first night out of crate!

[Jamilupine]

I just wanted to let everyone know that Lucy slept out of the crate for the first time last night! She was perfect! She woke me up at 1am, 6am, and 7:30am to go potty. Jumped off the bed, and rang the bell and everything! How cute!

Of course, now one of my cats is SUPER mad at me...he usually sleeps with me, but hasn't been sleeping with me lately, and I felt bad for the dog in the crate while I go to work and school, so I thought it'd be nice for her to be able to be out. But now Simba will hardly let me touch him (cats, I believe hold grudges). Any suggestions on how to deal with this ***** cat? He doesn't like cuddling or attention much except for in bed.

But Lucy's night was a success!

[Kade]

Yay for Lucy! We almost tried this with Winston last night (except he wouldn't be allowed up on the bed -- just free run of the bedroom) because of you.

I think with cats, the only thing you can do is totally brown-nose them until they forgive you, LOL. Special treats, special quiet time, maybe a new toy and some extra playtime?

[AstraChapman]

Well before we moved into our house Walter lived with Clint and BabyGirl lived with me. Every night she would cuddle with me and everthing. When it comes to me she is a cuddle bug. However we also let Walter and Lizzie in our room and they sleep with us on the bed. (I know we are wierd but we don't care). At first she hated both dogs and now she can walk by them without trying to kill them which is nice.

So in short. your kitty will come around. Mine did.

[Mom2Many]

That's great news! And so cute that she remembers to ring her bell.

I don't have much advice to offer about the cat, sorry. I do know that they don't like any change in their routine, they are very much creatures of habit just like dogs and us even. Eventually your cat should settle into the new routine though, just give it time and like Kade said, extra lovins and treats.

[flyndog]

Jami, that's great! Good puppy!

[TribalRats]

So awesome! Go Lucy!

[sharona1973]

Wow....good puppy Lucy! She is indeed a housebroken and intelligent dog!

We have 2 cats as well and before Mocha came along, Mishka had the run of the floor and the cats had the run of the couch and bed. Now Mocha also has the run of the couch and bed and the cats are quite upset. We hope that they will share and actually recently Mocha and Sasha (one of the kitties) have shared the bed and it's getting better. Sometimes I forget the cats need attention but they are my partner's cat...so I let her worry about it!

[AngelScout]

Any time you have a moment with your dog, give your cat a few pieces of his most favorite treat. (ours love fish or lasagna)
Lots of reassurances and gentle strokes.
You're right though, cats do hold grudges.
When I was a teen, my parents took my cat (that's what he considered himself) to the vet, and he was fixed. He wouldn't have anything to do with me for a week. But it only took a week. He was good as gold after that.
Congrats on the night out of the crate. What a smart puppy.
We hope to be able to do that with Sam and Scout very soon. They just turned 4 months. They're already over 40lbs !

[sharona1973]

Jami, this is rather OT, but I thought I would ask you...when Lucy rings the bell, does she do this all the time or only when you're not watching her?

Mocha has not rung the bell since Monday when my partner was home and was not paying attention to him. He has done everything (sit by the door, sit by the bell, sniff and scratch the door and even got on his hind legs and begged by the door!) but ring the bell lately....but most of those times I made some eye contact with him and I guess he knows I'm paying attention to him and hasn't rang the bell unless I ask him to. So I'm wondering if he will only ring the bell if I ignore him? Does Lucy ring the bell all the time even if you're looking at her? Thanks!

[TribalRats]

I want to know how you guys got your dogs to ring the bell at all!

[sharona1973]

There was a recent thread in this particular forum that addresses how to teach a dog to ring a bell. I think it's a little further down the page.

As for how I'm doing it....I'm using a service bell (the kind you see in hotels/offices) because my Mocha can't seem to nose a jingle bell hanging from a door (I tried that, didn't work).

Anyhow, I started with ringing the bell everytime I let him out to go potty. Then slowly (after a few days) I made him ring the bell by taking his paw and having him thump the bell himself before taking him out to potty. In between I've taken treats and asked him to ring the bell and rewarding him whenever he does. I also reward him for ringing the bell by taking him out sometimes to play with his ball. Now when he sits by the door and wants to go out and he hasn't rang the bell, I go over there and ask him to ring the bell before I let him out.

Mocha isn't trained with the bell yet.....but he's slowly getting it, I think.

[Jamilupine]

Originally Posted by sharona1973

Jami, this is rather OT, but I thought I would ask you...when Lucy rings the bell, does she do this all the time or only when you're not watching her?

Lucy rings the bell any time she wants to go out, regardless of where I am or whether I am looking at her. If I'm not in the room, she tends to ring the bell louder and longer. If I am in the room and clearly paying attention (she had eye contact on her way to the door), she usually makes a really weak attempt at the bell, then stands there looking at me. I just wait her out and she eventually hits the bell enough to make noise.

[sharona1973]

Thanks Jami. I don't think Mocha has quite gotten it yet. He hasn't rung the bell yet unless I ask him to. In fact, he just got home from being neutered and sat at the door but I pretended not to see him. He didn't ring the bell. Then he ran off and wandered around again and well, he went back to the door and peed by the bell and the door. Sigh. I guess he just hasn't gotten it yet. Hopefully he will get it one day.

[Jamilupine]

When I first started with Lucy I would respond when I saw her by the door. So, she'd go and sit, and I'd walk over, make her ring the bell, and then let her out. I didn't start ignoring the plain sitting until she was reliably ringing the bell to go out. Right now Mocha still thinks that sitting by the door works. You need to recognize that response right now, but make him follow through with the bell BEFORE the door opens. Am I making sense? Right now he doesn't get that ringing the bell opens the door. You have to make that association by being REALLY consistent with the bell. It may take a while so stay patient. It could take a month or more from what I've heard others say. Good luck!