There has to be at least one person that you have met in your life that simply never quite gotten the grasp of dog house training. You know the one I am talking about, the dog lover who faithfully keeps their pet indoors and spends their spare time cleaning up "accidents". When you step inside the door of their home, the stench of urine almost knocks you over. Ugh, what happened?
So much fuss is made today about dog house training. A quick online search will show you thousands of websites offering you the latest, greatest tips on how to house break your dog. Yet, everyone keeps searching for the magic formula that will make all of the unwanted messes go away. Have you ever wondered why?
The answer to that question lies in the sad, unavoidable truth: there is no magic formula. You cannot potty train a dog overnight, with little or no effort. Success lies in your ability to be relentless in sticking with a program and applying the techniques consistently.
Although teaching a puppy is different from house training an adult dog, there are a few hard and fast rules. You should keep these in mind, along with a large dose of common sense, anytime you undertake dog house training
1. If you have a puppy, remember that they are not physically able to hold their urine and bowel movements until somewhere around twelve weeks of age. This varies depending on the breed and the size of the dog. The point here is that you should not expect too much from a puppy younger than this.
2. If you have an adult dog, and it is male, have him neutered. Hormones are responsible for much of the bad behaviors they exhibit. It may sound like a cop-out, but it is true. Hormones drive the instinct to mark territory.
3. If you have a female dog, get her fixed also. Some of the girls will resort to marking their territory also. The smell of a female in heat can also cause males in the household to urinate inappropriately.
4. Guess what? Most people don't realize that territory marking applies to bowel movements also. The scent glands, known as anal glands are located on either side of the rectum. These glands secret a foul smelling fluid that is expresses along with the stool. This is why dogs smell each other's hind end and feces. The scent alerts a dog to other male competitors or a female in heat. Use an enzymatic cleaner when dealing with messes.
5. The rules of toddler toilet training also apply: take your dog out to the bathroom first thing in the morning, and just before bed. Pick up food and water bowls approximately one hour before you plan to retire for the night. Most dogs also have to use the bathroom very soon after eating, so be sure to plan on an outing after meals.
6. Confining your dog to a crate works, but you have to be careful not to leave them in too long. Make sure that you select a dog crate large enough that your dog can turn around and lay down comfortably. Whenever you are not able to watch your dog, and at night, confine them inside of it. The idea is to use their natural aversion of going to the bathroom where they sleep to teach them not to potty in the house. This means that the first thing that you must do when letting your dog out of the crate is immediately take them outside.
7. If you have an older dog that is persistently urinating or defecating in the house, despite attempts to correct it, a visit to the veterinarian may be in order. As dogs age they can suffer from kidney failure, low hormones, and mental lapses. If this is the case, correcting some of the underlying problems may help stop the behavior.
The more often you take your dog outside, the more opportunity you give him to get it right. At heart, a dog wants to please you above all else. Lavish them with praise and affection when they do something right, and withhold it when they have an accident. Regardless of the training method that you choose, these seven rules can help your dog house training woes a thing of the past.