012. Housetraining Topics
Description
This article is from the rec.pets.dogs: Assorted Topics, posted to rec.pets.dogs newsgroup. Maintained by Cindy Tittle Moore with numerous contributions by others.
012. Housetraining Topics
Getting the dog to go consistently in one area
Every time you take the dog out, take it to the same spot and, preferably, give it a command like "potty" or whatever.
If the dog is already in the yard and decides to go to the bathroom, distract the dog by yelling NO (or clapping or whistling) and take it to the spot it's supposed to go (even if it's finished already) and give the command to go to the bathroom. Don't yell or correct harshly, just distract it enough to stop the behavior and give you an opportunity to move it to the right spot.
It helps if the spot is marked out. A common way to do this is to dig out a square at least several inches deep, line up 4x4's along the edge and fill with gravel.
Housetraining an older dog
With regards to housetraining an older dog, it can actually be easier to do this. Puppies do not have the physical capacity for "holding" it until they are 4 months old or so. Before that you are just doing damage control and trying to get the concept across to them. Older dogs, especially ones that have been kept outdoors in a kennel, will not want to go indoors because it doesn't feel right. Follow the same rules that you would with any other dog during housetraining: out after every meal, out after every nap, and out every two hours otherwise. And don't just put them out in the yard and expect them to do their business. Take them to a specified spot and wait with them until they do their stuff. Take that opportunity to teach them a word to "go" too, if they don't already know one.
And, when they go, outdoors: PRAISE THEM! If they have an accident and you catch IN THE ACT, then tell them NO and take them to their spot to finish, praise them when they do it there. If you don't actually catch them in the act, then quietly, clean it up, control your temper, and pretend it didn't happen. They will learn rather quickly but you _must_ watch them at all times when they are in the house until you learn to read their signs and anticipate problems.
Sudden onset of marking
There are several possible causes for a dog that suddenly starts marking (urinating) in the house. First, rule out medical problems with your vet.
If you've just moved into a new house and your dog starts marking, it's probably to claim the house. Try leaving your dirty laundry all over the house for a few days so that YOU mark it as yours. Take it up after a few days.
Peeing in one spot
For a dog that pees in a particular place in the house, leaving laundry in that spot can also work to discourage it. Dogs may consider little-used parts of your house sufficiently "distant" from the den that it's OK to pee there. Your laundry there marks it as "den". Also, you can take them to these distant or used spots and do some obedience or other dominance work with them there.
It also helps to actually catch the dog in the act. You can then yell "NO" to distract it, and then take it outside. This works well for dogs that simply think its OK there because its "distant" and you haven't specifically said not to. You MUST catch it in the act, though, yelling at it _after_ all's said and done will accomplish absolutely nothing.
Be sure to clean up that spot thoroughly with enzyme based cleaners.
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