Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Potty Training Older Dogs
For those of you that chose to adopt a pet that is full grown, one of your main concerns is probably housebreaking. Though it is somewhat more difficult, you can certainly teach an old dog new tricks. To effectively potty train a dog, you must first understand how it collects information from its surroundings in order to make a decision on the best place to go to the bathroom. Dogs are extremely particular about where they place their excrement, and they always follow their nose to the right spot.
Almost eighty percent of a dog’s cognitive sensation comes through the sense of smell. All of the remaining 4 senses only make up twenty percent. For this reason, dogs use their nose to make most of their decisions about their environment, including where they “do their business.” The ancestors of our modern day domestic dogs used their urine to mark their territories and warn competitors. This trait has passed on from the survival needs of wolves and thus continues on in the daily lives of our pets.
Dogs are extremely aware of the last location in which they went potty by using their sense of smell. They will often return to this place regularly, after meals, in the morning, etc. Most dogs are very consistent about when they go, so it is important to note the times that are regular for your dog. Pay close attention after meals, in the mornings, and after your dog wakes up from a nap. The goal is to recognize when your dog needs to potty so that you can guide it to the best place to do the deed. Closely observing your dog for at least two weeks and successfully leading it to a good spot will almost always do the trick. It doesn’t take more than two or three weeks to program this idea into your dog’s mind so that it will remember on its own.
What about when your dog messes up? Accidents happen, and even trained dogs go where they are not supposed to sometimes. How you deal with this largely depends on when you are able to catch them. If you can spot your dog in the act, you can say “No,” firmly and move your dog to their proper spot as quickly as possible. If you are too late and simply come upon their accident later on, you must never punish your dog. No amount of yelling or rubbing their nose in the mess will help your dog remember what it is they did to make you so angry. This will only cause your dog to fear your irrational anger. Instead, you must concentrate on changing the scent that was left behind. You can take a newspaper or towel to wipe up a bit of the urine and then smear it in the place where your dog should have gone, and then you should clean up the accident thoroughly. You will need to use some type of cleaner that does not contain ammonia (which reminds animals of urine) and that removes pet stains. This will serve to erase their memory of going in the wrong spot and reinforce their desire to go in the correct spot.
If your dog has any trouble with potty training, it is certainly worth it to keep a good bottle of pet stain removal, that removes odors, with your other cleaning supplies. It is one of the most valuable tools for training an older dog to go outside. Potty training an older dog just takes a certain diligence. If you monitor well, it will really only take two weeks of hassle to enjoy years without accidents. Don’t let potty training scare you from getting an older dog. There are plenty that need a good home to live in.
About the Author: Dean Burton is the owner of MyDreamPuppy.com, a leading provider of dogs for sale. Adopt a pet that would be great for families or personal companionship. For more information, please visit MyDreamPuppy.com.
Almost eighty percent of a dog’s cognitive sensation comes through the sense of smell. All of the remaining 4 senses only make up twenty percent. For this reason, dogs use their nose to make most of their decisions about their environment, including where they “do their business.” The ancestors of our modern day domestic dogs used their urine to mark their territories and warn competitors. This trait has passed on from the survival needs of wolves and thus continues on in the daily lives of our pets.
Dogs are extremely aware of the last location in which they went potty by using their sense of smell. They will often return to this place regularly, after meals, in the morning, etc. Most dogs are very consistent about when they go, so it is important to note the times that are regular for your dog. Pay close attention after meals, in the mornings, and after your dog wakes up from a nap. The goal is to recognize when your dog needs to potty so that you can guide it to the best place to do the deed. Closely observing your dog for at least two weeks and successfully leading it to a good spot will almost always do the trick. It doesn’t take more than two or three weeks to program this idea into your dog’s mind so that it will remember on its own.
What about when your dog messes up? Accidents happen, and even trained dogs go where they are not supposed to sometimes. How you deal with this largely depends on when you are able to catch them. If you can spot your dog in the act, you can say “No,” firmly and move your dog to their proper spot as quickly as possible. If you are too late and simply come upon their accident later on, you must never punish your dog. No amount of yelling or rubbing their nose in the mess will help your dog remember what it is they did to make you so angry. This will only cause your dog to fear your irrational anger. Instead, you must concentrate on changing the scent that was left behind. You can take a newspaper or towel to wipe up a bit of the urine and then smear it in the place where your dog should have gone, and then you should clean up the accident thoroughly. You will need to use some type of cleaner that does not contain ammonia (which reminds animals of urine) and that removes pet stains. This will serve to erase their memory of going in the wrong spot and reinforce their desire to go in the correct spot.
If your dog has any trouble with potty training, it is certainly worth it to keep a good bottle of pet stain removal, that removes odors, with your other cleaning supplies. It is one of the most valuable tools for training an older dog to go outside. Potty training an older dog just takes a certain diligence. If you monitor well, it will really only take two weeks of hassle to enjoy years without accidents. Don’t let potty training scare you from getting an older dog. There are plenty that need a good home to live in.
About the Author: Dean Burton is the owner of MyDreamPuppy.com, a leading provider of dogs for sale. Adopt a pet that would be great for families or personal companionship. For more information, please visit MyDreamPuppy.com.
Labels: adopt a pet, dogs for sale
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