HOUSETRAINING your dog
by Dave the Dogman http://www.thedogman.net
Make sure your puppy or dog is healthy before undertaking
housetraining. Intestinal parasites are the most common cause of
inappropriate defecation. Bladder infections are a frequent cause of
inappropriate urination.
Have a stool sample checked by your veterinarian. Have a urine sample
checked as well, if you suspect a bladder problem. Symptoms of bladder
infection include frequent urination of small amounts, unproductive
straining, or licking of private parts.
Feed your puppy a good quality puppy food. Avoid over-feeding or
making sudden changes in his diet; both can cause diarrhea.
Another common problem arises when a dog has been given steroids to
treat a bee sting or allergic reaction. Steroids usually increase the dog's
water intake and urine output.
Scheduling
Feed your puppy two or three times each day at set times. Allow ten
minutes for each meal and remove the leftovers after that time.
Maintaining a feeding schedule helps predict output.
Schedule your puppy's trips outdoors. The average puppy needs
opportunities to eliminate. Start first thing in the morning with a trip
outside as soon as your puppy awakens. Puppies feel the call of nature
about every hour when they are awake and playing. They need to go out soon
after eating and drinking water. By the age of 10- or 12- weeks, the
average healthy puppy can sleep through the night. If your puppy has an
accident, you should examine the schedule and make adjustments to prevent
future accidents.
Confinement
One of the most valuable tools in housetraining is the dog crate, a
better word is Den. Intended to be used like a baby's playpen or crib, the
crate keeps the puppy safely confined when no one is available to supervise
him or her.
Crating prevents accidents for the normal puppy because a dog's
instinct is to keep the den clean. It's also a safety measure. A crated pup
can't chew your treasured possessions or swallow harmful substances.
Your puppy should be crated at night while you are asleep and any
other time you cannot supervise. This includes times when you are on the
phone or in the shower, or doing anything that prevents you from paying
full attention to your puppy. The pooch should have an opportunity to go
outside every time you let him out of his crate.
Training
Every time you take your puppy outside, give plenty of cues. As you
walk out the door, say, "Let's go outside." Take your dog to her spot and
repeat your cue phrase, as she is about to eliminate. Be sure to use a
phrase that does not come up in everyday conversation. Avoid cues such as
"hurry up or "be a good dog" in favor of something more specific, such as
"do your piddles or wee wee."
When your pup finishes, enthusiastic praise is in order. Reward her
with a small food treat at that very moment. After several repetitions of
this routine, your puppy will learn to eliminate on cue (very useful in bad
weather or strange places) and learn that eliminating outside is more
fruitful than eliminating inside.
After a week of this, continue to praise the puppy every time it goes
outside, but reward with food on a more random basis. In a couple of weeks,
you won't need the food reward at all.
Accidents
If you find an accident, clean it up, and consider adjusting your
puppy' s schedule to prevent another accident. Punishing your puppy only
teaches him to be wary of you. If you catch him in the act and punish or
correct him, he will learn to eliminate when you aren't looking, which will
defeat your training program.
If you should see your puppy circling as if he has to go, gently
remind him to "go outside" and help him get to his spot where he can earn
praise and a reward. Accidents happen most frequently in the morning or
evening when the puppy is out playing with the family. It is easy to become
so involved in an activity that you forget that the puppy hasn't been
outside in an hour. If this is the case, find a way to remind yourself,
such as setting a kitchen timer or alarm clock.
Patience
Unrealistic expectations are a frequent cause of problems in
housetraining.
On average, the bladder/brain connection is not fully formed until the puppy is about 8 months old. If a young puppy does go to the door and "ask
to go out," his need is immediate, he must go out right away. Some dogs
never learn to ask to go out, while others learn quickly to go to the door
and sit or bark or ring a bell. Some dogs learn to use a dog door easily
and go out whenever they feel the urge.
The best way to ensure success is to stick to a schedule long enough
for the puppy's body to adapt to it and get in the habit of eliminating at
particular times.
Neuter or Spay
Neutering or spaying helps ensure successful housetraining. Neutered
males still lift their legs, but are less inclined to mark their territory.
They are also less prone to certain cancers and prostate problems that can
lead to accidents in older dogs.
Unspayed females ovulate twice a year, on average. For several weeks
before and during the heat cycle they are more prone to mark territory.
They are also more vulnerable to bladder problems that can lead to
accidents.
Paper Training Is Not Housetraining
Teaching your puppy to eliminate indoors on newspaper does not lead
to success in housetraining. Dogs are place oriented, and once taught to go
in a particular place on a particular surface will continue to do so.
Careless newspaper readers are liable to reach for a section they left on
the floor only to find it has been used by the family dog.
If you must confine your puppy for more than six or eight hours at a
time, or if you live in an apartment with a small dog, consider using a
litter box for your dog. A plastic under-the-bed storage container, lid
removed, filled with bark mulch will serve this purpose very well. The
mulch absorbs urine odors, and smells and feels like the outside world.
You can confine your puppy in a small room, such as a bathroom, with
a baby gate, giving him enough room for a comfy bed, his water dish, and
his mulch box. This approach works well for young puppies and very elderly
dogs with health problems, and is less likely to interfere with your
efforts to train your dog to eliminate outside.
