From: heim@vms.macc.wisc.edu (JOHN HEIM	)
Subject: Rufus the Dufus revisited
Organization:  University of Wisconsin Academic Computing Center
Date: 15 APR 92 13:09:12    

Okay.  Thanks to everyone who responded to my message about my 
backsliding basset/lab mix, Rufus.  Rufus occasionally deficates 
(never urinates) on the rug in the 1st floor when my wife and I are 
elsewhere.

I got lots of contradictory information though.  I'm going to give my 
opinion on these matters below.  I'm no expert so my thoughts are 
given more as an indication of what I'm thinking at the moment than as an 
attempt to convey facts.

1.  Do (not) put him in the crate for punishment.

  I've been putting Rufus in his crate when he deficates indoors after 
  I put him outside for a while.  A book I bought from the Humane 
  Society (I believe it's called "Second Hand Dog") suggested this.  
  The author says that the dog will not grow to hate the crate any more 
  than you and I hated our rooms when we were kids and were sent there 
  for punishment.

  I tend to agree the the people who say putting the dog in the crate 
  when he's been bad is a bad idea simply because it may cause 
  confusion in the dog's mind when you put him in there just 'cuz he's 
  gotta go in there.  Rufus *likes* his cage so I don't think that's a 
  problem but I don't want him to think I'm punishing him when I leave 
  for work every morning either.

2.  You (don't) have to catch him in the act

  The idea is that if you don't catch him in the act he has no idea 
  what it is that he's done wrong.  I've read that this is not true.  
  When Rufus goes on the carpeting while I'm distracted he hides in 
  his crate (see (1) above) *before* I discover what he's done!  In 
  fact, if he's in his cage when I come downstairs and seems reluctant 
  to come out, I start sniffing around.

3.  Do (not) use vinegar. 

  Lots of books say to use vinegar.  He was having trouble learning 
  not to urinate in the house at one time (now he only deficates - 
  hasn't pee'd in the house in months).  I started using the vinegar 
  trick and he stopped peeing in a couple of days.  The rationale 
  behind the vinegar makes sense.  You pour vinegar on the spot right 
  there in front of him and you're saying "I'm alpha dog.  You may not 
  pee here."

4.  Basset hounds are (not) harder to train than other dogs.

  Never having had a Basset hound before I have no idea.  He certainly 
  has been harder to train than other dogs I've had but I've never 
  tried to train an adult dog either.

5.  Don't clean up in front of him.

  This one is controversial only because *I* don't believe it.  The 
  people that told me this say that "you don't want him to think you're 
  his maid".  First, I doubt my dog has any idea of what a maid is.  
  (What it called when you assume animal behavior is due to human 
  traits?)  Second, I'm acting like his servant all the time anyway - 
  like when I feed him.  Third, I'm sure we're all aware that dogs 
  don't think of feces the way we do.  I mean - they'll eat 'em.

  It seems to me that this might be one of those myths that soneone 
  started and now is just perpetuated by being passed along from dog 
  lover to dog lover.  Has anyone a better explanaion of why I 
  shouldn't clean up in front of him than that he'll think I'm his 
  maid?  Has anyone actually tested the theory somehow?

John G. Heim                                 Email:  heim@macc.wisc.edu
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