House training your Dog- Potty Training 101

House training an older dog is not rocket science; patience, understanding and perseverance will go a long way in getting your dog potty trained. Rubbing a dog's nose in a mess is an inappropriate way to house train. Using ample amounts of supervision and positive reinforcement will insure that you continue to develop a positive relationship with your dog. The best way to toilet train an older dog rapidly is to use a crate and supervise him at all time when he is not in the cage. You should be anticipating the dog's needs and preventing him from eliminating inside. Remember you cannot expect him to know automatically what is expected of him; you have to set the rules.

With older dogs, toilet training is usually accomplished quickly as their bladders are mature and they can physically hold themselves for long periods of time. If you older dog resists holding himself with this technique, consult your veterinarian to make certain that his incontinence is not a physical condition.

The first course of action in housetraining is to promote the desired behavior.

You need to:
• Designate an appropriate elimination area outdoors
• Frequently guide your dog there to do his business
• Heartily praise him when he goes
By occasionally giving a food reward immediately after your dog finishes, you can encourage him to eliminate in the desired area. The odor left from previous visits to that area will quickly mark it as the place for the pup to do his business.

Timing is critical
Older dogs should be taken out:
• After waking in the morning
• After naps
• After meals
• After playing or training
• After being left alone
• Immediately before being put to bed

Eliminating On Command
To avoid spending a lot of time waiting for your dog to get the job done, you may want to teach him to eliminate on command. Each time he is in the act of eliminating, simply repeat a unique command, such as "hurry up" or "potty", in an upbeat tone of voice. After a few weeks of training, you will notice that when you say the command your dog will begin pre-elimination sniffing, circling, and then eliminate shortly after you give the command. Be sure to praise him for his accomplishments.

Feeding Schedules
Most dogs will eliminate within an hour after eating. Once you take control of your dog's feeding schedule, you will have some control over when he needs to eliminate.
• Schedule your dog's dinner times so that you will be available to let him out after eating.
• Avoid giving him a large meal just prior to confining him or he may have to eliminate when you are not around to take him out. Schedule feedings two times daily on a consistent schedule.
• Have food available for only 10 to 15 minutes, then remove it.
• The last feeding of the day should be completed several hours before he is confined for the night. By controlling the feeding schedule, exercise sessions, confinement periods, and trips outdoors to the elimination area, your dog will quickly develop a reliable schedule for eliminating.

Avoiding mistakes by anticipating the dog's next move
Left on his own, the untrained dog is very likely to make a mistake. Close supervision is a very important part of training. Do not consider your dog housetrained until he has gone at least four consecutive weeks without eliminating in the house.
Until then:
• Your dog should constantly be within eyesight;
• Baby gates can be helpful to control movement throughout the house and to aid supervision;
• Keep them in the crate when unsupervised.
When you are away from home, sleeping, or if you are just too busy to closely monitor your pet's activities, confine him to a small, safe area in the home.

Nervous Wetting - submissive peeing
If your dog squats and urinates when he greets you, he may have a problem called submissive urination. Dogs and puppies that urinate during greetings are very sensitive and should never be scolded when they do this, since punishment inevitably makes the problem worse.
Most young puppies will grow out of this behavior if you are calm, quiet, and avoid reaching toward the head during greetings. Another helpful approach is to calmly ask your dog to sit for a very tasty treat each time someone greets him. If the problem persists see your veterinarian to make sure the condition isn't physical if that is ruled out the consult a competent trainer to assess your dog.

Direct Him Away from Problem Areas
Urine and fecal odor should be thoroughly removed to keep your dog from returning to areas of the home where he made a mess.
• Be sure to use a good commercial product manufactured specifically to clean up doggy odors. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for usage.
• If a carpeted area has been soaked with urine, be sure to saturate it with the clean up product and not merely spray the surface.
• Rooms in the home where your dog has had frequent mistakes should be closed off for several months. He should only be allowed to enter when accompanied by a family member.

Don't Make Things Worse
It is a rare dog or puppy that can be housetrained without making an occasional mess, so you need to be ready to handle the inevitable problems.
• Do not rely on harsh punishment to correct mistakes. This approach usually does not work, and may actually delay training.
• An appropriate correction consists of simply providing a moderate, startling distraction. You should only do this when you see your dog in the act of eliminating in the wrong place.
• A sharp noise, such as a loud "No" or a quick stomp on the floor, is all that is usually needed to stop the behavior. Just do not be too loud or your pet may learn to avoid eliminating in front of you, even outdoors.

Patience is your greatest ally
Do not continue to scold or correct your dog after he has stopped soiling. When he stops, quickly take him outdoors so that he will finish in the appropriate area and be praised.
Never rub your dog's nose in a mess. There is absolutely no way this will help training, and may actually make him afraid of you.

Your perseverance is rewarded
The basic principles of house training are pretty simple, but a fair amount of patience is required. The most challenging part is always keeping an eye on your active dog or puppy. If you maintain control, take your dog outdoors frequently, and consistently praise the desirable behavior, soon you should have a house trained canine companion.

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