Praising while going to the bathroom

[newcorgiowner]

I've seen different things recommended so I thought I would check. is it best to praise Gizmo while she's going to the bathroom or after she finishes? The problem I have found doing it while she is going is that it often distracts or bothers her and she stops. I'm worried if I wait till after that she won't connect the praise with what she just did.

[corgimom]

Newcorgiowner,

I always praise Cody by saying "good potty" as he is doing his duty - I used to give him a very small treat also when he was just learning(right after he was done) - you might want to try that - it doesn't have to be big, just a small bite of something maybe a 1/4 inch in size.

If your talking to him distracts him enough to make him stop, wait until he is
done and immediately praise him lavishly and say "good potty" and give him a treat as you are saying that.

Linda

[Chip's Mom]

I always praise Chip while he is going potty. Sometimes, he will look at me as if to say Gee whiz, mom let me pee. LOL

[darci]

LoL
Chips mom
Egan does the same thing

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by corgimom

Newcorgiowner,
If your talking to him distracts him enough to make him stop, wait until he is
done and immediately praise him lavishly and say "good potty" and give him a treat as you are saying that. Linda

EXACTLY what I was going to suggest. She's just a baby and can be easily distracted by any and every thing. As she gets a little older and more "proofed" then praising during the act can follow.

A couple of good reads for you:

Mother Knows Best by Carol Lea Benjamin
How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With, Rutherford and Neil
And, Puppy Kisses are Good For the Soul by Weinstein which was mentioned in the "Good Read" thread.

Debbie

[Corgis'R4me]

*~* I still say, "Good girl...Sunshine"..."Good girl...Midnight"...

" Potty Outside.. "

** I feel that praise instills in them...knowledge that they are doing what you WANT them to do & also teaches them that you APPRECIATE the action.
( I HOPE I EXPLAINED MY FEELINGS RIGHT... )

I praise all the time: When I give them food...I say, "Eat ??" "Come on....go eat !!" When they start to eat...I say, "Good girl, Sunshine....EAT" I know that I probably sound silly...but, my girls eat up the praise !! I praise both of them when I ask them to stop a behavior (like jumping on a guest...or play biting...etc.). I know in my heart...that I feel good about expressing my love, respect & appreciation toward everything that my Corgi girls do.

I appreciate my Corgi girls...I feel that they should HEAR and FEEL how much I truly love them.

*~* Nikki

[Jhemphill]

I also praise Maxi, when he does anything that is a good behavior, he does look at me funny when I praise him during a potty. I also tell him thank you when I ask him not to do something and he stops the behavior. I know that he appreciates the praise and the thank you

[Chip's Mom]

How funny - I do the thank you too

[Michael Romanos]

Ah, Can you beat this. I often say to Taylor when he barks -' good barking, Taylor" or "good yelling." Same goes for his growling. It's my way of thanking him for doing his duty.
Timing your praises and in giving treats are important, so that your Corgi learns quickly why he/she has been rewarded.

[CorgiMum]

I do the same for barking as well. "Good Job"! That positive response always silences and relaxes them.

The corgis are so much happier knowing that I understand, and appreciate their work (Bark) rather than saying the negative "Quiet" to them.

[CorgiMum]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

Timing your praises and in giving treats are important, so that your Corgi learns quickly why he/she has been rewarded.

Am I right in remembering that it is only a three second time period to reward a given behavior before a dog has forgotten what it was he did?

Hence the real need for extremely small portion rewards, such as bits of cheese, or meat, that can be swallowed very quickly, not chewed.

[Michael Romanos]

Barbara - I'm unsure if the accepted time lapse is as short as three seconds, but commonsense might tell me that if the dog gets rewarded with that which lasts a good length of time, their intelligence will kick in and they will know, at least in the initial period of time, just why they got what they got at that moment. So Taylor gets rewarded with something he runs off with and eats or nibbles at his leisure. He knows he got it because he followed a command or whatever. And he'll do the same next time.

[CorgiMum]

Yes, I think that we are speaking of different circumstances. I was thinking of training, new behaviors, that reward timing would require more accuracy I believe.

I too will give a larger treat when a well know command is completed, often a large chewy to be enjoyed in peace.