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Pet Behavior Hotline | Dog Training | House Breaking Your Dog
Pet Behavior HotlineCall our Pet Behavior Hotline at 221-0150. Leave a message and one of our staff will return your call with suggestions and help usually within 24 hours. Pet Behavior ModificationWe have comprehensive information on pet behavior modification available to those who are interested. To receive information concerning a specific problem, please call us at (757) 221-0150 or e-mail us through our contact us page. Attention New Adopters!If you are having any issues training your dog, please contact one of the local dog trainers:
House Breaking Your Dog(This article, by Stephen Sawicki, is adapted from Animals magazine)
It doesn’t have to end that way. A little diligence goes a long way, so follow some of these tips from the experts: Diligence A little diligence and consistency go a long way. Get on a schedule. A puppy will eliminate every two or three hours, and a puppy’s bladder is not fully developed until about 6 months of age. Be prepared to take him out often-before going to bed, when he wakes and after activities that stimulate the digestive tract, such as meals, drinking water, and playing. For some at a very young age, an additional trip out in the middle of the night may be necessary until more control is gained. Spay or Neuter. Intact dogs have a higher rate of behavioral problems, including inappropriate elimination, according to a study that appeared in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association in 1996. A consistent schedule makes a big difference. Know your dog breed. Most dogs can be house-trained, but some are quicker studies than others. Those apt to learn fast include the Australian shepherd, Welsh corgi, Standard poodle, and Doberman pinscher, says Benjamin and Lynette Hart, authors of The Perfect Puppy: How to Choose Your Dog by Its Behavior. Among the more difficult dogs to potty-train-perhaps because of their original breeding-are the basset hound, dachshund, fox terrier, and beagle. Be Positive! Concentrate on helping your dog succeed instead of dwelling on mistakes. Gary Landsberg, a veterinary behaviorist in Ontario suggests: “Every time the puppy wakes up, take it directly outside to the spot where you want it to eliminate. As soon as he goes, give his a treat and tell him what a good dog he is.” Consistent repetition of this activity plus lavish praise will teach your dog the one or two places you want him to eliminate and help him avoid the places you do not. Safeguard the house. Many trainers advocate crate training. If you go this route, provide a cage or confined space that offers room enough for your dog to lie down. Let him get used to it, even feed him it it, so that it becomes his den. Because dogs naturally avoid soiling their personal space, you can safely keep your adult dog in the crate, accident-free, overnight or during the day while you are busy with other things. It is critical, however, not to keep your dog in the crate too long between potty trips or to push puppies beyond their physical limits. You do not want to overcome his natural tendency to keep his den clean, which in the long run makes housecleaning infinitely more difficult. Be positive! Treats and praise beat yelling every time. Keep watch. Some owners like what is called “umbilical-cord training”, in which they stay attached to the dog with a leash while indoors. This allows you to watch for cues that your puppy is about to eliminate, such as circling or sniffing. When this happens, jump into action! Immediately take the dog out to his spot, and again reward him with a treat and praise. If the dog has already begin to eliminate, startle him verbally or by clapping your hands, hopefully stopping him in the middle of things, and bring him immediately outside. Clean up. If an accident does happen in the house, use a potent cleaner. Otherwise, the perpetrator may return to the scene of the crime and strike again.
Give mature dogs extra effort. You can teach an older dog new tricks. Adult dogs tend to be less distracted when you take them out, which is nice, and they can hold out longer. Problems come if the dog was previously allowed to soil its living area. The answer is usually perseverance and consistency. Maintain a schedule Know your dog's unique ways & keep a routine. Control yourself. If your dog soils the rug and you discover it 10 minutes later, yelling or any form of punishment is meaningless. The dog simply will not make the connection between rebuke and offense. You may be very angry at the time, but it is simply not going to help. Making the connection As you bring your dog to its particular spot outside, use a phrase such as “Hurry up!” as it is eliminating. Soon the animal will connect these words with the desired activity, which on a stormy or cold night will bring you tremendous joy. Be careful of the phrase you choose, however, or this could backfire. A report was made of someone using this phrase for his dog, and in a hurry to the opera one night, called “Hurry up!” to his wife. They say their white carpet has not been the same since!
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Housebreaking the new addition to your family should be simple, right? It can be if you follow some “potty-training” basics, and above all, BE CONSISTENT! Inconsistency and not understanding the basics of training can lead to ruined carpets, sky-high frustration, and in too many cases, giving up the animal to a shelter. 
Learn the signs. Once your dog is house-trained, maintain a regular schedule. Be aware too, or your dog’s unique way of telling you he needs to go out, whether he may choose to bark, stand quietly by the door, or pace, etc.