House Training a Dog? Try These 5 Tricks

House Training a Dog? Try These 5 Tricks

Struggling when it comes to house training a dog? Whether you're house training a puppy or an older dog, we've got a few tips to try.

House training a dog? I know how it feels. At nine years old, my Yorkie was still not fully housetrained. Rule of thumb when entering the house: Never go barefoot. You never knew where a little wet surprise might be. Smaller breeds may be harder to housetrain, but we were also to blame. With the entire household gone from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from the beginning, little Jessy didn’t stand a chance. At one point, we even tried doggie diapers. But she was too slick for that — she easily slithered her way out of them.

If you’re thinking of getting a puppy but aren’t quite sure if you have the patience and time for house training a dog, read on. I sought the help of some experts. No dog should be trained without his owner, but a few helping hands along the way isn’t bad either. Here are some tips when it comes to house training a dog:

1. Get a doggy bell

“For stubborn dogs, you may want to invest in a door bell, such as the Potty Time Chime, as it will provide your dog a tool where he can make it very clear to you that he needs to go out,” says Lina Eklof, Petco’s National Dog Training Lead.

2. Act like mama dog if house training a puppy

“A lot of people get frustrated when their puppies go outside and get distracted and want to play,” says veterinarian Cathy Alinovi. “Usually we have something better to do than to wait for the puppy to go to the bathroom. Be patient, and consider that this is when mama dog would lick the puppy’s bottom to get them to the go to the bathroom.” She recommends wiping the bottom of your dog with a warm wet washcloth to trigger the instinct.

3. Try a deluxe pee pad

Pee pads are a successful route to take for most dogs, but when you’re house training a dog who’s stubborn, she may need a positive reinforcement. Enter the Train ’n Praise Potty Training System. The kit includes two pieces — a replaceable moisture-detection pee pad and a treat dispenser. Whenever the pad detects moisture (when your little guy does No. 1 or No. 2), a wireless signal is sent to the treat dispenser so the dog is always rewarded. Imagine that, house training a dog while you’re at work.

4. Use a litter box when house training a dog

For dog owners who spend much of their time away from home, using a litter box may not sound that crazy. It’s similar to crate training; the dog is allotted a limited space for sleeping, eating and the tray. “It is only through repetition and positive reinforcement that the puppy begins to understand the connection between ‘potty’ and the litter tray,” says Jane Wasley, the Puppy Go Potty brand manager.

“To expedite this connection, it is important to establish a regular dog feeding and watering schedule. By monitoring the feeding and watering, you can quickly become attuned to your puppy’s potty frequency and behavior. This will help you know the most likely times to place the puppy in the tray.”

5. Umbilical cord method

“Many training plans are effective if they are well thought out and consistent,” says veterinarian Kathryn Primm. “I like the ‘umbilical cord’ method where I tie the puppy to my belt loop when I am busy or distracted, so that if she goes sniffing and exploring I can feel the tug. Anytime this was not possible, she stayed in her crate to utilize her natural desire to not soil her den.”

If you encounter a problem similar to that of my full-grown Yorkie, who was still not house trained at nine years old, Primm offers some advice.

“Older dogs with elimination problems should be thoroughly worked up by a vet to rule out medical causes. Nothing damages a human-animal bond like inappropriate elimination. Once the medical causes have been ruled out, the same rebuilding of good habits will work on an older dog. The idea is to maximize their natural tendency to not soil their den and gradually increase the trusted area until the ‘den’ is the whole house.”

Source: Dogster 

How To Puppy-Proof Your Home

How To Puppy-Proof Your Home

Prior to bringing home a new puppy, you are going to want to make sure that your house is puppy-proof. Puppy-proofing your house before your bundle of joy comes home is important because it can prevent them from sniffing out a whole bunch of trouble.

You can start puppy-proofing a house by walking around your entire home and yard and imagining what a puppy could eat, climb or pull down. Then put away or secure those things.

Don’t forget to get down on your knees so you can see your home from your puppy’s perspective, which might help you discover hidden dangers. And remember, anything you’d take away from a toddler, you should keep out of reach from your new puppy, too. 

TRASH

Hide your trash cans and diaper pails in closets or get securely locking lids. Also watch out for any trash or recycling that might be strewn around the house, such as aluminum foil, plastic wrap, cans with sharp edges, and even plastic canisters—which puppies can get their heads caught in.

Trash cans also contain plenty of food hazards for curious puppies. Raisins, grapes, onions, garlic, chocolate and other items that puppies might find in the garbage can be toxic to dogs. You should also make sure all food is stored in cupboards and not out on kitchen counters.

ELECTRICAL

Invest in covers for your outlets—puppies can lick these and end up seriously hurting themselves. You should also get covers to secure wires and strands of lights, especially around the holidays. Puppies are known for chewing, so you will want to puppy-proof the wires in your home before your puppy can get their teeth near them.

FURNITURE AND DECOR

Secure lamps, bookshelves and decorations that a puppy can pull or knock down. Move any open storage containers—like baskets and crates full of craft supplies, coins, shoes or toys—to a closed closet or up on a high shelf.

WINDOW TREATMENTS

When puppy-proofing a house, you will also need to think of more obscure risks, like your curtains. Low-hanging curtains can become a chewing target that puppies can pull on and potentially rip off the wall, so make sure they are tied up or pulled to the side and out of reach.

The cords for lifting and lowering your curtains can also be potential risks for your puppy. They may try to chew the plastic or get tangled in the strings, which could lead to strangulation.

INDOOR PLANTS

While it is always nice to have some greenery in your home, you will need to consider which plants are safe for puppies. Some plants are toxic for pets and can lead to serious health issues that require a veterinary visit.

