No matter your canine companion’s
age, breed or disposition, he needs to learn good household manners. The most
important of these is housetraining. A dog who eliminates indiscriminately will
cause headaches for his humans and himself. Luckily, a consistent
behavioral program can give your dog
perfect elimination etiquette.- By C.C. Holland Advice for every stage of your
dog’s life.
The Key: Watchfulness and Frequent
Trips Outdoors
The best advice when housetraining a
puppy:
“You can go with the flow of using
the puppy’s natural instinct to keep his den area or bedding clean,”
said Nicholas Dodman, BVMS,
MRCVS, director of the Behavior
Clinic at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.
To begin, keep your puppy in a dry,
secure area, such as an exercise pen or kitchen. Several times during the day,
take him on-leash to a designated elimination area. Put the puppy down, keep
him focused and let him move back and forth. When he eliminates, immediately
offer a food treat and lavish praise. If he doesn’t eliminate within 10
minutes,
take him inside and keep an eye on
him. Either confine him or attach his leash to your belt, wait 15 minutes and
then, repeat the exercise.
“It may take two or three 15-minute
blocks,”
Dr. Dodman said, “but if at first
you don’t succeed, try, try again.”
Stay with the puppy outside to teach
him the correct behavior.
“So many people just turn
them out in the yard and wait for 30
minutes, let them in, and they urinateon the floor,” said Dr. Dodman. In
general, puppies can hold their bladders for their age in months plus one; a
2-month-old puppy can go a maximum of three hours without a potty break. This
means you’ll need to
make frequent trips outside during
the day and usually at least once overnight. In addition, offer elimination
opportunities 20 to 30 minutes after a meal and when the dog transitions from
one activity to another, Dr. Dodman said.
WHEN ACCIDENTS OCCUR, DON’T MASK THE
ODOR-REMOVE IT
Never punish your dog for an
accident, Dr. Dodman said. He can’t associate the punishment with the deed, or
worse, he’ll simply learn not to eliminate in front of you - and that means
outdoors as well.
If your dog begins to squat or
urinate in the house, make a sudden, loud noise to distract him and interrupt
what he’s doing, then calmly and happily attach a leash and take him outside,
Dr. Dodman said. encourage him to eliminate there, and if he does, praise him
to
the heavens and give him a treat. If you’ve adopted an older dog, especially one who’s been in a
shelter, even if he’s supposedly housetrained it’s wise to act as if he isn’t
and begin at square one. Stress or changes in environment may cause some
backsliding. Once he’s reliable, a dog door can be a great aid to both owner
and pet. “A dog door means the dog can now take charge of his or her own life,
which is stress-relieving,” Dr. Dodman said. If a dog does have accidents in
the house, you must clean up the mess and - most importantly - eliminate any
associated scent. Once an area is soiled, it’s marked as an elimination
spot and a dog may tend to use it
again. “Don’t try to mask the odor with another scent,” Dr. Dodman cautioned, “because your dog will
still smell it. Use a solution that will destroy the compounds that cause those
odors.” He recommends Zero Odor (www.zeroodorpet.com), an oxidizing agent that
removes both scent and stains.
HEALTH PROBLEMS AND MEDICINE CAN CAUSE
HIS INCONTINENCE
Incontinence can plague older dogs,
but it’s usually associated with medical problems rather than age, Dr. Dodman
said. While kidney function may decline as a dog gets on in years, that alone
usually won’t cause accidents. However, a variety of health challenges
can cause incontinence or more
frequent urination, including cystitis and various metabolic disorders. Also,
Dr. Dodman said,
“If you get a dog who is 10 or older
and suddenly starts to have
accidents, think about canine
cognitive dysfunction.”
House soiling is one of the
hallmarks of the disorder, which can also cause disorientation and changes in
sleep patterns and behavior. excellent medications are available that can
either eliminate or alleviate the symptoms in about two-thirds of treated dogs,
Dr. Dodman said.In addition, certain medications - such as cortisone and
bromide - can cause the dog to drink more, which can also lead to accidents. “Don’t
immediately blame the dog - think about the circumstances,” Dr. Dodman said.
The bottom line: If your older dog begins to soil the house, have your vet
check him out. If your dog has a medical condition that’s incurable and causes
incontinence, diapers designed for dogs can provide a good solution.
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