I don't think of it as quite complete yet I have not addressed the bugs we encounter. So anyone else that wants to see something not present in it please let me know. The final version I will post as FAQ in the sugject heading.

Maybe we can repost this with a note NOT to reply that way it stays at the top? Is there a way we can sticky this?

This thread is remarkable. Since I am constantly surrounded by children, the only media that I see or hear is programming aimed at children. So Dr. Laura is an unknown to me. However, I do see the truth in the words in her book. From where I stand, not here on the forum but in my family and among my friends, women/wives tend to drive the relationship. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, that's usually a good thing and that's often why men get married in the first place, the trade-offs vis a vis personal freedom versus companionship and a secure life are well worth it. I think that Dr. Laura's point is that increasingly, women in unstable relationships sometimes drive so hard that they ignore the needs of their husband, assuming that he'll enjoy the ride just because he's in the car with her, regardless of where that car is heading. I think you could compare it to a parent/child. THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT THE WOMAN IS THE PARENT AND THE HUSBAND IS THE CHILD. But that for the first few years, a parent is simply delighted to do whatever with or for their child. But after 10 or 15 years, it becomes more draining then life-giving.... the umpteenth ballet recital or the x-th soccer tournament just isn't as exciting as the first ones were. In the case of the couple, the love that bound them in the beginning fades and those feelings are replaced by resentment and anger. But where I don't agree with Dr. Laura is that she places a great deal of responsibility on the woman to be aware of the man's disposition and feelings. I think that's rather unfair. However, I haven't finished the book, so I don't know how she'll wrap it up. Regardless, what I have read struck a chord with me. Yes, my husband is fairly simple. His emotions run deep, but he doesn't complicate things by acting on them in harmful ways. So by simple I guess I mean that I don't have to try to figure out what he might be telling me and I never, ever have to worry about manipulation, hidden messages, games. He's honest at every level. Anyway, I don't know where I am going with this, I've forgotten because my four year old has interrupted so many times and I need to drive him to school. Jane, I must admit that I do seek your good opinion of me and now I find myself apologizing again on this thread for having offended you as well. Thank you for your gracious remarks in the post just above this one. I'll check in later, I'm running late. My son is actually in the parked van in the drive-way honking the horn!

First of all you need to rule out a UTI. This could be part of the problem. It does not matter that she can hold it over night, she is not stimulated when she is sleeping. You need to realize that not all dogs are the same in this category. Some get it within a week or less, others take longer. *Pick a system, any system so you and pup wont get confused. This one has a good success record, and it will give you a good start. System. *EVERY SECOND (donÂt argue)! supervision is a must when pup is not crated. Have a leash on her so you can easily grab her and take her out when you need to. Set a timer so you can take her out about every 30-40 minutes, then GRADUALLY (over the course of a few weeks) increase the time you take her out by about 20-30 minutes. Increasing the time by to much confuses the dog. This is a MAJOR mistake lots of humans make when trying to house train a dog. *Immediately after she comes out of the crate, take her out. Stopping to put on your shoes is a major mistake. Get pup used to the commands "go poo" and "go pee". These commands should be a must, they are incredibly helpful when the weather is bad. *If dog doesn't do anything, that's fine, if it does, give tons of praise and give a "quality" treat, preferably one used just for training purposes. Consistency is the key. Dogs are creatures of habit and depend on a repetitive schedule. This is no time to skimp on excessive praise and treats when you are house training. Pup needs to associate being let out of the crate with yummy treats doing itÂs thing and huge amounts of praise. Boiled or baked chicken liver is a great training tool, dogs crave it and you really have their attention when you use it. *Daily walks at least twice a day (about 20-30 minutes each in the same area) are essential for dogs and getting them house trained. Walking gets things moving, dogs love it and it gives them something to look forward to. Try and feed a pup prior to the walks. Never free feed unless your vet says to. Pups have a high metabolism. Soon after it eats or drinks, it will need to go out. *Pups drink huge amounts of water. In theory yours should be able to hold it for (one hour for each month) up to about 9 months. In reality, if a young pup has been playing, it will gulp down lots of water, and just won't be able to hold it for that long. After pup drinks, keep an eye on it. Take it out in about 5-10 minutes and offer it relief. *You are making a very bad mistake being mad at your pup. When dogs do something wrong, itÂs the fault of the human in charge, not the dogÂs. You are going to traumatize her, make things worse and never get this under control. She simply does not know why you are mad. If you cannot catch her in the act, scold her and take her out, you might as well clean it up. Just a few seconds after the deed, she will not retain why you are scolding her. Using the crate for punishment is another mistake, it will confuse pup because this is supposed to be her safe sanctuary. You need to dig in and decide that you are going to get this under control, and do what ever it takes. Lest, your life will become very difficult. *Your pup won't be considered house trained unless it has no accidents for at least 9months! Also, there is a HUGE difference in a dog that is 4-6 months old and one that is 9-10 months old. They grow inside and out. Once they reach 9-10 months, their bladders are larger and able to hold it longer. Good luck! SG