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Style Magazine

Dog Training

Jul 31, 2008 05:00PM ● By Super Admin

 Dogs have long had a reputation for being man’s best friend – the work it takes to keep that friendship going is less widely discussed! Bringing an animal into your home is exciting, but it can be difficult too, for both pet and owner. Even if you have raised your dog with patience, consistency, and love, he may exhibit a behavior that you don’t know how to control or temper – how do you communicate effectively with your dog in such cases? Kristin Minnie of El Dorado K9 Training in Shingle Springs offers her expert advice on some of the most common behavioral problems that dog owners face.


Q. I’m having trouble housebreaking my puppy. What do I do?
This issue will likely be of chief concern when you’re getting a new puppy used to your house. According to Kristin, the key is to set strict boundaries early – without the guidance of a firm hand, your dog will not be able to differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate spots to relieve himself.

A. “Most errors in housebreaking are due to allowing puppies too much freedom within the home. Dogs have a natural instinct to keep their den clean. In this case, your home is your puppy’s den. During the learning stages of housebreaking, if the puppy’s den is too big, that instinct is interrupted. I recommend restricting your puppy’s freedom by setting up baby gates to create a smaller space. It is best to set this area up on tile or hardwood, so mistakes are easy to clean up. You can also use an exercise pen sold at local pet stores. If the problem is serious, avoid using towels or blankets in this space, as puppies are more likely to relieve themselves on soft, absorptive surfaces. The goal is to not have your puppy soil in this area, but rather view it as his “den” in which to keep clean. If you are unable to tend to your puppy, you should put him in the den area only after he has successfully relieved himself outside. It is perfectly fine to have your puppy out with you in the house as long as you are willing and able to supervise him. I recommend keeping the puppy on a leash. If it seems as though he has the urge to potty, grab the leash and lead him out the door. Most puppies give subtle signals when they are looking for the right place to relieve themselves, such as sniffing the floor and circling around. If you see this behavior, quickly lead him out the door, while saying, ‘Let’s go potty!’ If he successfully makes it outside for his duties, make sure to immediately lavish him with love and affection.
    Although this process can be time consuming and draining, staying vigilant during this learning phase is critical to long-term success and pays off in the end! If, however, after a few weeks on this program, you don’t see any improvements in your puppy’s housebreaking habits, it may be time to contact a professional. This is certainly one behavior that only gets more difficult to fix as the dog ages.”...
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For more Dog (and Cat) Training tips and resources, be sure to pick up this month's copy of FoothillStyle. Click on the "Get Your Copy" link on the bottom of this page for some of our newsstand locations. Or, to order a copy of this issue, please email Gloria Schroeder at [email protected], or call her at 916-988-9888 x116.