subject: Toilet Training For Dogs - Tips From Animal Behaviorists [print this page] Usually, dogs are extremely clean animals - they will not soil close to where they eat, or where they sleep. But living in a house is unnatural for an animal whose instincts would be to roam wherever she desires to go, so you will have to help her learn where and when she can relieve herself.
It is important that you form great toilet habits for your puppy as early on as feasible. Attempting to break the habit of a puppy is fairly hard and it can be very frustrating. You need to use guidance and encouragement to assist the pet. Animal behaviorists have some useful tips that you can use to assist with the housebreaking of your pet.
Believe it or not, dogs are sanitary beings. If a puppy does soil unintentionally in the wrong place, it is most likely that it'll be far from his dog dish, at the least 6 to 10 feet. This really is true for the area where the dog sleeps as well. But, unless you look for a good area for her to go and train her in that way, the rest of your house is alright to them.
The process for housebreaking a dog is the same if he is a puppy or an adult dog new to your home. You'll need to take him outdoors every couple of hours as well as 30 minutes right after he eats. Take your pet to the designated bathroom area. Stay with the pet till she goes, and then praise her when she does. If she does not go, bring her back inside and try again in 15 minutes. Watch her though. If the puppy begins sniffing and circling, take them out immediately as this is really a sign that she is about to go. Pay attention to her signs and take her out. Soon, she'll connect with going outside to going to the bathroom.
Several dogs are housebroken much faster than others. Some dog's personality will cause her to go one way or the other. But, if you take her outside at the right time, it will go smoother. A puppy of below 4 months old will have to go out during the night. Older puppies can hold it that long. A dog that cries to be let out has an urgent need. Get up and take her out, she needs each chance to succeed that she can get. Positive reinforcement is essential for success.
How you treat accidents will have an effect on your dog's overall learning curve. If you find your puppy going in the act, disturb her with a clap or call her name. Take her outdoors smoothly at that time and praise her for concluding outside. Clean up any accident that you simply find on the floor. If the dog approaches during this time, ignore her. Don't speak to or punish her at this point. The most detrimental thing that you can do is to yell at her or physically punish her. This will trigger her to fear you and to not bond too to you. She won't relate it to the accident at all. Ignoring her is the best course of action here.
