Thursday, April 17, 2008

House Breaking 3: The Adult Dog and How to Know When Your Dog is Fully House Broken…

There are so many advantages that adult dogs have over puppies and potty training is no exception. Even if you have adopted an adult dog that is not house broken, it is often still easier to potty train an adult dog then a young puppy.

Adult dogs, especially older senior dogs, may be more set in their ways and habits and can be stubborn in the beginning. But as long as you stick to your training and are consistent, it is often very simple.

Potty training an adult dog is done the same exact way as potty training a puppy (see “House Breaking 1” for instructions). Usually, the most difficult part is the first week or two of training, while the dog is still trying to figure out what is expected of him, while he is still adjusting to the new schedule and getting use to being in a crate, etc. But once the adult dog catches on, it is usually a down hill walk from there. The adult dog’s bladder is already fully developed, so they do not have to use the bathroom as often as a young puppy and the adult dog can “hold it” for longer then a puppy can.

A common question is “How long does it take to house break a dog?” and/or “How do I know when my dog is fully house broken?”

The truth is that the amount of time it takes to house break any dog all depends on several factors and will differ from dog to dog:

- In general, the younger the puppy is, the longer it will take only because the puppy’s bladder is still developing. A puppy’s bladder is not fully developed until they are 7-8 months old. Thus, even if they know they are suppose to go outside to urinate; a young puppy might still have a lot of accidents because their bladder is not strong enough to physically “hold it”.

- There are some dog breeds that are more difficult to potty train and might need more time. These include all toy breeds (such as Yorkies, Shi Tzu’s, Pomeranians, etc), spaniels, some hound dogs, and others. Toy breeds can be difficult to potty train because they have tiny, itty, bitty bladders and can not hold in liquids for as long as a large dog can. You must be patient with these dogs and take them out more often then you would with a big dog.

- With adult dogs, the amount of time it takes to house break them depends mostly on you, the owner. If your training is done correctly, if you are consistent, if you never allow your dog the chance to have an accident inside your house, then you can expect your dog to be fully house broken with in a few months time. Remember though, that dogs learn at their own speed and some might need more practice then others. If you are not consistent enough during training, then it will take much longer to potty train your dog, if at all…

You know your dog is fully house broken when your dog is at least 8 months old AND is accident-free for a full 30 days (or 1 month). However…this does not mean your dog is ready to have full run of the house! You should give your dog freedom very gradually, not all at once! Assuming you’ve been using a crate for potty training, and your dog has been accident-free this way for at least a month, then try confining your dog to a small area of the house (such as the kitchen) instead of the crate. If your dog is still accident free after another 30 days, then continue to add another room (the living room for example) and block of the rest of house, every month until your dog can be accident-free in every room of the house.

If, while you are adding some freedom, your dog does have an accident, then you must fix this by taking some freedom away. For example, if you try confining your dog in the kitchen and he has an accident while you are at work, then your dog no longer gets to stay in the kitchen and must go back to using the crate. Try again after another few weeks.

If your dog is fine in the kitchen, but has an accident when you allow him to stay in the living room, then your dog must go back to using the kitchen only. Try the living room again after a few weeks. And so on, and so forth…

FYI:  If your dog ever has an accident, even if it is a few years in the future, you will need to continue training. Some times an adult dog will sort of forget his potty training and needs a review crash-course to remind him. This is usually no big deal. It’s just like forgetting how do to algebra because you haven’t taken a math class in a few years, but once someone reminds you, you usually remember again.


This is the end of the “House Breaking” trilogy, but always feel free to email me if you have any questions!
Jenn :o) 

Posted by Jenn and the Dogs at 02:47:08 | Permalink | No Comments »

House Breaking 2: The Truth about Puppy Pads.

I’d like to take the chance to talk about “Puppy Pads” because it is a part of potty training and there is much confusion about puppy pads and how they work.

Puppy Pads claim to help make potty training easier and many people have come to believe that dogs automatically know how to use them.

This is very false. Yes, they are scented to attract your dog, but the truth is puppies have no idea that they are suppose to pee on these pads. Puppy pads really look like fun toys in the eyes of a puppy because they are basically giant pieces of tissue paper and anyone who has owned a puppy, or even an adult dog, knows how much joy puppies get from playing with and ripping up tissue paper…

If you want to use puppy pads, you first have to train your puppy to pee and poop on the pad. Sounds like extra work, doesn’t it? It is. Training your puppy to use puppy pads is an extra step before training them to go to the bathroom outside. It is not necessary to use puppy pads at all and most trainers will tell you to simply skip it. If you want your dog to use the bathroom outside, then train him to go outside. Not inside on a pad.

