Housebreaking Dogs
Nancy Richards
from
Train Pet Dog
Housebreaking dogs is a universal problem for just about anyone who has ever acquired a new pup. That’s why we contacted a pro who we felt could best address this issue. Although her website offers much more than just puppy potty training tips, Nancy Richards from Train Pet Dog kindly agreed to do this interview to better address this problem and to offer solutions that we felt might help our readers. Read on to find out what a pro in this field has to say…
Q. Welcome Nancy, and thanks for agreeing to chat with us awhile about what you're doing at TrainPetDog.com. I must say, you have a very well laid out, comprehensive website! Would you kindly share a bit about yourself and what your own history with dogs are? A: Thanks for inviting me for this interview, Rich. I’m glad you found my website helpful. I have been involved with Dogs ever since I was a child. In all these years, I have owned and trained several purebred and mixed breed dogs. Q. What were the chief motivating factors behind your creating a website dedicated to dogs?
A: I have always loved dogs. They are really man’s best friend. When I learned about the Internet and how easily it can deliver information to people, I thought of developing a website on Dogs. Initially, I had a small site dedicated to dog training only. It was exciting to be able to reach dog owners and help them with their problems. Then, I kept getting questions on other aspects of dog ownership – on different dog breeds, their adoption, housebreaking dogs, diet, grooming and more. So, we kept adding pages to the website. I am happy I can help dog owners and dog lovers, all around the world. Q. On your page that offers tips on housebreaking dogs quickly, you talk of 7 steps to successfully housetrain your dog. Could you please elaborate further about the one step you feel is the most important? A: Housebreaking dogs or puppies can be easy, frustrating, or time consuming …all depending on the dog’s age, personality and the way it has been brought up. There really is no one ‘most’ important step because the housetraining process is really a comprehensive process that needs all components to be truly successful. If one was forced to select one step of the process to highlight above the others, I would say that living by a routine / schedule and being very persistent and consistent is quite important. Routine is important for all dogs. Routine sets up a consistent schedule for a dog: when will I be fed dinner? When will I be walked? etc. Just like small children, if a dog can count on roughly when things will happen, there is less stress and more success. For small puppies, if the owner is very consistent and persistent in never leaving the puppy unsupervised, it is much easier to ‘catch’ any accidents before they happen. Q. It is commonly said that there are three basic methods of housebreaking dogs- the paper method, the basic direct method, and the litter box method. Could you please explain each in more detail and which works the best?
A: Yes, these are the 3 popular methods of housebreaking dogs and dog owners prefer one over another based on personal choices or lifestyle. The basic direct method (further referred to as crate training and outside) is the most popular option. Crate training, in combination with taking your dog outside, leaves little confusion for the dog as to what is being asked of him. From day one, you are making it clear to the dog that the restroom is outside. Crate training is the best choice for housebreaking dogs in most circumstances. However, one needs to be conscious that the dog should not spend more than a few hours at a time in the crate. Sometimes people opt for paper training or litter box training because of the hours one will be gone from the home or because of living in a multi-level apartment in a large city. Paper training and litter box training are mostly similar in that they give the dog the choice of going the bathroom in a specific location in the home. It eliminates the need to worry about whether the dog needs to go outside or not, and it is mostly used for small or toy breeds of dogs. The trouble is that once a dog is paper or litter box trained it is harder to then crate train. The other problem is that the dog’s restroom is in the house leaving a potentially smelly issue and messy one. Q. Crate training is a popular method used for puppy potty training. Could you share with us some of the Do's and Don'ts when using a crate? A: Crate training is certainly the most popular method of housetraining. There are things to keep in mind as you crate train, and here are a few of them: 3 Important Do’s... The crate should be used for overnight, extended stays from the home, and anytime the dog cannot be fully supervised. Make sure the crate is only big enough for the dog to sit up, lie down, and turn around in. If the crate is too large in the beginning, a dog can use the restroom in the crate and sleep comfortably. Place the crate in an open area, not secluded. Most dogs enjoy being able to see what is happening. Try to position crates so that the dog isn’t in a dark corner with limited visibility. 3 Important Don’ts... Never put food and water in the crate. It increases the likelihood the dog will have to use the restroom, and there is also a high possibility the food and water would become play toys. Never leave the dog in the crate for long periods of time. Try to limit crate stays to 4 hours maximum without being walked. Dogs need to get out and stretch their legs. Don’t use the crate for punishment. Dogs enjoy crates when used correctly. It should only be used for unsupervised times, not because the dog has done something wrong. Q. Is there a point when a crate should be taken away entirely? Or should an owner view it as something more permanent? And won't the dog whine when confined?
