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Where's the
potty?
The most important concept to
remember when teaching your dog where to
"go potty" is to prevent
accidental learning. Accidental learning
is when your dog goes potty in the house
when no one is watching. As far as the
dog knows, he or she has just
established an acceptable dog toileting
area. Remember, you don't get a
second chance to make a good first
impression. It is much easier to
teach than to re-teach.
The key to
preventing accidents in the house is to
confine the dog in a small
area when you are not able to supervise.
This confinement needs be established as
the dog's very special safe haven, a
comforting place to be when you are not
around. Positive
kennel training
and
close tether training
are essential prerequisites to
establishing contented confinement for
your dog. Contented confinement is the
best strategy for teaching acceptable
toileting habits and preventing
household accidents.
Click here for
Kennel Training Steps
The first major project with
any new puppy or adopted dog
is teaching your new friend
how to find the "doggie
toilet" area. |
The dog
should ALWAYS be under your supervision
when he or she is close tethered.
However, it is acceptable to leave a
puppy in a portable kennel for up to one
hour longer than his or her age in
months. For example, a 2 month old puppy
can be left in a kennel for 3 hours, a 3
month old puppy can be left in a kennel
for 4 hours, and so on. As a general
guideline, no dog, no matter what his or
her age, should be confined for much
longer than 8 hours without being given
the opportunity to eliminate.
Teaching proper toileting habits
First read and review both
kennel and close tether training
topics by clicking on the
article titles in blue letters
above. It is crucial that both
the kennel and close tethering
are introduced correctly to
assure a positive result. During
confinement, praise and reward
the dog for being quiet and
relaxed. It is important to
ignore the dog if he or she is
having a temper tantrum. The
best time to let the dog out of
the kennel is when the dog is
showing quiet, relaxed behavior
and/or chewing on something you
provided.
During your "elimination
teaching phase", take the dog
out of confinement every couple
hours to your designated toilet
area while on leash and give the
opportunity to eliminate in that
spot. Give the same cue word
each time such as "go potty" or
"get busy". Don't stare at
the dog since this makes some
dogs nervous. If the dog begins
to eliminate, say, "good dog" in
a soft, cooing voice tone.
Excited praise can interrupt and
disrupt the process. Just after
the dog finishes eliminating in
the right place, praise in an
excited, happy tone and give a
small food treat to reinforce a
job well done! Right after
the eliminates is the BEST time
to supervise freedom indoors. As
your dog begins using the toilet
area regularly, gradually extend
the period of freedom after the
elimination and vary the rewards
such as going for a walk,
playing indoors with toys, etc.
The more confidence you have in
what the dog has learned, the
more freedom the dog gets.
It helps some dogs if you can
place some of the urine or feces
in the toilet area to help
designate it for the dog. Make
sure you clean any indoor
"accidents" with an enzyme
cleaner that is specifically
formulated to break down urine
odor. Normal household cleaners
can mask but do not remove the
odor.
If the dog does
NOT eliminate, return him or her
back to confinement for about 10
to 20 minutes. If the dog has an
accident during this time, then
take the dog out more
frequently. The goal is no
accidents in the house or in the
kennel.
Crime and
punishment
Dogs live in the present moment.
What's past is gone from their
immediate memory as it pertains
to learning right from wrong.
So, timing is the key in
teaching your dog what is an
accident versus what is a home
run! NEVER hit or punish
your dog in such a way that
harms him or her physically or
emotionally. A human's
idea of punishment usually
confuses the lesson and
compromises the bond between pet
and family. If you catch your
pup in the act, interrupt by
picking up the pup or by making
a startling noise and then take
the pup out to the designated
toilet area. You may be more
successful by carrying the pup
outside.
Input and output
During elimination training,
feed and water your dog twice
daily. Get up early to reward
quiet, overnight behavior with
an opportunity to eliminate.
Give an early dinner with an
opportunity before bedtime to
eliminate for a more comfortable
sleep. Ideally, you need
to take your pup out 10 to 20
minutes after feeding, and then
every few hours throughout the
day and evening. If you
stay consistent during the
teaching phase, most pups will
learn within one to two weeks
how to please you by using the
correct toilet area.
The buck
stops here
Supervise or provide a safe
place for contented confinement.
Be consistent. Establish a
routine. Lavishly praise and
reward quiet, happy confinement
and appropriate elimination.
And...make sure that during any
teaching phase, you put your pup
into "boot camp". This means the
pup must earn every valued
resource you have to offer. Boot
camp means reinforcing your
position as teacher and pack
leader by asking the pup to sit
for permission to eat, play,
have a toy or chew, go inside or
out, or simply to have precious
time with you.
Adobe Presenter
-
Reward Based Elimination
Training
*Video -
Confinement and
Input/Output Scheduling
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