Great house training tips

When a dog urinates in an inappropriate area in the absence of a medical problem, it is considered a housetraining problem.

OVERVIEW

All dogs, puppies or rescue dogs, require consistent housetraining. In most cases, it is fairly easy to housetrain a dog if you stick closely to a routine. Unfortunately, housetraining problems or inappropriate toileting are a common reason for why pets are relinquished to shelters. When a dog urinates in an inappropriate area in the absence of a medical problem, it is considered a housetraining problem.

SIGNS

Common forms of inappropriate toileting:

• Inconsistent toilet training
• Preference to puppy toileting habits such as newspaper or puppy pads
• Preference to an area where they have toileted a lot and now has the stimulating scent such as the carpet or mat
• Territorial such as an entire male marking its territory, the introduction of new furniture, new pets, new people
• New location
• Dietary problems such as overfeeding, high-fibre diets
• Musculoskeletal disease that causes the dog pain when squatting
• Anxiety such as separation anxiety, noise phobia

MANAGEMENT

Tips to good housetraining:

• Start toilet training early. Puppies are best able to develop good toileting habits at approximately 8 weeks of age.
• Take the dog to the appropriate toileting area frequently
• Relocate your pet's faecal material to the allocated toilet area
• Take the dog to the toileting area after sleep, play and eating
• Toileting should occur before play
• Choose a few specific toileting areas and stick to them
• Keep your dog on a short leash initially
• Do not give your pet attention until it has toileted
• Reward the pet with praise immediately after toileting
• Do not punish your pet if it toilets inappropriately. But take it immediately to the area where it should toilet
• Be consistent with your toilet training

Minimum toilet breaks

Management of inappropriate toileting involves thorough cleaning of the environment, ensuring your pet is treated for any medical or behavioural condition and the neutering of all household pets.