A: The decision to no longer use a crate is a personal one. Some people decide to use the crate for the life of the dog while others wait until a certain point in a dog’s life. The crate should be used for two basic purposes: i) Housetraining – till a dog is fully and reliably housetrained ii) Destruction – when a dog indulges into excessive chewing and destruction, when left unsupervised. For many dogs, it is around 1 ½ years old. But, again, it depends upon the dog, the owner’s lifestyle and other environmental factors. Q. When it comes to housebreaking dogs, what about dealing with dogs that are older? Are the techniques to potty training an older dog different than that of a dog that’s younger? Any Do's or Don'ts? A: Housebreaking an older dog is exactly like housebreaking a puppy. First, you will need to select the process you will want to use. This gets the dog off to the right start! Important Do’s... Use the same process of housetraining, crate training preferably. Supervise the dog at all times in the beginning. Walk the dog every couple of hours in the beginning. Also, walk the dog surrounding important events: within 30 minutes of eating or drinking a lot, after waking up, and when someone comes home. Remember to use some kind of a word (like potty) for the process. Always thoroughly clean up any accidents using special cleaners with enzymes to fully remove the odors. Dogs will return to the scene of the crime! Always go outside with the dog to insure he is going the bathroom. Just because he went out doesn’t mean he did everything he needs to, so make sure to supervise. Important Don’ts... Don’t assume because the dog is older that he should know how to do it. With older dogs, you never know what the previous lives were like. Don’t get angry about accidents or do archaic things like rubbing the dog’s nose in it. It doesn’t help, and the dog doesn’t relate the process to housetraining at all. If the dog marks in your house, have patience. Don’t think it is about you. It is more likely a response to pet odors existing in your home right now. Clean up thoroughly and try to catch the dog before he raises his leg again. Just be sure to be consistent with any dog. Older dogs come with baggage from the previous home. Many of them are housetrained, but always start at the beginning, like a puppy, to insure the most success. Q. What about the ever popular puppy pads? Can't the owner just use them, instead of a crate?
A: Yes, an owner could use the puppy pee pads. However, it is better to avoid using puppy pads, if possible. Crate training is still the best methodology when done correctly. That being said, there are some instances when pee pads might be appropriate: limited grass use around a person’s living quarters, very tiny toy breeds, high-rise apartment, or even for an elderly dog. I don’t recommended using puppy pads for a normal medium to large breed dog. But, in the case of extremely tiny toy dogs, the use of pee pads might be more appropriate in some instances. The trouble with these pads: 1. They are hard to train off of. Once a dog is accustomed to using these kinds of pads, they are less likely to go outside. 2. The restroom is in your home, creating a potentially smelly and unsightly situation. 3. Exercise: Many people use the pee pads in lieu of taking the dog for a walk or daily exercise. Those who choose to use pee pads must not forget the exercise issue. Q. Any final thoughts on the subject of housebreaking dogs that you'd care to share?
A: Housetraining dogs is a time consuming project, and it is a project that requires a good deal of patience and consistency. Puppies, especially, take the longest time due to development. Very small toy dogs are also harder to housetrain, and this has more to do with their anatomical structure. The most important thing to remember: although it takes time and patience, housebreaking dogs can be done quite easily and by following a very consistent program. Remember to set-up a routine for the dog, supervise it, and be consistent.
We'd like to thank Nancy again for taking the time to be interviewed. If you're interested in learning more about housetraining a puppy, dog training, diet or grooming your dog… be sure to visit her website.
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