In addition to being extra work, using puppy pads can also cause your potty training to go backwards, cause confusion in your dog, and take LONGER to house break your puppy. This is because when you train your puppy to use puppy pads, you are training them to do their business in the house and, thus, you are teaching your dog that it is ok to do his business in your house. Sometimes this all a puppy learns because young puppies, and also some adult dogs, have a hard time telling the difference between a puppy pad and a rug or carpet, so they will just assume that it is ok to “go” anywhere in the house. This leads to more accidents on your floor and a bad habit is formed. Again, it is best to simply skip using puppy pads and take your puppy outside to use the bathroom from day one.

Now, there are some occasions in which using Puppy Pads is a good idea. People who live in an apartment and do not have a yard or outdoor area for their dog to use may, by all means, use puppy pads to create an indoor bathroom for their dog. Dogs who are injured, senior dogs that have a weak bladder, nursing mother dogs, puppies who are less then 10 weeks old, etc. can all benefit form having an indoor bathroom that a puppy pad would provide.

If you would feel more comfortable using puppy pads when you are not home (for example, if you work long hours and don’t want to worry about rushing home during your lunch break to let your dog out) and you do not mind the extra work it will take to teach your dog, then by all means go for it. I happen to live in an apartment on the second floor, and I taught my dogs to use puppy pads in addition to going outside because I do not really have a yard so the only time my dogs get to go outside is when we go for walks. It was extra work, but it was wroth it for me. And might I add that my 4 month old puppy still “misses” the pad every once in a while.

How do you teach your dog to pee on a Puppy Pad?

First decide where you want your dog’s indoor bathroom to be. To give you an idea, it should be far away from where your dog eats, sleeps, and plays. Dogs don’t want a toilet in their kitchen, bedroom, or living room any more then you do. The laundry room or hallway is a good idea. Do not put it in the basement unless your dog can already walk up and down the stairs on his own.  If you keep you dog in the kitchen when you’re not home, make sure you put the pad as far away from your dog’s food bowels as possible.

The rest of training is basically the same as training your puppy to go outside (see House Breaking 1) only instead of taking your puppy out side, you’re going to take him over to the pad.

Tip 1:  Use the leash and go with your dog! Just like going outside, you must put your dog’s leash on and go over to the pad with your dog. For a puppy, it’s helpful to pick up your puppy and place him on the pad. Encourage your dog to “go potty” when he’s on the pad in a happy, excited voice. And praise him when he does!

Tip 2:  For the first month or so of training, it’s helpful to place two or three pads down at a time so your puppy has more room to sniff around. Dogs like having room to sniff and find that perfect spot to go on. As your training progresses, you can decrease to two pads and then one pad. Use your dog’s leash and your hands to gently guide your dog over to the pads if they start to go on the edge and miss a bit. Do not punish your dog for “missing”. It will take time to perfect his aim.

Happy Training!
Jenn

Posted by Jenn and the Dogs at 02:32:17 | Permalink | No Comments »

House Breaking 1: Myths, Facts, and Tips

The number one concern most puppy/dog owners have is whether or not their dog is house broken. And if not, what do they do? No one likes urine stains on the carpet, but that is no reason to have to condemn your pet to a lonely life in the back yard. Many new puppy owners struggle with potty training and the fact is, it’s a lot more then just opening the door and letting your dog go outside.

House breaking a puppy can be compared to teaching a human toddler to use the toilet. First of all, like human babies, puppies are not born with a fully developed bladder. Their bladder develops slowly over the course of the first 7-8 months of the puppy’s life. This means that until the dog is at least 7-8 months old, he will have very little physical control over his bladder. So, yes, there will be many accidents. And you will need to be very patient because it is not the puppy’s fault if he has an accident on your floor. But think of it this way: When you have a baby, you have to change it’s dippers for two years before your can potty train it. And then there is the accidental wetting the bed… If you can change dippers for two years for each of your children, then I’m confident that you can push through potty training a puppy for 8-12 months!

The younger your puppy is, the longer potty training will take because you will have to wait longer for a younger puppy’s bladder to finish developing. However, you should never actually wait until your puppy is 7 months old before you start potty training. As long as your puppy is 10 weeks old or older, then your puppy can do his business outdoors!

Why not wait? Puppies and adult dogs form very strong habits that can be very difficult to break. If you allow your puppy to pee and poop inside your house, then your puppy will get used to this idea and it will become a habit. And then, when you decide you don’t want your puppy to use your house as a bathroom any more, it will be much more difficult to convince your dog to do his business outside.

If, from day one, you teach your puppy to do his business outdoors, then he will get used to this and by the time he is 7-8 months old, you should start to see a huge improvement and all your work during the previous months will pay off because by 7-8 months, your puppy should already be used to the idea of going outside, only now your puppy should have far fewer accidents, if any, and be almost fully house broken, instead of just starting out.

                                                                       

Above Picture: Baby Motley, Looking for a spot to pee… No, Motley, not there!!!

So, how do you go about Potty Training your puppy? 

