "Nature's Miracle" natural bittering agent, it doesnt seem to work. I have these steps to my bed for my dogs (wow their spoiled!! (Dal has arthritis)) he chews the corners still.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:17 pm

Tobasco sauce works awsome they catch on quick.

fdsjr · Post by **fdsjr** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:35 pm

Ryan wrote:Tobasco sauce works awsome they catch on quick.

hehe I bet... what just put a dab where they are chewing??

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:38 pm

ya. I find if you put a little in there mouths then let them snif it it works. They need to know what it smells like and what it tastes like though. Once they smell it they wont go near it. Our setter runs as soon as we grab the bottle from the fridge.

SHe was dragging rocks around our back yard only certain ones. So we put a little on and the next time she grabed that rock she dranks a hole crap load of water and run around with her tounge hanging out for a few min.

fdsjr · Post by **fdsjr** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:51 pm

Ryan wrote:ya. I find if you put a little in there mouths then let them snif it it works. They need to know what it smells like and what it tastes like though. Once they smell it they wont go near it. Our setter runs as soon as we grab the bottle from the fridge.

SHe was dragging rocks around our back yard only certain ones. So we put a little on and the next time she grabed that rock she dranks a hole crap load of water and run around with her tounge hanging out for a few min.

hmm... you think it works??

Ill have to get some, sounds like its a winner!

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:57 pm

I know it works from experience. works on your kids as well!! lmao

Post by **Ayres** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 11:33 pm

Dang, we didn't get that lucky with Just. He has a nack for getting in low-level trashcans, like the bathroom ones or the ones sitting by a desk, and picks out kleenex and paper and shreds them. We put some tobasco sauce on a kleenex and baited a trashcan with it. We watched in disbelief as he sniffed it out and shredded it and ate it anyway. It's like we just added more flavor or something.

Best thing that works is to just keep an eye out and stop any unwanted chewing before it starts, and always have something available that the dog is allowed to chew. If you do both of those things (one or the other won't work, it has to be both) then eventually the dog will chew what it knows it can chew and stay away from the things it knows it will get in trouble for chewing.

markm · Post by **markm** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 7:57 am

Going back to your original question, I think my V was 95% after I had her 3-4 weeks. As long as you get into a routine, they pick it up pretty quick.

As far as chewing random non-toy items, she has pretty much stopped that. She's now 13 months. For a while, she'd get into anything she could shred, toilet paper, kleenex, dryer sheets, etc. She crossed the line the day she tore a 12 inch hole in my comforter and proceeded to pull out the stuffing. Dad was not happy about that one and she knew it.

Like most all parts of training, it just takes time and they will eventually learn what is theirs to chew and what is not. Hopefully....

Good luck with your V. I don't think I'll ever own a different breed, but I think most on this forum feel the same about their breed too!!

Post by **Ayres** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 10:15 am

markm wrote:anything she could shred, toilet paper, kleenex, dryer sheets, etc.

Been there!

Also, when the dog is getting dryer sheets from the laundary (and it will happen if there's an opportunity), watch that it doesn't swipe a sock or some underwear as well.

ViniferaVizslas · Post by **ViniferaVizslas** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 3:04 pm

Ayres wrote:If you do both of those things (one or the other won't work, it has to be both) then eventually the dog will chew what it knows it can chew and stay away from the things it knows it will get in trouble for chewing.

That's right. Basically, you need to teach the dog the concept of possession. His toys, crate & bowl are his. Everything else is yours. Even the food in the bowl should belong to you until you give the dog permission to eat it. When your dog understands this concept and accepts it, you'll be able to leave a cheese tray out on a coffee table without a worry.

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 3:41 pm

This is not an exclusive V trait, hate to say it. Pretty much all puppies do it. They outgrow it. How long it takes is an individual thing. Anywhere from 1 to 2 years, with the problem slowly diminishing with time. Leaving the pup alone in the house uncrated is not a good thing during this period. Sep. anx. can exacerbate the problem, and they can chew bad stuff, like chair arms, pens in the middle of the wall-to-wall, etc.

The big concern is having the pup swallow a sock or similar object, especially a nylon. It will likely impact in their bowel, you will get bloat, and the best outcome is a $1200 vet bill for the bowel resection. Worst is a gone dog.

Have always treated my dogs like hunting dogs, no treats, no toys. But a co-worker related how, with their Brit., they had a basket they kept the dog's toys in. Dog learned quickly which objects belonged to it, and which did not. Relieved the issues with chewing bad stuff. So tried it myself (hopefully not too old to learn), and now have a basket full of little balls, rope toys and furry raccons that my high-powered, all business bird dog can choose from. Had her FT brother home for a vacation from the circuit recently. He is just three and an FC. Pic is my avatar. Runs mostly hour stakes. Built like a brick you-know-what. You should have seen him delight in those things. Especially the ones that squeaked when he chewed them.

Gotta let em have some fun.