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DOG TOILET TRAINING

Training dogs to do tricks can be very difficult. Sometimes, it is hard to train dogs to play dead. It is also hard to tell them to fetch sticks or roll over. But one of the most difficult things to teach a dog to do is to engage in proper toilet use.

Toilet training of dogs should start from the moment the dog enters your house, preferably while the dog is still a puppy. It can be really hard, but once the results are yielded, you will feel more than very blessed for having a house that’s clean and free of bad odors. In your quest to have a dog that’s toilet wise, here are some tips to follow:

a.    Be very patient. As the dog trainer, you should be equipped with lots of patience. Dogs are lovable and quite cute but they can be very stubborn and reluctant as well. At a young age, dogs usually eliminate at least five times a day. They gorge themselves with sleeping, feeding, drinking, and lots of playing, and on top of these - they eliminate every four to five hours after every activity. This is why you need to start teaching the puppy where to eliminate while he/she is young. The practice of proper toilet use makes such things a habit. Likewise, the practice of letting the dog eliminate whenever or wherever he/she pleases to do so encourages the habit of no toilet training at all.

b.    Familiarize your dog with a spot. When you start teaching your puppy where he/she should do the elimination, choose a certain spot where you would take him/her. Never have different places for each time your dog eliminates because that can cause confusion. When taking your puppy to the same spot, make sure that he/she gets familiarized with the smell and the appearance of the area. The odor will remind the dog what should be done while he/she is in the spot.

c.    Practice positive reinforcement. Punishment would do but positive reinforcement is much better. When your dog eliminates in the right spot, offer rewards. The most common of which is a dog biscuit or any dog food your dog favors. You can also cuddle your dog, praise him/her, or give your dog a pat. If your dog eliminates in the restricted area, do punish him/her but make sure that the reason for the punishment is clear.

d.    Be there for your dog. Your dog cannot do the training alone. Your pet needs guidance. Thus, you should make yourself wary of the signs indicating that your dog needs to eliminate. These include squatting, circling, sniffing around, scratching the floor, whimpering, sneaking off and looking for the exit, and sniffing the floor. Upon the early signs, you should immediately take the dog to the ‘elimination’ site.

e.    Make sure the reason is clear. When you punish your dog or you offer rewards for the dog when toilet training, be sure that the dog associates the reward/punishment with his toilet behavior. Offer rewards or give the punishment immediately after the elimination is done. Do not let the dog link the punishment with your presence because this can only lead to fear of eliminating when you are around.