Success with House Training Your Adult Dog

Shouldn’t an adult dog know where to go?
Ideally, yes. And dogs are naturally clean animals. Given a choice, they will go to the bathroom well away from where they sleep and eat. But it is not at all obvious to dogs that carpets and floors are inappropriate toilets—or that the bathroom rules in one place apply everywhere else.

Teach your new family member to distinguish between indoors and outdoors by getting her to go in a designated area and then rewarding her with treats and praise. With a little patience and supervision, your dog will soon be fully versed in toilet etiquette.

The 3 rules for house-training success.

Prevent Accidents.

Supervise your dog in the house.

Use a crate when you are not sure if your dog is empty.

Reward your dog for going outside.
Praise at the right moment, i.e. the second she starts ‘going’.
Reward with a treat after she is finished eliminating in the desired spot!

How to house-train.

Step 1. Take your dog outside on leash. Take her to the same place every time.

Step 2. When she goes, praise. Offer her a treat when she is finished.

Step 3. If you are in a dog-safe place, let her off the leash for a little playtime.

If she doesn’t go within 5 minutes, skip playtime and put her in her crate for 10-20 minutes, then try again. (This is to avoid an accident, not to punish.)

A house-training checklist.

• Take your dog to her potty place first thing in the morning, last thing before bed, shortly after meals, naps, or play sessions, when she comes out of her crate and, in the case of a puppy, every hour or so.
• Until your dog is perfectly house-trained, always go outside with her so you can cheer and reward at the right moment. (Over please)
• Supervise whenever your dog is not crated, especially if she is full. If you must take your eyes off her, even for a minute, crate her or put her in her confinement area.
• If you see your dog sniffing and turning in circles in the house, take her out immediately.

How to handle house-training mistakes.
Interrupt mistakes as they are happening. Don’t be too harsh or your dog will be afraid to go in front of you. After interrupting your dog, hustle her outside to the potty area. Praise if she finishes here. Clean up the indoor mess with an enzymatic cleaner to remove protein residue that might attract her to the same place again.

Never punish. If your dog made the mistake one hour or five seconds ago, you are too late. Don’t rub her nose in her own mess or smack her, this will simply make her afraid of you, and she won’t understand why you do it. You must catch her in the act for the interruption to work, and again, you can’t do it too harshly or your dog will be afraid to go in front of you.

When do I give my dog free run of the house?
At first, confine her to one room at a time. Choose a tiled room, like the kitchen or the bathroom, so accidents can be easily cleaned. Add a room each week as your dog is successful (accident-free), and supervise each time you introduce her to a new room (accident-free), and supervise each time you introduce to a new room (accident-free) until eventually your dog can have access to all the rooms in your home.

Training Tip: Don’t think that confinement and crating is too strict on your dog. You are doing her a big favor. Investing a few short weeks of effort nets you a lifetime of freedom for your dog—and you don’t have to replace your carpet.

Troubleshooting: If a house-trained dog suddenly has accidents, call your veterinarian. Your dog could have a bladder infection or another medical problem.

Traveling With Pets – Some General Guidelines

Whenever vacations are in the horizon, the question about bringing our pets along or not come up. There are times, of course, where the vacation or the trip might not be conducive to bringing our pets in tow, but what about those vacations that we get to plan ourselves?

The biggest mistake I think people make when including their dog in their vacation plans is exactly that - not really including their pet in on the vacation, and as a result not thinking about their pet’s needs. It goes without saying that if we cannot take care of our dog’s needs when traveling it is always best to leave him behind with someone that will.

Here are some of my recommendations to ensure that your dog’s needs are being met while on the road:

Plan the activities in your vacation with your pet in mind since, after all, he is coming along. For example, consider where you would leave your dog for a couple of hours if he cannot accompany you on some of the activities. If you are visiting friends, is he familiar with the surroundings? Are there other pets that he likes and gets along well with, or they just met? If the dogs are truly not trusted friends do not leave your dog unattended with the other dog or with any other pet for that matter. I know it is tempting to think that they will be “fine” and they might, but they might not.

If you’re staying in a hotel is your dog crate trained? By crate trained I mean that your dog can remain in his crate comfortably for as long as you need to leave them in the crate. Another consideration here is the size of the crate. Not because you’re traveling should you compromise on the size of the crate you are bringing along. Your dog should be able to turn around inside the crate, stretch all the way and even stand! Anything else from this and you are compromising your pup’s well-being.

Another option, of course, might be leaving your dog in the car. Once again, your dog’s safety and comfort should be your number 1 priority! People often underestimate that the temperature outside might translate to a very cold temperature for their dog in the car if his stay is prolonged. It is not the same to be walking and going in and out of the elements - as in the case of doing some shopping - than staying in cold weather without the possibility of moving. The same precautions should be considered for hot temperatures. My rule of thumb is that my dogs are NEVER left inside the car if the temperature is above 60 degrees. And they are not left in the car for more than 1 hr. without a coat if the temperature is 40 degrees or below.

