How Do I House-Train My Newly Adopted Dog?

Unfortunately dogs typically don’t come from shelters or breeders house-trained, and it is important to immediately begin working on the behavior once you get your new dog home. It is also unreasonable to think that a dog coming from rescue, that is stated as house-trained, will immediately come into your home knowing what to do. The sooner you can put your pooch on a potty schedule the higher the success rate will be.

A dog that is not house-trained is the number one reason why dogs are returned or end up in shelters. However, house-training is something with a little structure can usually be solved; it is up to the owner to implement the right tools. When potty training your dog, it is important to keep long term goals in mind, whether your goal is to train your dog to make it a few hours or longer period of time while at work. Once you have a specific goal in mind, you can then put a plan in place to obtain it.

Creating and following a schedule will help them be successful. Dogs tend to do things routinely so a schedule is essential. This means feeding your dog at the same time every day, as well as potty them at the same time every day. When you begin potty training it’s important to notice trends, so for example if your dog eats at the same time every day, chances are they will use the bathroom at the same time as well. It’s important to also realize that puppies will not be able to hold it as long as adult dogs, and no adult dog should be expected to hold it longer than six hours.

Remember that the crate is your friend; a crate can be a great tool that can help facilitate potty training. It gives the dog the capacity to physically and reasonably build their ability to “hold” their urges. However, dog doors are not your friend; they are not the solution to your house-training problem, they might be the reason for it. Dog doors give no structure to your dog’s potty plan and it can be an unsafe situation when a dog is outside unsupervised.

Your dog counts on you to set them up for success. Be realistic about your expectations and understand that adjusting to a new home, new routine, and new lifestyle takes time. Plus, Morris K9 Campus is always here to help!

Three Most Important Things to Know About Housetraining Your Puppy

1. Crate Training***

The crate is one of the most important training tools in the development of your puppy. Some benefits are:

• If used as a training tool combined with a schedule, it makes potty training very easy.

1. It allows you to schedule and monitor patterns of bathroom habits
2. It helps your dog learn where going to the bathroom is acceptable
3. It reinforces housebreaking in such a way that it builds their ability and capacity to “hold it” when they are alone for longer

• A crate helps your dog learn how to self-soothe or gaining the ability to calm themselves and find comfort in being alone.

• It provides essential management during the “chewing” phase. 

Piper is getting the reward of playtime because she went to the bathroom outside successfully.

 2. Feeding Schedule

Having a regular feeding schedule is vital for the puppy and human when trying to housetrain:

• A feeding schedule and bathroom breaks should be timed together - realistically scheduled around the owners life schedule



• It gives you a bathroom “time period”, alternative to a dog that may go to the bathroom at any hour of the day unpredictably

• This helps predict when number two will most likely happen

3. Routine/Consistency

Dogs thrive on routine. Many things that a puppy experiences and learn will carry through the rest of their lives. This is essential because:

• It makes a distinct potty pattern for your dog

• It becomes a method of “accident prevention”


• It takes away confusion of outside vs. inside bathroom habits as to what is allowed and what’s not

• If you live in a multi-person household it is imperative that a routine is followed so that every member can follow it and leave no room for unplanned accidents.

Morris K9 Campus offers a Monday to Friday weekly program to help do this for you. Call us at 973-252-5100 for more information or visit http://www.morrisk9campus.com/puppy_housebreaking.asp.


Caesar taking time out for a quick photo.



***Keep in mind that Morris K9 Campus recommends that no adult dog should be crated for more than six (6) hours. Depending on a puppy’s age, we recommend that you follow the one (1) hour per every month of age method, based on housetraining progress. Adjustments may need to be made based on how well or not your puppy is doing with their potty training.

JOIN US FOR FREE PUPPY CLASSES!

Did you know there is a wrong way to socialize your puppy? It is possible to overwhelm or frighten them and cause lasting damage. Morris K9 Campus hosts free puppy classes in order to help introduce them properly to new dogs, places, people, children, sounds, objects.

Does your puppy need training for chewing, mouthing, jumping or potty training? Start your puppy off right.  Puppies 8-20 weeks are perfect to attend these classes. The schedule for free socialization and training are below.

Saturdays - 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

11/10/2012

11/17/2012

11/24/2012

12/1/2012

12/8/2012

12/15/2012

12/22/2012

12/29/2012

To learn more details and to register for FREE puppy classes, click here.

