By most estimates, housebreaking problems are the number-one reason that people give their dogs up for adoption. That's very sad, because - contrary to popular belief - housebreaking really doesn't have to be all that difficult. And you can make the job even easier on yourself if, as you venture into the exciting world of potty-training, to let these four simple commandments guide you:
Rule #1: The key to housebreaking is scheduling. You're going to have to establish a firm routine and stick to it until your dog gets the hang of housebreaking. If she knows when to expect to be taken outside, she soon won't mind waiting until her next scheduled outing. But if she never knows when or whether she's going to get to go out, she may decide it's not worth her while to control herself.
Rule #2: What goes in must come out. In other words, if your dog is nibbling and sipping all day long, she's going to need to go to the bathroom all day long. So it's important that you schedule her food intake and keep snacks to a minimum, and you can even schedule her water intake at the beginning. Of course, if it's very hot or if your dog is getting lots of exercise, then she needs to have fresh water available to her all day long. But otherwise, you can give her periodic drinks throughout the day so that you'll know when she'll need to go out - probably about ten to thirty minutes after drinking or eating.
Rule #3: In housebreaking, timing is everything. Your dog is going to have accidents - count on it - and the only way you're going to teach her right from wrong is to catch her in the act and correct her. Correcting her after the fact won't do a bit of good, because she won't know what she did or why you're upset with her. And that's why it's so important that you supervise her scrupulously during these early days.
Rule #4: Cleanliness counts. Dogs will almost always return to spots that they've soiled before. So if your dog has one accident on the couch, she's likely to have another, unless you thoroughly disinfect and deodorize the area. And remember, her nose is a lot more sensitive than yours, so you're going to have to do some heavy-duty scrubbing to make sure that no traces remain. Your best bet is to use one of the commercial sprays or solutions designed for this very task.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Puppy Potty Training Problems--Fundamental Tips
Puppy potty training problems can generally be resolved by adhering to the basic fundamentals of underlying almost all puppy training techniques and principles of dog behavior. Unless, your dog or puppy has been so badly abused or so severely traumatized that it is beyond rehabilitation, then you will be able to resolve your potty training problems.
Where dogs and puppies appear to be problem cases, we find that most often that the basic issue is one of control. I'll say that again:
Where dogs, puppies, and potty training problems are concerned, we find that good control is often missing, and that the dog is lacking any sense of discipline. The word "discipline" as I'm using it here does not mean punishment. What I mean is that by good training, you teach the dog precisely what the correct behavior is. Your dog will love you for this because ultimately, your dog wants to please you, and by you showing it exactly how it should behave, you are giving your dog a sense of security and certainty.
In order to establish control and discipline where housebreaking is at stake, you must be absolutely consistent in your potty training routines and apply training persistently and patiently over a period of several weeks. In cases where you are retraining adult dogs, this may require several months.
For more detailed information concerning puppy potty training specificis, see our article, Basic Puppy Training--6 Step Method to Success.
More Helpful Links
Housebreaking Puppies
Housebreaking Puppies in the Winter
Reliable Dog Behavior Tips
Where dogs and puppies appear to be problem cases, we find that most often that the basic issue is one of control. I'll say that again:
- control
Where dogs, puppies, and potty training problems are concerned, we find that good control is often missing, and that the dog is lacking any sense of discipline. The word "discipline" as I'm using it here does not mean punishment. What I mean is that by good training, you teach the dog precisely what the correct behavior is. Your dog will love you for this because ultimately, your dog wants to please you, and by you showing it exactly how it should behave, you are giving your dog a sense of security and certainty.
In order to establish control and discipline where housebreaking is at stake, you must be absolutely consistent in your potty training routines and apply training persistently and patiently over a period of several weeks. In cases where you are retraining adult dogs, this may require several months.
For more detailed information concerning puppy potty training specificis, see our article, Basic Puppy Training--6 Step Method to Success.
More Helpful Links
Housebreaking Puppies
Housebreaking Puppies in the Winter
Reliable Dog Behavior Tips
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