Super Dog: What can I do you for?
Babe: I need help with my new pups. They don’t understand English. I tell them they have to make potty “outside”, so we all go outside and all they will do is play. Three minutes in the house and there are puddles of piddle and sometimes a lot of poop. I feel like quasi moto from all the bending over to clean it up.
Super Dog: Do you praise them when they actually go “potty” outside?
Babe: OH YES, I am so excited I give them treats as rewards!
Super Dog: Ah! There’s the trouble, the treats. They realize that by not going “potty” outside all the time, and then actually doing it once outside, they will be rewarded with a treat. Do you see?
Babe: Uh, no. Aren’t they getting the picture, poop outside you get a treat, poop inside I turn red in the face, NO TREAT.
Super Dog: Well, if they start going potty all the time outside, they know the treats will stop. Very logical don’t you think?
Babe: So what shall I do?
Super Dog: Give them treats all the time when they go potty. Then, stop the treats when they go in the house but not outside. They will finally learn, treats outside not inside.
Babe: Well that sounds pretty logical, I’ll give it a try. Thank you Super Dog, I knew you’d help me. Now I wonder whom I can get help from to assemble the London Bridge I bought yesterday when it arrives.
Note:
I have been alone with 3 dogs for 4 days during a snowstorm. I am tired, dizzy and dopey. This actually made sense to me.