From: hecht@hsi.com (Alice Hecht)
Subject: Re: how long does it take to housebreak a Boxer?
Organization: 3M Health Information Systems, Wallingford, CT
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 17:31:44 GMT

In article <1992Aug4.161839.13635@inel.gov> kte@INEL.GOV (Kathryn L Cook) writes:
>
>Hi guys, 
>
>A lot of people have made some really good points on this topic, and I emailed
>the original poster similar advice.  But I just had to get up on my soapbox
>and agree with shalene about 8 hours straight in a crate is excessive.  I'm
>always amazed at people who expect something like this from their pets, like
>the lady here that brags that her young puppy can last 10 and sometimes 12 hours,
>but just can't make 14.  

I'm the original poster and I never "bragged" that my puppy could last 10, 12,
or 14 hours.  In fact, when I posted this (about two weeks ago, my puppy hadn't
held on for more than 4 hours and in any case, I never even mentioned this
in my posting.)


>This lady actually punishes her puppy if he does
>have an accident (?) during that kind of time period.  

Oh really?  Where are you getting these facts, anyway?  If you read my posting
I said that I "punished (your words, not mine)" my puppy when he peed/pooped
in the house when we were home and could catch him in the act of messing
in the house.  I have NEVER yelled/punished our puppy
after coming home or waking up in the morning to find that he has messed
his cage. 

> I think 8 hours is
>a long time for anyone man or beast.  Maybe what these people who expect a 
>baby pup to "hold it" 8 hours should do is :
> 1) Take the puppy out to pee.
> 2) Put the puppy in the crate.
> 3) Pee themselves.
> 4) Go to work and "hold it" all day.
> 5) Come home from work at their regular time ( 8, 10, 12 hours later).
> 6) Take the puppy out to pee.
> 7) Then, allow themselves to pee for the second time that day.
>
>Seems to me with this kind of training schedule somebody would learn pretty
>fast, or decide that schedules could somehow be changed ;-}
>
>It really tears me up the agony some of these puppies must go through,
>thinking:
>
>  1) After 3 hours in the crate "OK, hold it she'll be home soon"
>  2) After 5 hours "God it hurts, can't wait any longer, just got to go"
>  3) After 8 hours "God this stinks and is messy, better try to wait
>                     longer next time"
>  4) After 9 hours "Good she's home, I'll get out of this mess, but why
>                    does she always yell at me when she comes home?"
>Repeat above for 5 - 7 days then:
>   1) After 1 hour " Well who knows when she'll let me out, might as well
>                     go now and stop hurting"
>
>just had to get it off my chest
>
>           -kayti


I'm sure that you're reasoning is somewhat on track with what the dog
is thinking but I find your sarcasm concerning our pee schedule to be
inappropriate. I'm sorry to fill up the net with this "flaming" business.
I've never responded to flames before but when someone genuinely seeks
advice from the net, it makes me very angry that someone who thinks they
have all the answers would try to belittle/embarass the original sender.
In my origianl posting I was seeking help in housebreaking my then 15 week
old boxer whom we only had 4 weeks.  And in case anyone is still interested
or still reading this, he's had 2 nights in a row now without messing his
cage.  

To everyone who sent me mail, thanks for your thoughtful responses.
To Kayti, try to be a little kinder to the next person that YOU feel is
doing something wrong and get your facts straight.  
Life is too short to spend time "digging" someone else.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs