 Dog from shelter peeing in the house |
From the Free SitStay Newsletter |
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“This 6 month old Beagle I got from a shelter is peeing in the house! I need help!” Take a deep breath and relax, help is on the way. Well maybe a deep breath isn’t a good idea yet but take heart, housetraining is pretty easy. The main ingredients are perseverance and kind hands. Be consistent and in no time at all you’ll have a lovely, well mannered house dog. One of the biggest reasons dogs wind up in rescue is, “He can’t be house trained!” Your pup may have been born in a puppy mill and thinks the bathroom is wherever he is. Puppy millers are generally known to raise dogs in dirty, crowded, and caged environments. Being trapped in a cage with no one to open the door makes for a very messy dog. It becomes “normal” to pee and poop where they stand. Many people say that a 6 month old puppy can hold it’s bladder for an eight hour day. I don’t disagree but I don’t think it’s a good idea to ask a dog to hold its bladder that long, especially a young dog. When was the last time you held your water for eight hours? With routine, “normal” will be going outside to the spot to potty. If you choose the spot, you’ll still get to walk barefoot on the rest of your yard. Clean all areas where the dog has pottied with a great cleaner like Urine Off, Get Serious, or Pet Pee Be Gone. Make sure to wash the crate thoroughly, too. Dogs like to potty where they’ve pottied before. Get rid of the odor and the dog most likely won’t go there again. Move the crate to a new clean place where the pup has never pottied. Next to your bed is a nice spot.Pretend that your dog has come home to live with you just this minute. Never mind that he’s been driving you mad with pee since he came to live at your house two weeks ago. Forgive him completely and start all over. Going potty outside is all about routine. Dogs love routine and learn quickly when routine is established. It's not hard to teach your dog where to potty. I love the umbilical cord method of house training. The dog is on a six foot leash attached to you or another responsible and aware person for the next six months or until he has perfect house manners. He can’t do anything wrong because you will be supervising his every move. If he is not on the leash, he is in his crate, or outside playing with you as his guide. He will have emptied his bladder and his bowels and played and is ready for a nap before he goes into the crate. The umbilical cord is great for learning all manners. The dog can’t do anything wrong, you’re there to teach him what is right. Picks up a shoe? Trade him for a Bully Stix or a squeak toy. Barks at the postman, shush. Good dog. Watch those low to the floor dogs religiously. They can squat so fast and they’re done! Watch for sniffing the floor and get outside fast! Routine. First thing in the morning, early, out the door on the leash. Stand still at the spot you’ve chosen for the potty. Urge him gently in a soft voice, “go pee”, “go poop”. When he does, applaud softly and pet him, “What a very clever boy, you are!” Do this every time he goes in the spot and soon he will go on command no matter where you are. Some trainers like to use treats as a reward. I like to use applause and a little bit of play to reward, maybe just a quick run to the other side of the yard, laughing and saying “what a clever dog you are!” Routine. Eat. Within 15 minutes, back out to pee or poop. Routine. Meals must be fed at the same time every day until he is going potty outside without fail, no house accidents. I like to continue the meals on a regular schedule until the dog is about 1 year old. Regular meals make for regular bowel movements. Routine. Withhold water in the evening, yes, just like a toddler being potty trained. Last thing at night, outside on the leash, potty, then inside and go to bed. Routine. It all starts over again in the morning. If you have to be gone from home more than 4 hours at a time, get some help. A dog walker, a good friend or neighbor who will come in a couple of times a day, or a great doggie day care where your little one will have complete supervision, a lot of fun, and will return home at night tired out and ready for a long nights sleep are excellent choices. Here’s a quick tip that I teach. (Don’t use this first thing in the morning, just get outside and pee! But every other time is good.) Dog is on leash. Go to door. “Want to go outside? Come tell me.” Pat your leg. Dog comes to you. Opening the door and going outside is the reward. Each time you do this, you’ll move a little bit further from the door, the dog learns to come to you to get you to open the door. You’ll move further into the house, until you are in the furthest room of the house. Watch his signals so you understand what he wants when he comes to get you. Don’t try to get too far into the house too fast. Slow and steady wins the race. If you live in a high rise with a little dog, you might consider Little Stinker Housebreaking Pads. (Big dogs and dogs with grass outside are best trained to go outdoors.) These wonderful puppy training books and help in quick read booklet form will give you more tips for housetraining. The more you read about dog behavior, the more you’ll enjoy your dog. We have a great library! And relax; it’s not the end of the world if the dog does have an accident. Clean it up with a good odor cleaner. Things can and will change with positive training, kind hands, and routine, routine, routine. You and your dog will be happily going potty outside very soon…well, not you, but the dog will, you’ll just be there to applaud. Dog Training Tips |
