On Fri, 13 May 2005 23:37:42 -0700 J&T  whittled   
   these words:   
   > Hi ya'all,   
      
   > We just added a new member to our family , a beagle puppy and we've named   
   > her "Mandy".  I was wondering if anybody knows how long the newspapers   
   > should be kept out?   
      
    Why are you using newspapers?  Have you looked at "crate training"   
   as a housetraining method?  THe principle is that you use the dogs natrual   
   desire to remain clean, together with a watchful eye to develop a habit in   
   your dog of never getting the opportunity to pee or poop indoors, and   
   always peeing and pooping outdoors.  Ever notice that when you walk into a   
   bathroom or hear water running you get the urge?  THat's classical   
   condtioning.  Your dog is surface sensitive and will be classically   
   conditioned to prefer - or not prefer - a surface to pee and poop on   
   depending upon what you allow.  Once you have taught the dog that indoors   
   is an appropiriate place to relive itself then indoors will be an   
   appropriate place for the dog to relieve itself.  THe book "How to   
   Housebreak Your Dog in Seven Days" outlines a good house training   
   technique.  If you need your dog to relieve itself indoors on newspaper   
   then I recommend a tray and planning on continuing that method for the   
   life of the dog. Which does not mean you can't get the dog relieving   
   itself outdoors, but you will find some reluctance and there will always   
   be resort to the newspaper.   
      
   http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/dog/lib-SpecTrain.htm#house   
      
   > greatly appreciated!!  Oh, and another thing I was wondering if it was   
   > necessary to moisten the puppy chow or can you just feed it like that?   
      
   How old is this puppy?  THat makes a difference.   
      
      
   --   
   Diane Blackman   
   http://dog-play.com/   
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   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
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