First of all, you need some way to confine your puppy when you can not watch him and/or when you are not home so the pup can’t pee on your floor. What you use to confine your puppy should depend on how many hours a day you plan on leaving your puppy alone. Base this on a typical work day. If you don’t have fixed work hours, then base the hours on your longest possible work shift.

Every puppy and adult dog needs a crate to stay in when you can not watch them and/or when you leave the house for a few hours. The crate should be just big enough for your dog to stand up and turn around in. That’s it. You should never leave your puppy or dog in its crate for more the 4 hours a day. If you normally work more then 4 hours a day and can not come home during your lunch break to let your dog out, then you will need to confine your dog in an area of the house, such as the kitchen, so they have more space to move around and play. However, you should know that if you confine your dog to a room or area of the house, your puppy will have more accidents while you are away then if you can keep him in a crate for only 4 hours. Also, if you are gone for more then 6 hours a day, then potty training may be much more difficult for you and it may not be the best time for you to have a puppy. Think about adopting an adult dog that is already house broken.

Second, you must put your puppy on a feeding schedule. Write down what times you feed your puppy and stick with it because this will usually determine when your puppy has to go to the bathroom. To give you an idea, most puppies need to use the bathroom after they eat a meal, after they’ve taken a nap, after playing/exercising, first thing in the morning when they wake up, and right before bed. Also, if your puppy is less then 4 months old, he will need to use the bathroom during the middle of the night….

Third, watch your puppy like a hawk! You want to avoid any accidents and you want to be there to stop and correct your pup if he does start to go on the floor. A good tip is to keep your puppy on a leash and tie the free end of the leash to your pant’s belt loop. This way your puppy can never wander out of your sight. When you’re busy or have to leave the house, put your pup in his cage. You really want to keep and eye on your puppy and avoid accidents so they don’t become a habit. When you think your pup needs to go outside to potty, put the leash on him and take him outside. Say something like “Outside! Lets go outside!” in a happy voice as you walk outside with him.

Once outside, say something like “Go Potty Good Boy!” and then wait silently until your puppy pees and poops. As your puppy “goes”, praise him like he just found a million dollars on the ground. Say “GOOD Potty!” so he knows that this is what you want him to do. Be as excited and happy as you can.

Common Mistakes Owners Make:

- Many owners don’t go outside with their puppies. You must go outside with them to make sure they actually went pee or poop before you let them back in and also so that you can praise them when they do. With out some kind of praise, your puppy will not know that he is doing the right thing.

- Many owners also don’t wait outside long enough and then they wonder why the puppy doesn’t “go” until they come back inside. These people often think that their dog doesn’t like to do their business outside and that the dog is waiting until the owner brings them back inside. But actually it is usually the owner who is wrong and is not waiting long enough for their dogs to potty outside. Some dogs will pee and poop right away. Others will pee right away and then poop 10 minutes later. And other dogs will take 15-20 minutes to find the right spot before they will pee or poop. As a rule, you should always wait at least 15-20 minutes for your dog to do his business. Because puppies are less aware of themselves, it is also a good idea to wait an additional 10 minutes or so after your puppy has “gone” just to make sure he is completely empty and doesn’t have to “go” more.

- Another common mistake is to bring your puppy straight back inside after he has finished going potty. Most dogs love being outside and might view going back inside immediately after peeing as a punishment for what he just did. If the weather is bad, then just praise him and bring him inside. But if the weather is good, why not play a game of fetch as an extra reward?

Other common probles and how to solve them:

It has been 20 minutes or more and my dog hasn’t gone potty yet… That’s okay; your puppy just doesn’t need to go right now. However, do not give him any freedom inside your house right now because he will have to “go” with in another 20 minutes or so. Instead, put him in his crate or leave the leash on and tie the other end to your belt loop so he doesn’t have an accident while you’re not looking. Only let your puppy run free in the house if he has gone potty outside first. And still keep an eye on him just in case.

When I take my puppy outside, he just sits there or lies there…. Walk around the yard with your puppy a little bit. This will encourage him to sniff the ground and find the right spot to “go”.

My puppy had an accident, how do I correct it? … IF you catch your puppy in the act of peeing or pooping on your floor, say “No no!” and pick up your puppy and take him straight outside. Put him on the ground outside and say “Good potty” in a happy voice and wait for him to finish going potty outside. This will remind him that you want him to potty outside only.

IF you notice that your puppy peed or pooped on your floor a while ago (you did not catch him in the act) then it is too late to do anything about it. This is why it is so important to watch your puppy closely and avoid the accidents before they happen.

* Do not yell at your puppy or hit him or do anything that might inflect fear in your dog because if you do, your dog will become afraid to go potty in front of you. If this happens, your dog will not want to go outside with you and he will wait until you are not home or not looking and will go potty behind your sofa, under your coffee table, or some where you can’t see.

Good Luck!
Jenn

Posted by Jenn and the Dogs at 01:56:20 | Permalink | No Comments »