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House training is mostly about
managing your dog's environment until he develops bladder
control and a full understanding that you would prefer he
eliminate in a certain area.
DO NOT rub your dog's
nose in the mistakes he made inside!! There are several
reasons for this, the first being that he does not
understand this. Poop is not disgusting to dogs. They sniff
it all the time and will eat it occasionally. Your shouting,
hitting and nose rubbing will be seen as some sort of
bizarre unprovoked attack and your dog will begin to get the
idea that you become dangerous when he defecates and will
hide to do his business. This will also undermine getting
him to go in front of you outside.
There are several things you
can do to minimize "accidents' in the house. Never leave the
untrained dog free to roam about the house without
supervision. Keep him on a leash next to you, in his crate,
or best of all- a safe room with a baby gate, newspapers to
protect the floor, lots of things to chew on and an article
of your old clothing.
If you are at home with your
dog, do not give him free access to food and water. Feed
your dog in the morning and evening. Take him out right
after he eats, most dogs need to eliminate within half an
hour of eating. Do not play with your dog until after he
"goes potty". Then praise him and play with him for a little
while after he has taken care of business. Dogs catch on
very quickly that they will have to go inside after they
void and may hold it just so they can play with you. Give
water every 2-3 hours, let him drink his fill then take him
out.
If your dog is having a lot
of bowel movements, (more than three per day) you might want
to consider switching to a dog food with fewer by products
and corn fillers. These things do not digest well and cause
the dog to eliminate more and can be the cause for eating
feces.
Often when a dog urinates on
your clothing, bed or other personal items it is because he
was feeling anxious and wanted to mix his smell with your
smell. Dogs find this soothing, it is "aromatherapy" for
them. Sounds strange but emotional excitement or upset is
often the thing that drives dogs need to urinate in less
than ideal places. Dogs are not spiteful, spite takes
forethought and a grudge. Dogs are not that complex, that is
why we love them. It is also why they love us, in spite of
the fact that we hold grudges and are often spiteful.
As with all training, you
must be consistent. The fewer accidents you allow to happen,
the less confused your dog will be. Figure out a course of
action, stick with it and remember that changes in your
dog's life can cause some training setbacks. With
reassurances from you, your dog will quickly get back on
track. |
