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Training Tips & Articles >Housetraining Dealing with aggression Feeding styles Some reasons for behavioral problems Buy or adopt? Basic commands |
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HousetrainingThere are several housetraining techniques, but the overall concept remains pretty much the same. All techniques begin with consistency. By this, I mean establish a pattern for your dog that he/she can depend on. Dogs are creatures of habit. They love routine!Your dog will need a crate for sleeping during the evening. During the day he will need a space in either a kitchen or bathroom. This is essential, especially if you are out of your home most of the day and the dog cannot be watched. The dog must have access to water during the day but none in his crate at night.  I prefer the crate be placed next to your bed. There are several reasons for this. First and foremost, if your dog needs to relieve himself during the middle of the night, he will whine. It is a very distinct whine that you will soon recognize as different from any other sounds he might make. This is the dog’s instinct kicking in. By that I mean he wants to relive himself in a place other than that crate. Dogs do not want to relive themselves where they sleep. Remember, we are talking about instinct. The dog will see the crate as a den. His whine means the dog needs to go outside. Now! It isn’t fun to get up during the middle of the night, but remember, housetraining can be a very short process when done consistently. Once your dog relieves himself outside, tell him what a wonderful dog he is. Good dog! Your tone of voice should be one of praise and excitement! Your dog needs to know he just did something great! We have found it helpful to sleep in sweat pants. This way, you’re ready to go without too much trouble. During the day if he can’t be watched, the dog is kept in the kitchen or bathroom behind a baby gate. The room of choice must be puppy proofed (i.e.: soaps, detergents, chemical products of any kind, electrical cords, toilet tissue, rugs, etc.) Remember, puppies are especially curious. They will want to get into whatever is around them in their environment. Safety always comes first. They are depending on you for leadership. If it is at all possible, have someone else come in to walk him during the day. As your puppy gets older, it will be easier for him to hold it longer. Be patient! The time will come. Be consistent. Keep at it and don’t scold your puppy for not holding it. No scolding. No newspaper hitting. These methods do not work. They are simply not effective. What’s effective is trust and consistency. Using the above technique, no newspaper is placed on the floor. This method actually teaches the dog it’s okay to go on the bathroom or kitchen floor. This also would lead to another step in the housebreaking process: breaking the newspaper habit. It’s more efficient to avoid it from the jump. Remember, patience on your part and instinct on the dog’s part. If you are fairly consistent with the above methods, instinct will take place on the dog’s part. Your dog does not want to relieve himself where he sleeps. Eventually, you will be able to give your dog more freedom into additional rooms. These rooms will remain clean also. You can continue to increase your dog’s amount of space until he sees your entire home as his den. Alas! You’ve made it. Housebreaking complete! If you see problems arising again or steps not working, go back to the basics for a few months until things get rectified. Common reasons for the dog not housetraining easily are food and not maintaining a consistent routine. Chew toys should not be food based. For example, your dog should not have rawhide, pigs’ ears, bones or hooves. These items will cause the dog to drink too much water due to all the preservatives and salt. The best toys are indestructible and made specifically for dogs like Kong. Additionally, treats should be used sparingly. The food bowl should not be left down. Regular feeding times work best. If the dog doesn’t finish his food in thirty minutes, pick it up. This will put more control into the dog’s stools. Each feeding has the potential of stimulating a stool. So by feeding him morning and night it will be easier for the dog to relieve himself at these times. The dog must be walked within thirty minutes of eating. When will your dog get full run of the house? Generally, it will be about a year before he gets full run. Once a dog reaches a year old he is usually past the stage of not knowing where to relieve himself. This also allows you to pass the teething stage. You don’t want furniture destroyed. Remember, be patient. The hard work and effort you put into your dog/puppy in the beginning will reap great rewards in the long term. About Us
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