So you have a new dog and are wondering about house training. Understanding a few fundamentals will help make training easier and more effective.
First, remember that the wolf is the ancestor to all dogs. Wolves commonly live in dens, which are usually holes in the ground. It is their nest site, and as the old saying goes, animals usually do not soil their nests.
You can use this information in house training by buying an appropriately sized crate for your dog. Get one that is airline approved in case you need to transport your dog. Crate size is important. If it is too large, the dog may simply void at one end and sleep at the other. Buy a crate appropriate for the dog’s adult size and place a box or divider in it. This gives the puppy that small cozy feeling, but with enough room to get up and turn around. It can then be changed to accommodate the dog once it is fully grown.
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If a dog voids in its kennel, it has either been left too long without an opportunity to void elsewhere, it has too much room or has a medical condition that prevents it from holding its urine or bowel contents. If the latter is suspected, take it to your veterinarian.
Encourage your dog to make the crate its own place of security and comfort by feeding it in the crate, placing toys in it, playing with the dog in its crate and leaving the door open so the dog can go in and out at its leisure. Leave it in the crate for short periods of time and reward good behaviour with play, treats and a happy tone of voice.
Immediately after any activity, such as eating, drinking, playing and waking, take the dog outside.
This is usually the time dogs need to void. When outside, train it to void on command by telling it “go pee,” “go outside” or other short commands. When it does go, give lots of praise. Praise is a key ingredient to success. Scolding, hitting or other adverse behaviour will not work and will simply make your dog afraid of you.
Regular schedules of feeding and daily routines will help it get the message.
When outside the crate, the dog needs to be in the same room as you so that you can observe it at all times. Do this by blocking the escape routes out of the room. It will do a bit of sniffing and then go into a squatting position just before voiding. Watch carefully for the clues your dog will give you.
This is the time to intervene with a clap of the hands or by calling its name. The purpose is to interrupt behaviour and not to scare the dog. Following the interruption, take the dog outside immediately.
If you are too late, clean up the mess and do not make a big fuss. Young dogs have about a three second attention span so if you do not catch them in the act, they will not associate your behaviour with theirs.
Also, just like young children, puppies cannot store their waste products for long periods of time, which means they have an increased frequency of voiding.
If you house train your dog before it is 14 weeks old, you are ahead of the game. If not, remember to be persistent and consistent. And remember your veterinarian is there to help with house training or any other behavioural issues you may encounter. Happy holidays.
Daryl Meger is a veterinarian and outdoors enthusiast in a mixed animal practice in Westlock, Alta.