HOW TO CLEAN PET PEE FROM YOUR CARPET

Photo Courtesy of CB 27

Accidents happen. No matter how well potty trained your dog is, at some point or another your canine is going to relieve themselves somewhere in the house. Since one of the most frustrating things about owning a dog is the inevitable potty mess, we’ve scoured the web for some of the best advice for cleaning up pet stains on carpets.

Sop it Up!

It is very difficult to clean up a urine stain after several hours. You probably already know this from experience and it’s not fun. The sooner you can get to the mess the better, but most times that is just not possible. As soon as you spot the accident, gather paper towels and newspaper and soak up as much of the urine as you can. Make sure you lift up the rug and get to the carpet pad underneath or your dog will still smell the accident and be much more inclined to soil the same area again. Some sources suggest using saran-wrap or plastic over the newspaper as well. Step on the newspaper covered area with all your weight to make sure it is all soaked up. Repeat this until the carpet is only slightly damp.

Photo Courtesy of jessgrr

Rinse and Clean

Next, you want to wash the area with warm water and use an enzymatic cleaning product specifically for pet stains like Nature’s Miracle®. Enzymatic cleaners work by breaking down the molecules of the urine in your carpet fibers. An added bonus is they are non-toxic and safe to use. Let the cleaning solution sit for as long as the instructions specify and use enough solution to penetrate to the carpet pad underneath. Make sure the area is marked off so that no one in your household walks on the solution, especially your dog! Use a baby-gate or close the door to the room and let the enzyme cleaner do its magic.

Smell Nice!

To remove the smell, use a high-quality odor neutralizer. Pet Place recommends making your own by using a natural concoction of 10 to 12 drops of lavender oil with a cup of bicarbonate soda. After sprinkling the odor neutralizer of your choice on the area, let it sit for about an hour and then vacuum.

For Stains that Refuse to Go Away

If you have followed these steps and the stain remains, consider these more drastic solutions.

-Rent an extractor or a wet-vac which you can get from a hardware store. A wet-vac works like a vacuum and pushes out the dirty liquid with clean water. NOTE: Do not mistake a wet-vac for a steamer. The HumaneSociety’s page on removing pet stains makes sure to point out that steamers will only set the stain!

-To further mask the smell, clean it with a solution of one cup of vinegar or one cup of hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of water. To make sure it won’t bleach your rug, test on a hidden portion of it or a corner.

-Replace your carpet pad.

Share with us what has or has not worked for you!

 

TINKLE TINKLE LITTLE CANINE

Photo Courtesy of Rochelle, just rochelle

For most of us, coming home to our dogs or picking them up from daycare can be the highlight of our day! The tail wag, the goofy grin and joyous licks, the wiggling body, and for some of us…a little tinkle. While we can appreciate and share their happiness concerning our return, cleaning up their yellow puddle is not quite the salutation we hope for. Some dogs pee out of excitement. We are accustomed to puppies with this issue but some adult dogs seem to maintain this behavior. When they do, it is known as “adult excitement urination.” While this can be associated with greeting new people or saying hello to their owner, this reaction can also happen when bringing their leash and collar out, grabbing their favorite toy, or getting in the car to go to the park. Whatever the cause for their excitement urination, rest assured that there are some simple solutions to help your adult dog overcome this method of expressing their happiness and anticipation.

Play Detective

Determine the cause that makes Fido urinate every time. Is it when you reach for the leash, is it the high-pitched voice you use to greet your dog when you come home? Once you have concluded the reason that makes your pooch pee, work on addressing that issue.

Change it Up

Now that you have isolated the reason that makes your dog squat and tinkle, work on fixing your behavior, yes yours. If you enter the house squealing and saying your dog’s name over and over again, it will only excite your dog who will sense the rising happiness in your voice. Tone it down for your dog’s sake and though it may be difficult, ignore your dog for the first 10 minutes after you walk in the door. Tell guests to do the same by not petting, talking, or even making eye contact with your dog. When your dog is calm, reward that behavior by petting your dog and praise him or her calmly. If your dog pees whenever you bring out the leash, let your dog outside first, and then put their leash on. If your canine leaves a puddle in the car, take your dog for a short walk before taking him or her on the road.

