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Housetraining Question for Dr. McConnell
Dear Dr. McConnell:
We are desperate! We got a terrier mix from our local shelter a couple of months ago. He's a great dog in every other way, but we have had absolutely no luck in house training him. He was surrendered to the shelter because of "accidents". We're concerned because he's now six-months old and not completely house trained yet. What are we doing wrong? Can this problem be fixed?
Signed...Soggy in the Suburbs
Dear Soggy:
House training a dog or puppy can be very frustrating. There is no magic age when a dog "should" be completely house trained, and many factors play a part in the success of this important milestone. Some dogs can be more challenging than others. Some dogs have had negative experiences in previous house training attempts, and some dogs just don't seem to get the whole house-training concept as fast as others.
Here's one invaluable tip you can use right now: Give your dog a tasty treat immediately after she goes to the bathroom outside (don't wait for her to come back to the house!) The moment she begins to go potty outside, say "good girl" and pop the tasty morsel into her mouth. That way, she'll associate the treat and going potty outside, and will be more likely to go out of her way to eliminate on the grass instead of the carpet.
Have hope! There are many things you can do, and NOT do, to help your dog learn a lifetime of good potty habits. Whether you have an older dog that simply needs to "fine tune" his bathroom etiquette, a dog that's never been house trained, or a brand new puppy that needs to start out on the right paw, Way to Go! has many more good ideas to ensure that you and your dog agree on the location of the bathroom! It is filled with practical advice, including:
~ a step-by-step plan to get your dog to eliminate outside
~ tips for knowing when your dog needs to go outside
~ how to handle accidents in the house
~ how to completely eliminate house soiling odors so your PET
can't smell them
~ how to teach your dog to eliminate on cue
House training a dog or puppy can be very frustrating. There is no magic age when a dog "should" be completely house trained, and many factors play a part in the success of this important milestone. Some dogs can be more challenging than others. Some dogs have had negative experiences in previous house training attempts, and some dogs just don't seem to get the whole house-training concept as fast as others.
Here's one invaluable tip you can use right now: Give your dog a tasty treat immediately after she goes to the bathroom outside (don't wait for her to come back to the house!) The moment she begins to go potty outside, say "good girl" and pop the tasty morsel into her mouth. That way, she'll associate the treat and going potty outside, and will be more likely to go out of her way to eliminate on the grass instead of the carpet.
Have hope! There are many things you can do, and NOT do, to help your dog learn a lifetime of good potty habits. Whether you have an older dog that simply needs to "fine tune" his bathroom etiquette, a dog that's never been house trained, or a brand new puppy that needs to start out on the right paw, Way to Go! has many more good ideas to ensure that you and your dog agree on the location of the bathroom! It is filled with practical advice, including:
~ a step-by-step plan to get your dog to eliminate outside
~ tips for knowing when your dog needs to go outside
~ how to handle accidents in the house
~ how to completely eliminate house soiling odors so your PET
can't smell them
~ how to teach your dog to eliminate on cue
