Saving Your Home
May 1, 2010 by Paris and John
Filed under Tips, Training
Today we’ve got a guest post from our friends over at Surfpet.com. Charlie, the Surfpet mascot, has some tips about to help answer that cry: “Help! My Dog Is Ruining My Home!”
Mom was reading posts on another blog site and found this question about a pup that doesn’t know where to do her “business.” Since then, the original post has disappeared, so she thought we could answer it here.
Help! My dog is destroying my apartment! We just moved into a new apartment, which I was hoping would help my dog with her problem of doing her “business” in the house. She is a very good dog and is very affectionate, but she refuses to poop outside. She is also great with my kids and is very gentle with the baby. I take her out every hour, where she will sometimes urinate, but will come right back in and poop on the carpet. I keep a very clean home and this is very upsetting. I clean up thoroughly after her. I really can’t stand this, but I don’t know what else to do.
You certainly have a problem, but don’t despair. It may take some time and some work, but you CAN potty train your dog. The solution depends on your dedication and consistency, and on changing some of your own behaviors. As Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer, is fond of saying, he rehabilitates dogs and trains humans! The advice in this article is based on positive reinforcement, personal experience, and the advice of great dog trainers like Cesar Milan and Victoria Stillwell.
First, is the dog getting enough exercise? This may be partly an anxiety problem that won’t be solved by just showing more affection. In fact, affection at inappropriate times can be detrimental.
In addition to taking the dog out often, he/she needs real exercise, a good brisk walk for at least 20 minutes twice a day. If you can’t commit to this, you might need to rethink whether you have made a full commitment to your dog. Walking is not only the best exercise, it establishes you as the leader and establishes your authority in a positive way. It will also drain some of the nervous energy that your dog is expressing through peeing and pooping indoors.
Walking also stimulates the bowels, which may help the dog eliminate outdoors. You may want to use a verbal cue also, by stopping periodically and saying something encouraging. My mom says, “hurry up” and that’s how I know what she wants me to do. She says it in a soft, kind way, not in a harsh way. Walking stimulates the dog’s mind as well as their body, helping them focus on external stimuli, like new smells and sights. It also encourages them to want to mark over other dog’s smells. If your dog is hard to control on a leash, you may want to try a harness. We recommend a good quality leash no longer than 6′ for walking. Leashes with extendable lines give you less control and the dog too much freedom. Remember, this is more than just walking. It’s pack leader training.
Second, you need to invest in a crate. Crating your dog is not cruel. Dogs are natural den animals and an enclosed, den-like space feels secure to them. There are many kinds of crates and you can find one that fits your home decor. If the dog is eliminating at night, while you are asleep, it’s very important to crate the dog at night. It may take a little getting used to, especially if the dog sleeps in bed with you, but they will adjust quickly. Be sure to crate your dog when you leave them alone. Dogs are naturally clean animals and will not normally foul their own sleeping space.
At first let her smell and investigate the crate with the door open. Have her jump in and out of it for treats. Using a verbal command like “crate” or “kennel” helps reinforce the behavior you want. Just as you would with a puppy, you should make the crate a comfortable place to be and keep crating periods short in the beginning. Once accustomed to them, many dogs enjoy spending time in their crates even when they don’t have to. Crates are a favorite place to retreat with a new toy or get some relief from a rambunctious puppy or child.
Using a crate, a place that the dog is naturally reluctant to use as a bathroom, combined with a regular feeding and exercise schedule will make housebreaking go faster as well as save your carpets and your sanity!
Finally, dogs respond to positive reinforcement and rewards. You may be amazed at how quickly they learn when properly motivated. Carry some favorite treats with you on walks and reward all good behavior. Don’t underestimate the power of reward, but you need the right reward. I love the liver treats my mom makes. I’ll do almost anything for them! She breaks off a small piece when we are doing training.
Remember to reward close approximations of desired behavior and reward often! Your dog will soon be making the association. My mom also repeats the verbal command, along with a “good boy!” when she is teaching me something new. Scroll down to the next post or click to go to the recipe for my favorite Liver Training Treats.
Before you start your new exercise, crate and positive reinforcement training regimen, rent a commercial carpet cleaner and deep clean any areas where the dog has eliminated. It’s also a good idea to use a quality pet stain remover that will not only remove any visual remnant of the stain, but also any smell that the dog can detect. Remember, our noses are 1,000 times better than you humans!
It is possible to change your dog’s behavior, but you have to change your behavior first. Cesar says, “Exercise, discipline (not punishment), and affection – in that order!” It works.
See ‘ya around the neighborhood!
Charlie
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