Part of being on vacation implies more freedom with routine and schedules. Dogs thrive
on structure sprinkled with novelty here and there. For this reason, it is important that you keep your dog’s routine when it comes to feeding times, exercise and activity selection as close as possible to the routine when at home.

Before deciding to bring your dog along consider if they will be other dogs in the mix. Plan ahead! The crazy idea that dogs enjoyed interacting with unknown dogs is really blown out of proportion. It is possible, of course, that your dog enjoys meeting new friendly dogs. Either way, make sure your dog has alone time and that his meals are served privately. Paying attention to details like these could make the difference between having a fun visit or a dogfight in your midst.

How about your dog’s exercise needs? Again, not because your routine is non-existent should it mean that your dog should go with too little or too much physical as well as mental stimulation. Please be mindful that your dog’s physical condition due to lack of activity, experience in the particular activity that you choose to engage while vacationing, or just age can undermine him.

I just visited with a couple that shared in laughter that on a recent vacation their dog was unable to move the next day because they decided to take their dog mountain biking. They thought it was funny (or perhaps they were laughing out of guilt!) that their dog was so sore he could not even get up the following day.

Once again, considering the terrain where your dog will participate in outdoor activities is important. Is it too cold? Should your dog wear some protective gear? Is it so hot that your dog’s paws are compromised? By the way, dogs can only control their body temperature via their paws and panting so be mindful of this. If it is hot your dog should not wear protective “booties” – something I wish manufactures of these would mention in the how-to of their product.

If hiking with your dog is your thing make sure your dog has a very reliable recall (he comes when called). Being in brand new surrounding stimulates some dogs to the point of taking off in a matter that they normally do not do when hiking in known territory. On the same note, know what kind of wildlife, if any, or roads might present a danger to your dog should he decide to go off exploring.
Our rule of thumb is that if and when our dogs travel with us, we plan the vacation and activities with them in mind. Sure, at times it can put a bit of a damper on what we would like to do but after all it is our choice to bring them and one our dogs cannot make on their own. It might mean that we order take out and eat in the hotel room so that they are not left unattended. Or that we cut short the window shopping so that they do not remain too long in the car. They get leash walks and when appropriate off-leash romps. Their meals remain at the same time followed by their chewy; just like we do at home. We bring their beds along and a blanket from home should they decide they want to jump on the extra bed - a privileged allowed while on vacation.

As a result of our guidelines we have truly enjoyed some of these vacations the most because they are with us and they too get to share in what we do. It should go without saying that we are always responsible for our dog’s well-being so extending this notion when considering if we should travel with them or not is not only good old common sense, but also what our dogs deserve from us.

The Power of the Crate

One of the things on some dog owner’s list is to crate train their dogs. Most of my client’s dogs are either crate trained or are in the process of being so. Besides the added benefit of helping a puppy with house training, crate training an adult dog comes with a lot of perks for the dog.
So what does crate training mean?

By definition if a dog is crate trained it enjoys spending time in his crate. If this is not true, then the dog is not properly crated trained. Period.

When a dog is taught that his crate is a great place to hang out, get treats etc. then it is for sure an added bonus to his well-being and an excellent managing tool for the people. However, a crate should never be used as a means to “control” an exuberant dog for lack of proper exercise and mental stimulation. It is in fact a tool and not a way of life for the dog. Much has been said about crates being like dens for dogs and I agree as long as the dog enjoys being in the crate otherwise it would be more like a “prison-cell” - not a romantic idea.

Crates allow us to feed dogs valuable items without having them compete – or worse fight over resources. They can also keep them quiet and hopefully entertained when visitors come to the home or in my case when clients and their pups come to train.

My dogs have been taught that the crate is a good place to be. I crate trained them by serving them either their meals in a Kong or putting something really irresistible such as sardines and banana chips - I know, what a combination - as a mid-day snack. In addition they get to chew on a juicy bone several times a week.

If your dog tends to bark at visitors at the front door, the crate is a great way of having your dog practice some quiet behaviors. If he is busy chewing or munching on something delicious, the chances are that he aint’ barking!

Once the dog has been crated trained, I like to have the crate available to them so that they can go in them at will. It is a perfect indication of the dog needing some “alone time” say.

Crates are also super valuable in the car. Hands-down the safest way to have them travel. It is also a great tool for those dogs that love to bark or worse lunge at people or dogs approaching the car. In these instances, the crate can serve as a visual barrier, blocking some of the action from the dog and thus making him less inclined to bark or lunge.

When traveling, the crate doubles as “home away from home”; I most definitively would love to be able to bring my bed along on trips! This is now possible for your dog with the (not-so-new) batch of portable crates.

Can You Do That?

Have you noticed that your dog(s) is more active in the morning and gets a second wind in the evening? That’s because they are crepuscular creatures. I am wondering if it has to do with their past and their hunting needs...

Last week early in the morning before 7am, I was out with both Deuce, Laika, and our foster intern, Louie. Not knowing if Louie was house-trained (He is. Phew!) I wanted to take no chances, so he eliminated as soon as he came out of the crate where he spent the entire night.

