Archives for September 2008

After identifying just why your puppy or dog has house training issues you can identify the right strategies to help solve house training problems. There usually isn’t a one cure for all type of program.

Solutions to puppy and dog potty training issues:

• Neuter your pet.

This is probably one of the first things you should do especially if you have marking behavior around the inside perimeter of you home (carpet, drapes, sofa and other objects) or dominance problems with you critters. Once altered/neutered, it can take a few weeks for the hormonal levels to decline. Newer surgeries can be done as early as eight weeks on.

• Supervise your toilet training candidate.

Keeping an eye out on your critter is a big job but it has to be done. Sometimes using a leash to keep the pup near you or using confinement as a tool is a big help in accomplishing this.

• Train the canine to use a toilet area.

This is just like teaching your kid to use the bathroom! Dogs that live in the home (it is the best “den”) need to be taken out to a special area. The best thing to do is decide where this will be before you bring home a new dog or puppy.

• Use a training phrase or train a signal.

Make up a training phrase such as, “Go Potty”, “Take A Dump”, “Do Your Business” and lightly verbally praise when the dog goes. Barking,
whining, or pawing at a bell can be taught so the dog clearly communicates to you when he or she has to go.

• Adhere to a consistent schedule.

Putting the dog on a schedule is the best method. Once the dog is trained there won’t be a need for this. This type of scheduling is pretty important since puppies “Gotta Go” after each one.

The best puppy potty training programs look something like this:

WAKE UP………………..GO OUTSIDE
EAT & DRINK…………GO OUTSIDE
SLEEP……………………. GO OUTSIDE
PLAY…………………….. GO OUTSIDE
EAT & DRINK…………GO OUTSIDE
BEFORE BED…………..GO OUTSIDE

• Monitor food and water.

Controlling food and water intake is a very good house training aid. Be sure to feed a high quality food. Younger puppies will need to eat up to four or more times a day. Give them 10 to 15 minutes to eat and then remove the food. If they are still munching let them finish and then take them outside to the toilet area. The same applies to water intake, be very careful during hot weather and make sure they can cool themselves. Pick up food and water by 6pm.

• Use confinement such as crate training to help.

This method uses the denning instinct and will also be useful for travel. Cover the floor of the crate with papers and give him a cushion to sleep on. If you do that, then if there is an accident it is easy to clean and the pup stays out of it. When you leave the house, you can leave the dog inside the crate and not worry about accidents or chewing. Leave them with things they can chew on safely. Most pups will sleep while you are gone.

• Install a dog door.

I know, this sounds really simple. It is simple and that is why most people overlook it. Many types of dog doors are available for regular doors and also for sliding glass doors. If you are worried about outside animal intruders, you can purchase electronic doors that react only to an activator on your dog’s collar. Dogs learn how to regulate themselves with this method you just show them how to go in and out.

• Socialize and build confidence.

This is very important to those dogs who have “Wimp-a-citous”. These are usually very submissive animals that do not have any conscious control over their reactions. Too much of the wrong type of discipline or punishment for this behavior only makes it worse.

• Get a veterinary assessment.

It is important to make sure you have already ruled out physical or medical problems before you start on addressing house training issues.  If an animal has been on medication or has recently started on some you can sometimes see some loss of bladder or bowel control. Illness, operations, parasites, or not feeling well can show up as elimination accidents.

• Get professional help.

Make an appointment with an animal behavior consultant for more help on this issue.

When you pinpoint the reason why an animal is in appropriately urinating or defecating you can solve the house training issue much faster.

Reasons dog or puppies have house training issues:

• Lack of training, “training by accident,” or the wrong type of training.

Normal doggie rules (called instinct) will naturally urge a pooch to travel away from their living area to relieve themselves at about five weeks of age. If they cannot get to the right area, they will be “trained by accident”. This causes them to go potty in the house, on the carpet, concrete, and to think that it is normal.

• The wrong type of confinement.

The wrong type of confinement also can fall under the wrong type of training since it involves keeping the pooch in a certain area and accidentally trains them to go potty in the places you don’t want them to go.

• Medical or physical problems or limitations.

If your pooch is not feeling well that could affect its normal toileting habits. New medicine worms (parasites) and other stuff like infections can also cause house soiling problems. New puppies and dogs should be checked out by the veterinarian before or after their arrival to your home (in three to five days) to make sure they are in good shape.

• Age limitations.

Young puppies and older dogs fit in here. Older pets get stuck in a routine and do not adapt to changes very well. Older dogs can get senile too! Pups can only control their urge if they are taught to. Asking your puppy to hold their urge for long periods of time is asking a lot until after they are about six months old.

• Territorial marking behavior.

“Lefty the leg lifter” fits here. This is a problem with male dogs but can apply to bossy females too. They mark their territory to show others they own it.

• Emotional reasons.

Yes, animals do have emotions and feelings. They differ from ours but they have them. Trauma in the family or household can affect more sensitive animals. If the person who the dog is closest to dies or is very upset the problem might fit here.

• Too much time alone.

Latch-key dogs are found here. The cause is due to the dog being unable to relieve itself in a timely manner. Accidents can happen if they have a “funny tummy” before the normal scheduled time arrives to go out.

• Diet or food brand changes.

This one is pretty simple. Any change in diet can trigger loose stools or more frequent pooping. High fiber content foods, rich meats, canned food, table scraps, or a change in brand can also be culprits.

• Move to a new home or new animal addition.

Moving to a new location sometimes messes up a dog and may trigger marking behavior. People who lived there before you m ay have had animals that soiled and that would cause your critters to want to leave their mark. New animals arriving into your home may also feel the need to leave their mark.

• Temperament issues.

“Wimpy” dogs fall under this category. Most of these animals are just showing they are submissive, since they are very low on the totem pole. They cannot control this reflex. These animals are very sensitive and have numerous things that can trigger this reaction.