Does your dog always use the same spot in the yard when he does his business?
If not, then you may need to start over with the potty training process. Put on his leash when you go out and take him to the same area every time. Always use a command such as “business” or “potty” to let him know what you want him to do. Stand still and hold the end of the leash so he can only explore a limited area. Also, don’t let him play until he has relieved himself.
Does your dog only have intermittent accidents?
First of all, make sure that he doesn’t have any health problems. Then observe when and where he has his accidents – while playing, half an hour after eating, upon waking or being let out of his crate, when greeting people, etc. Does your dog only make a mess when you leave him alone? Does he do it in just a particular room of the house? Does he pee on your furniture?
Once you’ve identified when and where he has his accidents, consult your vet to pinpoint the cause of the problem.
If you work and have to leave your dog at home for long hours, you need to learn how to properly crate train and potty train him so he always eliminates in the right place at the right time. Just like all other types of dog training, toilet training involves positive reinforcement. You should be able to handle accidents calmly, without hitting your pet or making a big deal out of the mess.
Some breeds are easy to housebreak because they like to please their owners or don’t like their living quarters to be dirty. Other breeds are harder to housetrain and may need to be taught using a special method. But before you lose hope, rest assured that your dog can be toilet trained with patience and persistence.
Establishing a routine and being consistent with your expectations of your dog are the essentials of potty training. To make your routine easier, remember to take your pet out to his potty area whenever there is a break or a change of direction during his day.
Here are the five keys to your housetraining success:
* Take your dog to his bathroom when he wakes up.
* Follow a regular feeding schedule, which will eventually be twice a day, approximately 10-12 hours apart. Take him out after he eats or drinks anything.
* Take him to his potty area after play or exercise.
* Don’t give your pet any water two to four hours before he goes to bed.
* Take him to his spot just prior to bedtime.
There are three basic housetraining techniques: the direct method, the paper method, and the litter box method. You may want to learn about these different potty training techniques to know which one best suits your dog and your lifestyle.
Leave a reply