The dogs, happy for a brand new day (what a projection I’m thinking!), were running and playing with the big stuffed animals left outside from the previous day. Is there something more fun than seeing your dogs exuberant and carefree? Especially if the one in your care is a dog that was previously not doing so well at the shelter? In fact, Louie was going to be put down because he was so frighten that he would move away from people in an attempt to get a little room - a little safety.

This morning I had my phone with me and I caught them in full swing in a hot game of tug and play. Watch closely and you will see a very interesting thing: Deuce begins to scratch/dig the sand while Louie (the all black dog) is horsing around with Laika. When he sees Deuce digging, he begins to scratch on the soft sand with Deuce watching attentively. So, the question is: Was Louie digging just after seeing Deuce out of sheer imitation? Do dogs imitate one another? Or, could it be that it's just another form of pro-social behavior? A la “How fun! We are kinda’ digging together.” So let's consider the first question: Can dogs imitate?

This question has scientists investigating. First off, we need to define what we mean by “imitating." According to Dictonary.com, [to] imitate is defined as:

To follow or endeavor to follow as a model, or example.
To mimic; impersonate.
To make a copy of; reproduce closely.
To have or assume the appearance of; simulate; resemble.

However, in true imitation an animal watches and then performs a novel behavior. Well then, by this definition, Louie is NOT imitating Deuce when digging.

The scientific literature on animal behavior and learning is way complex surrounding the topic of imitation and other social related activities between animals. So involved that we could have an entire blog post just dedicated to the experimentation, studies, and conclusions of these behaviors and their circumstances.

Now, most likely what is taking place with Deuce beginning to dig and Louie following is a phenomenon known as stimulus enhancement. It is a form of: "Come check this out.... waaay cool!" So, one animal observes another engaging in a behavior in a specific location and it is motivated to come see for himself. In this instance, Louie engages in digging but then decides that running is more fun and takes off. Stimulus enhancement I believe is a fantastic way of solidifying social bonds. Dog friendships, just like ours, get “stronger” when they get to do enjoyable things together.

Please come join us…our dogs are friendly…

This weekend we went sightseeing with Laika and Deuce in tow. As we found ourselves on top of the hill overlooking Villanueva Sate Park, we spotted a couple with two off-leash labs. Funny because I had just told John that one of the things that I love about New Mexico is that you can literally go hiking and not see anyone else – which is so different from hiking in northern California.

As John is yelling at the couple that it is okay for them to approach us, I stood in disbelief. Wait a second. I starting thinking: I realize you are one of the most gregarious people I know in the whole world, but don’t you remember that Laika is not comfortable when she is on a leash and a strange dog approaches her???

Lucky for us, the couple had other plans or common sense when it comes to on leash/off leash dog meetings, and they took a different path. We then continued hopping along down the path as I was thinking of the countless times people put their dogs in situations that the dog cannot handle. I believe for the most part that people are just unaware that their dog is stressed or plainly afraid as they insist that the dog…..(fill in the dots with any situation).

Keeping your dog safe and their lives stress free (as humanly possible, since stress is a part of life) takes awareness and commitment! This means that we first know our dog well and that we treat him/her as an individual. This is even more important if there is more than one dog in the family as it is easy to think of them as a “team” or a “group”. Dogs are as individuals as humans are (really)! And as such, they have different needs, so paying attention to these differences is really important.

Here is a list of situations that are typically stressful for (most) dogs:

1. Crowded spaces. For example, the art fair crawling with people and other leashed or loose pets.
2. Noisy environments such as your 3-year-old birthday party… ouch!
3. An unfamiliar place. For example,  a hotel room when you go out to dinner. Yes, having your dog comfortable in his/her crate is such a nice alternative- if your dog is crated trained.
4. A dog that cannot escape any situation that from the dog’s point of view is threatening. That could be a reaching hand towards your “hand-shy” dog, just being petted by a stranger when your dog is really not that keen on strangers, or a specific demographic: men, women, toddlers, Asians… you get the picture.
5. Extreme temperatures.
And the list goes on.

This brings me to the topic of advocacy or parenting of your dog. When you know that your dog is uncomfortable in a given situation, take action! Remind the people approaching to stop moving towards your dog. Sweeten the nail-clipping session by using counter-conditioning: One nail clipped, one special treat, second nail clipped, special treat. ALWAYS following this order: scary/stressful stimulus followed by a reinforcement, which is something your dog really likes or would work for. In this example, it is totally appropriate to perhaps cut only one nail if your dog is really resistant to having his/her paws handled or nails trimmed. Come back in half an hour or even the next day to complete the task!

 If these sort of efforts sound daunting, just think of the time when someone (think: intimidating boss, perfectionist teacher) cut YOU a break. Ah, not only were you grateful, but you probably excelled at the task at hand or learned more rapidly and effortlessly. The difference, of course, between us being in a testy situation and our dogs in a similarly uncomfortable situation is that we have more agency, that is: more ways of saying no! Our dogs unfortunately do not.