No matter which plants you choose, to fully puppy-proof a house, you will need to keep them out of reach of your puppy. This will prevent them from chewing the plant or digging in the dirt.

MEDICATION

Puppies have no problem chewing up childproof lids and ingesting what’s inside. Move all human medications, prescription pet medication and toiletries out of reach.

BATHROOM

Hygiene items found in bathroom trash cans be a hazard for puppies, so opt for a can with a locking lid. Also be sure to keep toilet bowls closed to prevent puppies from drinking from them, as this poses health risks.

CLEANING SUPPLIES

Drain cleaners can be deadly if swallowed, and many other household cleaners are toxic. Secure all of your cleaning supplies in cabinets and get cabinet locks if needed! Do so even if you use products that are labeled as having natural ingredients, as this doesn’t mean they are safe for pets.

CAT SUPPLIES

Make sure that your cat’s bowl, cat food and cat litter box are out of reach. Most dogs can’t resist sampling cat droppings, which can lead to parasite transmission or intestinal obstructions from ingesting the cat litter.

GARAGE/YARD SUPPLIES

Antifreeze can be fatal, so lock it up and clean up spills using a clay-based litter or by hosing the area down thoroughly. Any liquid you keep in the garage, whether it’s fuel or a household cleaner, is probably toxic to dogs (and cats).

Bug sprays, rat poison and herbicides might be fatal if consumed. Don’t use them unless absolutely necessary.

Make sure heavy tools are secure and that small tools like screws and nails are stored high off the ground.

Most importantly, puppies could run though closing garage doors or sleep under parked cars. Always check before operating either machine.

OUTSIDE

While you should always supervise your puppy, it’s important to look for weak spots in your fence and make sure your pool is secured. Drowning is a possibility, even if your puppy can swim. And you’d be surprised how little space they need to crawl out of a secure yard! 

Source: PetMD 

Help! My Puppy is Chewing Everything!

New Puppy

Yay! Congratulations on your new puppy!  It's so exciting bringing home a new bundle of joy.  You're so excited, tons of cute puppy selfies and cuddles! Awesome! And now they're chewing your favorite pair of shoes...and the children's toys...and your phone cord...and your hands... What do you do now?!

Stop the Chew

First, keep your stuff picked up.  If you don't want it chewed, remember this is a baby and just like you baby proof for a baby, you need to puppy proof too.  Then give your pup appropriate things to chew.  Give them DOG toys.  Don't get them that old sneaker to chew up, it will only confuse them.  Make sure to spend lots of time with your puppy, they won't learn if they are always alone.  Give them tons of exercise and make sure they have great toys to play with.  You can also get a chewing deterrent to spray on your furniture to make it taste bad for your dog.  Make sure that if your pup grabs something they aren't to have do not chase after them.  Call them and offer a treat when they come instead.  By chasing you're creating a game.  

Brushing Your Pet’s Teeth: A Step-by-Step Guide

Brushing Your Pet’s Teeth

Your dog's mouth health can lead to other health problems with them just like it can for humans.  Making sure that your pet's mouth is clean and free of plaque will lead to a healthy pet. 

A Step-by-Step Guide

1.  Find a calm time when your dog can be relaxed.

2. Make sure that you go to your local pet store to get a pet toothbrush.

3. Test out how your dog will react to having their gums and teeth touched before sticking the toothbrush in there. Praise for tolerance! 

4. Introduce the toothbrush by touching it into their mouth before you start the scrub. 

5. Let your pup get a small taste of the toothpaste from your finger.

6. Put toothpaste on the brush and start brushing the top teeth first, front to back. Make sure to praise your pup. 

7. Move to the bottom, front to back.

8. Tons of praise!  If your pup tolerated this well give them treats and make sure they are well rewarded.  After your pup is used to their teeth being brushed start removing treats during the process. 

Watch this video for a visual guild! 

Tricks for Training Your New Puppy - Part 2. Potty Training

Potty Training

No one wants to clean up doggy puddles...or worse.  So how do you make sure that your sweet new puppy won't be leaving you unpleasant gifts?  You potty train them!  

Key Points

Control your puppy's diet.  Make sure you have scheduled feedings and keep the schedule consistent.  Make sure you have regular trips outside, exercise, and feeding times.  Giving your new puppy lots of exercise will also help to keep your puppy's super energy under control and keep them from other bad behaviors.  Use positive reinforcements during outside time.  When your puppy goes potty outside make sure to reward them for it, a ton of praise and love is perfectly fine for this reward, it doesn't have to be food related.  

Techniques 

Crate Training

Teaching your new pup to love their crate is a very beneficial lesson that will help you both out throughout their life.  Dogs naturally love being in a den and creating a space for them will actually be a comfort.  Dogs will also not soil the place that they are sleeping as long as their crate is the right size.  If your crate is too small your puppy won't be comfortable, but too large they can use a corner for their waste and still be comfortable in another area.  Make sure your dog can stand up, lay down, and turn around.   When your puppy starts whining and showing signs they need to go potty take them out right away. 

Puppy pads

These can be confusing for your new puppy, but in some cases such as a very small dog being home for long periods of time while you're at work.  They can be used to teach a puppy to only use the bathroom in this one approved spot and then as they mature they can be trained to only go outside when their body is able. 

Scheduling 

A tiny pup cannot go long after eating or drinking before going potty.  Having a schedule where they go outside first thing in the morning, after each meal, after drinking,  after crate time, after a nap, after chewing on their toys or bones, after spending time playing, and right before bedtime.