I tell everyone I have children, a dog, and a cat. These little creatures, all of them, tend to give us a little more excitement than we would like. Our adventures have included trips to the vet and the emergency room. More often than not, the causes of these trips have been instances where we thought we had been careful with our home and its inhabitants.
Our First Dog
In our life before children, Wife and I had a dog. This dog proved to be more than we bargained for, and his behavioral issues forced us to get rid of him. Wife was pregnant, and we weren’t sure our baby would be safe. Our dog tended to growl, and he got territorial around wife.
We made a difficult decision when we decided to give him up. It was tough for both of us. We got him on during our first Christmas in our new house, so there was a little bit of history with us, our dog, and our home.
The Dog and our Porch
One of the issues Wife and I dealt with was potty training. I was reading an article written by A Dog Guide. This story brought back some not-so-great memories of cleaning up pee and poop throughout the house, especially our three-season porch.
This specific area became the dog’s domain. He had a crate there. He liked to pull cushions off of the furniture and play with them. Our dog found the seam to the linoleum, and that was it for the linoleum.
As previously mentioned, there is a lot of work and responsibility when it comes to raising a dog. It’s not like you can toilet-train a dog. The next best thing is to train Man’s Best Friend to ring a bell to let the bipeds know when it’s time to answer nature’s call.
Potty Training Tips for Your Dog
(Source: dogguide.blog)
- Create a Consistent Routine: The Golden Rule of Potty Training
- Choose a Designated Potty Spot
- Use Positive Reinforcement: Reward, Reward, Reward!
- Watch for Potty Signals: Learn Their Language
- Use Crate Training Strategically
- Handle Accidents Calmly (It’s Going to Happen!)
- Stay Patient and Consistent: The Power of Persistence
Treats and Praise
One of the tips to a successful potty-training is to give treats. This was something I didn’t do when we were potty training. My thought was, “Why should I reward the dog for something he was supposed to do anyway? No one gets me a beer every time I have to hit the head.”
Alas, I was doing it wrong. Wife told me this positive reinforcement was necessary when it came to making sure your dog was doing it right. Rewards and treats are one of the imperative things you should be including when trying to train your four-legged friend.
Teaching and training dogs isn’t easy. There are a lot of things to take care of, and the training and frequency will depend on the dog. Smaller dogs mean smaller bladders, so you need to be more vigilant in making sure your pet is properly trained and getting out enough, thereby avoiding piddles.
Outside is best for the Dog and You
When your dog gets outside, they will sniff around for a place to do their business. This makes it that much more important they get outside. If your dog pees or poops inside the house, they will have marked their territory. This means your dog thinks they have a place to do their business from then on. If there is an accident, make sure the area is properly and thoroughly cleaned. Dogguide recommends an enzyme-based cleaner for accidents.
You can start early with your dog. Take them outside and tell them to “Go”. Try to keep a set schedule so the dog will be on a clock and go to the bathroom at the same time every day. A predictable routine will minimize surprise gifts left on the floor. The habit will be engrained in both the dog and the human. This means the animal waste will be out in the yard instead of stinking up your home.