Good Luck!
by Dave the Dogman http://www.thedogman.net
Make sure your puppy or dog is healthy before undertaking
housetraining. Intestinal parasites are the most common cause of
inappropriate defecation. Bladder infections are a frequent cause of
inappropriate urination.
Have a stool sample checked by your veterinarian. Have a urine sample
checked as well, if you suspect a bladder problem. Symptoms of bladder
infection include frequent urination of small amounts, unproductive
straining, or licking of private parts.
Feed your puppy a good quality puppy food. Avoid over-feeding or
making sudden changes in his diet; both can cause diarrhea.
Another common problem arises when a dog has been given steroids to
treat a bee sting or allergic reaction. Steroids usually increase the dog's
water intake and urine output.
Scheduling
Feed your puppy two or three times each day at set times. Allow ten
minutes for each meal and remove the leftovers after that time.
Maintaining a feeding schedule helps predict output.
Schedule your puppy's trips outdoors. The average puppy needs
opportunities to eliminate. Start first thing in the morning with a trip
outside as soon as your puppy awakens. Puppies feel the call of nature
about every hour when they are awake and playing. They need to go out soon
after eating and drinking water. By the age of 10- or 12- weeks, the
average healthy puppy can sleep through the night. If your puppy has an
accident, you should examine the schedule and make adjustments to prevent
future accidents.
Confinement
One of the most valuable tools in housetraining is the dog crate, a
better word is Den. Intended to be used like a baby's playpen or crib, the
crate keeps the puppy safely confined when no one is available to supervise
him or her.
Crating prevents accidents for the normal puppy because a dog's
instinct is to keep the den clean. It's also a safety measure. A crated pup
can't chew your treasured possessions or swallow harmful substances.
Your puppy should be crated at night while you are asleep and any
other time you cannot supervise. This includes times when you are on the
phone or in the shower, or doing anything that prevents you from paying
full attention to your puppy. The pooch should have an opportunity to go
outside every time you let him out of his crate.
Training
Every time you take your puppy outside, give plenty of cues. As you
walk out the door, say, "Let's go outside." Take your dog to her spot and
repeat your cue phrase, as she is about to eliminate. Be sure to use a
phrase that does not come up in everyday conversation. Avoid cues such as
"hurry up or "be a good dog" in favor of something more specific, such as
"do your piddles or wee wee."
When your pup finishes, enthusiastic praise is in order. Reward her
with a small food treat at that very moment. After several repetitions of
this routine, your puppy will learn to eliminate on cue (very useful in bad
weather or strange places) and learn that eliminating outside is more
fruitful than eliminating inside.
After a week of this, continue to praise the puppy every time it goes
outside, but reward with food on a more random basis. In a couple of weeks,
you won't need the food reward at all.
Accidents
If you find an accident, clean it up, and consider adjusting your
puppy' s schedule to prevent another accident. Punishing your puppy only
teaches him to be wary of you. If you catch him in the act and punish or
correct him, he will learn to eliminate when you aren't looking, which will
defeat your training program.
If you should see your puppy circling as if he has to go, gently
remind him to "go outside" and help him get to his spot where he can earn
praise and a reward. Accidents happen most frequently in the morning or
evening when the puppy is out playing with the family. It is easy to become
so involved in an activity that you forget that the puppy hasn't been
outside in an hour. If this is the case, find a way to remind yourself,
such as setting a kitchen timer or alarm clock.
Patience
Unrealistic expectations are a frequent cause of problems in
housetraining.
On average, the bladder/brain connection is not fully formed until the puppy is about 8 months old. If a young puppy does go to the door and "ask
to go out," his need is immediate, he must go out right away. Some dogs
never learn to ask to go out, while others learn quickly to go to the door
and sit or bark or ring a bell. Some dogs learn to use a dog door easily
and go out whenever they feel the urge.
The best way to ensure success is to stick to a schedule long enough
for the puppy's body to adapt to it and get in the habit of eliminating at
particular times.
Neuter or Spay
Neutering or spaying helps ensure successful housetraining. Neutered
males still lift their legs, but are less inclined to mark their territory.
They are also less prone to certain cancers and prostate problems that can
lead to accidents in older dogs.
Unspayed females ovulate twice a year, on average. For several weeks
before and during the heat cycle they are more prone to mark territory.
They are also more vulnerable to bladder problems that can lead to
accidents.
Paper Training Is Not Housetraining
Teaching your puppy to eliminate indoors on newspaper does not lead
to success in housetraining. Dogs are place oriented, and once taught to go
in a particular place on a particular surface will continue to do so.
Careless newspaper readers are liable to reach for a section they left on
the floor only to find it has been used by the family dog.
If you must confine your puppy for more than six or eight hours at a
time, or if you live in an apartment with a small dog, consider using a
litter box for your dog. A plastic under-the-bed storage container, lid
removed, filled with bark mulch will serve this purpose very well. The
mulch absorbs urine odors, and smells and feels like the outside world.
You can confine your puppy in a small room, such as a bathroom, with
a baby gate, giving him enough room for a comfy bed, his water dish, and
his mulch box. This approach works well for young puppies and very elderly
dogs with health problems, and is less likely to interfere with your
efforts to train your dog to eliminate outside.
Good Luck!