Confidence Boost

Since adult excitement urination can sometimes be related to your dog’s insecurity, it is very important to work on building your dog’s self-confidence. Teach your dog new tricks and reward with treats and praise. Try agility at Morris K9 Campus, a wonderful physical and mental outlet that has a great track record for improving dogs’ confidence levels. Bring fulfillment to your canine’s life by exercising him or her. Take your dog on long walks, work your pooch out on the canine treadmill at Morris K9 Campus, and socialize Fido by engaging with other fuzzy friends. If your dog is up to date with vaccinations and has a good temperament with other people and dogs, try Doggie Daycare. If you are unsure how your dog will react with other wet-nosed pals, fear not! Morris K9 Campus offers a free half day evaluation to observe how well your dog plays with others, so try it out!

All dogs express their excitement in different ways. Some adult dogs continue this behavior. However, if you determine the root cause that leads to your dog’s yellow puddle, you can slowly work on eradicating this issue by adjusting your own behavior, desensitizing your dog, and by ensuring your pet is mentally and physically satisfied.

5 Dog Training Myths Debunked!

Prong collars, dominance theory and puppies, oh my! With dog training television shows, books, and the internet, pet owners are inundated with a plethora of training information on a daily basis that is enough to make anyone’s head swim. Unsure of which methods to adopt? We’ve tackled some of the confusing theories you might encounter.

Myth: Puppies younger than 6 months of age can't be trained.

This concept took hold back when collar corrections were all the rage and punishment was acceptable. Modern dog training relies heavily on positive reinforcement which can easily be applied to a young puppy. Puppies are eager little learners and though their attention spans may be short, they are easily motivated by healthy treats, attention or play. Set aside short chunks of time to teach a desired behavior several times a day and keep providing those rewards!

Myth: All interactions with dogs are either dominant or submissive.

In recent years, dominance theory has become a bit overblown. Dominance theory classifies interactions between dogs and owners as either dominant or submissive. However, we feel that this approach is too simplistic and doesn't take into account the myriad dog behaviors that have little to do with dominance or submission. If your canine exits the door in front of you before you go on a leisurely walk, that doesn’t mean your dog is trying to dominate or control you. Your dog is probably just excited to get going! If your dog acts out in an uncontrolled way like eating scraps off the table or pulling on his or her leash for walks, simply teach the correct behavior and reward rather than blaming it on dominance.

Myth: An old dog can’t learn new tricks.

This is an old adage that many people choose to believe when they experience training hurdles. Just because you adopt a mature dog or your pet has carried some bad habits into adulthood doesn't mean training is a lost cause. Treat your mature dog as though it were a puppy; start from square one. If your dog isn't housebroken, begin by taking your dog outside to go to the bathroom and reward afterwards. Teaching new skills and reinforcing old ones is beneficial to dogs at any age and is a wonderful way to keep your dog’s mind young.

Myth: Your dog will seek revenge if you leave him alone.

Though guilt, revenge, and payback are all actions and emotions that exist far too often in the human world, they have little or nothing to do with the realm of our furry four-pawed friends. If you leave your dog alone for a long period of time and return to find the contents of your garbage strewn across the kitchen floor, rest assured that it was not done with vindictive or malicious intent. Our lovable pups are blissfully unaware of those turbulent emotions. Instead, your dog is likely to be acting out in response to anxiety and boredom. If your dog has issues being alone, refer to our previous blog post for some helpful tips.

Myth: Crates should only be used for punishment.

Just because a crate has bars on it does not make it a prison. Crates are an excellent tool for potty training, quiet rest time, and are essential for traveling. If you only use a crate as punishment, it will be very difficult to use the crate when other situations arise, like traveling cross country or even using it as a safe haven for your pet during a thunderstorm. Make your crate comfy with blankets, familiar with toys, and appetizing with treats, food, and water, and your dog will associate pleasant thoughts with the crate. This way, if you are having guests over and don't want your dog getting underfoot, you already have a secure and comfortable place to let Fido rest for a while. 

Truth!

Though it is great that our dog-loving society has no shortage of training information, it can certainly make the training process a mystifying one. Morris K9 Campus is dedicated to staying on top of the latest training tips and techniques while simultaneously incorporating tried and true strategies that have proven effective over the years. If you feel overwhelmed or perplexed by the practice of dog training, consider visiting Morris K9 Campus for guidance on the training process. Our motto is that a well-trained dog is a happy one! 

What dog training myths have you discovered? Which techniques have proven particularly effective for you and your dog?

Sources: http://www.good-dog-care.com/dog-training-myths.html

http://www.apdt.com/petowners/choose/myths.aspx