Potty Training Presa Canario

[clydechatlon]

So I adopted a 6 month old Presa. He is not grasping the concept that he goes to the bathroom outside. No matter what I do.. I didn't wanna treat train him but I am desperate. He uses puppy pads and they are by the door which leads me to believe he gets the idea. But then my other concern is that it is too cold outside and he just refuses.

I need any tips or tricks I can get. This is my first time with this breed. I have experience with bully breeds and I know the same training methods can't be used. PLEASE HELP. Any good online trainers you can point me in the direction to would be amazing. No expense is too great for the love I have for this dog.

 

[Boxergirl]

I think that puppy pads just make the whole house training process harder. You want them to know that it's never okay to pee in the house. Pads are confusing and dogs can develop a substrate preference if you use them. Can you give a detailed description of how you are training him? What do you do when he has an accident in the house? Is he crate trained? Any information will be helpful. May I ask why you don't want to use treats to train?

 

[DennasMom]

Treats are a very easy way to communicate good things with your puppy. They understand treats. Treats are the gateway to being able to use praise and command words to get what you want. It's very easy to reduce treat use once the puppy understands words, too, so don't worry about creating a monster - stopping treats can all be worked into the plan... although, I tend to consider payment for actions a reasonable thing for myself, so I don't ask my dog to work for 'free' most of the time, either. I guess, that's just my philosophy, though.

I've never used puppy pads, so I don't know how you get over those.
Don't you just keep moving them out to the yard? If he starts to go in the spot the pads used to be, just say "NO" and then carry him outside to finish his business - with a POTTY PARTY after he's made a puddle outside.

Do you have a 'potty' command? Having a potty command is VERY helpful. At first you just catch the puppy in the act, and repeat the work (potty, potty, potty), as they're going pee... so they get the word/action association. Then you can start asking for it, and when they do it soon after the command to go, you have BIG POTTY PARTY. Puppies LOVE excitement, so anytime you can make going potty outside EXCITING is a big bonus... it will make them want to repeat the experience. Inside pees are boring or downright depressing (but not angry or scary)... outside pees are FUN!!!!!!

Potty training in winter has got to be difficult... but if you can make outside a fun place to be any other time of day, there should be less reluctance to go outside to do business when needed, too.

 

[Steven C]

We are going through a similar pinch with our Cane Corso now. She is at 7 1/2 months and has gotten better but still not perfect. I remember that my Bordeaux also took till the age of 8 months to fully grasp. I find that catching them mid stream with a startling no helps, then they begin to kind of tell you when either vocally or by pacing a little. The Bordeaux dog always paced whenever he needed the bathroom. This Cane Corso is a whiner and she wines and begins to search for an area on the tile to pee. In the morning I cannot even go to the bathroom first, she is first before the 2 poodles and myself otherwise she just squats.

Leerburg K9 training says keeping them on a leash indoors will help tremendously and they recommend that for all working breeds. I just find it hard to cook or do things with the leash in my hand so I try to keep an eye out. I think that Mastiff dogs are much tougher to potty train in my experience after having 4 large breed dogs 2 being mastiff both long time. It feels almost disrespectful at times but the wife and I are being patient and doing whatever it takes even though not fun going through the indoor cleaning process as she grows.

I feel you, its tough but as they mature, they will not pee in the house. The Bordeaux never even had an accident after 8 months so I have high hopes.