People do not realize how common the problem of dog potty training is until they find out that entire books have been written on this topic alone. Every owner is faced with this problem at one time or the other. If you are a new owner and have just brought home a soft, cuddly puppy, then the time to do it is now. However, if you have owned a canine pet for some time and are frustrated with the problem of trying to teach him the mannerism for proper elimination, there is still hope. Yes, it is possible to teach old dog new tricks and yes it is possible to teach your best friend not to dirty the carpet or make a mess in any other area of your home.
There are three things that you need to know about your canine friend and this battle would already be won.
Man’s Best Friend Is A Denning Animal
In order to make your dog potty training successful, you need to realize that your pet, even though domesticated, still has a Denning instinct. This den can be anything – a cave in the mountains, a hole in the ground, a couch in a living room, or a kennel in the corner of a room. Naturally, they like to keep their dens clean. Use this knowledge to your advantage. A house pet should know that the house they live in is their den and in order to eliminate they need to go out or use one designated area.
These Canine Pets Are Pack Animals
Potty training for dogs can be really difficult if they think they are the head of the family and not the other way around. A pack has a definite structure and the head leads the pack in everything. The will of the head rules the pack. Therefore, it is crucial that your friend knows who the head of his pack is. You can establish this by not serving the dinner to him first. Also, do not feed him from your plate. Let him wait and serve the food in a designated place and at the same time every day. This will serve two purposes – your furry friend will know that you are the head of the pack and that he needs to obey you. Also, the regular food timings will help him in having regulated bowl movements. Most important tip for dog potty training – almost all of them will need to eliminate somewhere between 5 to 30 minutes of eating! With practice, he and you both will learn when to go outside or to the designated place for the call of the nature.
Your Best Friend Do Not Speak Your Language
Even though they bark, growl, and whine; these furry pets do not speak or understand our language. They do respond to our verbal communication. However, it is truly just because of their amazing ability to respond to the tone and emotion in our voice. Their communication is always through what we call ‘body language.’ Watch them wag their tail and sometimes almost their entire back. No prizes for guessing what they are communicating. Learn to interpret their body language. Look for the signs – strong sniffing, squatting, circling, and/or arching of the back. They are all pointers for you to rush and take your pet either outside or to the designated area for elimination.
Positive reinforcement of good habits and behavior and knowledge of your pet’s true nature will surely help you in dog potty training. It is a very common problem faced by almost all owners and a few accidents are bound to happen. So have patience, be firm, and above all; be persistent. You will win this battle and have a ‘housebroken’ dog in no time.
