​HOUSE TRAINING SKILLS and TOOLS
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TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS

Put a Stop to Potty Accidents in the House
works well with dogs over four months old and healthy

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DID YOU READ OUR LINK TITLED, HOUSE TRAINING ADULT DOGS?  
IF NOT, GO BACK, READ THAT INFORMATION
COME BACK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TETHERING.

SUPERVISION EQUALS TETHERING AND CRATING​

  • Don’t give your dog an opportunity to soil in the house. He should be watched at all times when he’s indoors.
  • Tether him to you with a six-foot leash, or use baby gates, to keep him in the room where you are.
  • Watch for signs that he needs to eliminate, like sniffing around or circling. If you see these signs, immediately
  • take him outside, on a leash, to his bathroom spot.
  • If he eliminates, praise him lavishly and reward him with a treat.​
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CONFINEMENT = CRATE = SUCCESS

When you’re unable to watch your dog at all times, he should be confined to an area small enough that he won’t want to eliminate there. It should be just big enough for him to comfortably stand, lie down and turn around in. This could be a portion of a bathroom or laundry room blocked off with boxes or baby gates. Or you may want to crate train your dog and use the crate to confine him. If he has spent several hours in confinement, when you let him out, take him directly to his bathroom spot and praise him when he eliminates.

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​STOP ! and READ !
​Confinement in small areas, big enough only for him to comfortably stand lie down and turn around in is a crate or small area partitioned in your home TO BE USED FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME NOT (NOT) ALL DAY WHEN YOU ARE AT WORK! 

THIS IS TOOL NOT A WAY OF LIFE FOLKS.
NOTE:  the picture to the left is too much space for a dog when training him to NOT eliminate inside the house.  Dogs will not pee or poop in the area they lie in.  The exception to this is a sick dog, young or old, or a dog that does not have bladder control.  Use a baby gate to partition off a much smaller area or a crate.

OOPS ! Accidents happen

Most dogs, at some point, will have an accident in the house. You should expect this, as it’s a normal part of your dog’s adjustment to his new home.
  • If you catch your dog in the act of eliminating in the house, do something to interrupt him like making a startling noise (don’t scare him). Immediately take him to his bathroom spot, praise him, and give him a treat if he finishes eliminating there.​
  • Don’t punish your dog for eliminating in the house. If you find a soiled area, it’s too late to administer a correction. Do nothing but clean it up. Rubbing your dog’s nose in it, taking him to the spot and scolding him, or any other type of punishment, will only make him afraid of you or afraid to eliminate in your presence. Animals don’t understand punishment after the fact, even if it’s only seconds later. Punishment will do more harm than good.
  • Cleaning the soiled area is very important because dogs are highly motivated to continue soiling in areas that smell like urine or feces.
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POTTY BREAK SCHEDULE BASED ON AGE

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Other types of house soiling problems:
 If you’ve consistently followed the house-training procedures and your dog
continues to eliminate in the house, there may be another reason for his behavior.

Medical problems
House soiling can often be caused by physical problems such as a urinary tract infection or a parasite infection. Check with your veterinarian to rule out any possibility of disease or illness.
Submissive/excitement urination
Some dogs, especially young or old ones, temporarily lose control of their bladders when they become excited or feel threatened. This usually occurs during greetings, intense play or when they’re about to be punished.
Territorial urine marking
Dogs sometimes deposit urine or feces, usually in small amounts, to scent-mark their territory. Both male and female dogs do this, and it most often occurs when they believe their territory has been invaded.

Separation anxiety
Dogs who become anxious when they’re left alone may house soil as a result. Usually, there are other symptoms, such as destructive behavior or vocalization.
Fears or phobias
When animals become frightened, they may lose control of their bladder and/or bowels. If your dog is afraid of loud noises, such as thunderstorms or fireworks, he may house soil when he’s exposed to these sounds.
Copyright Dumb Friends League and Humane Society of the United States. ​
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