Quote :Dog Training by Sarah Hodgson
The project of housetraining your dog is straightforward once you decide on the location. A bell to alert you, material to highlight your dog’s potty, and a solution to mask the scent of an accident are all extras that enhance both his understanding and communication.
BELLS
Get your dog to ring a bell when he must go outside to go to the bathroom. Hang a set of bells by the door at your dog’s nose level. Each time you take him out, say OUTSIDE, stop at the door, and tap the bell with your fingertips. If after one week your dog is still not making the connection, lace the bell with a little peanut butter or yogurt ahead of time, and when you bring your dog up to the door, stop and see if he licks it. If not, show it to him. The moment he does lick it, open the door and take him outside.You can also use a bell to teach your dog to signal to come in.
WEE-WEE PADS
If your goal is paper training, you’ll need to designate specific areas in the main rooms you share with your dog. Eventually, you can phase down to one place, as outlined in chapter 10, but initially, you’ll just need to help your dog understand that he must eliminate on a specified absorbent surface. To this end, I recommend using white wee-wee pads and rolling up carpet until this habit is formed. You can purchase wee-wee pads through pet stores or catalogs, or in bulk at a pharmacy, where they are marketed as human inconti- nence pads.
NATURE’S MIRACLE
There are products on the market that can be used to mask the odor of a dog’s housetraining accidents. It’s important to eliminate this scent indoors, as dogs like to go to the bathroom in the same area repeatedly. Nature’s Miracle is the name of the original solution, although your pet store may carry other effective products. A 50-percent mixture of vinegar and water also works well.
Irreplaceable Extras
Several extras make the task of training your dog a fun and rewarding experience for both of you.These items will help you bridge the gap from confusion and chaos to understanding.
TREAT CUPS
There are several uses for a treat cup, all of which will increase your dog’s enthu- siasm for being with you. To make a treat cup, simply cut a hole in the lid of a container and fill the container halfway with your dog’s food, dried cereal, or a favorite snack. Shake the cup and treat your dog ten times in a row to help him connect the sound of the cup shaking with getting a treat.
SNACK PACKS
You can use any generic fanny pack for this purpose. It is simply a hip bag filled with your dog’s favorite treats/dry food. Wearing it gives you instant access to food rewards, and makes you your dog’s focal point. Your dog will return to you and do whatever behavior gets you to open that pouch! In turn, this lets you select the behavior you want your dog to repeat, while eliminating the rest by simply ignoring him. For example, if your goal is to have your dog sit when he wants a treat or attention, ignore every other behavior he might offer you such as pawing, whining, jumping, or barking. Simply pretend he’s not there until he sits politely. Then treat!
SPRAY-AWAY SHOOTERS
Spray-away shooters are meant to startle your dog, but they are not meant to be seen as coming from you. They are useful in correcting nipping, jumping, barking, stealing, and chewing habits. It is important not to spray your dog in the face angrily. Instead, hide the sprayer in your hand so that your dog won’t see it, and spray his legs or torso from behind him so he won’t know it’s coming from you. The three top rated shooters are:
BITTER APPLE
This distasteful solution can be sprayed on objects and clothing to deter nipping and chewing. Place several bottles around your home and spritz objects/people calmly as your dog is chewing/biting them. He will choose to stop chewing these objects/people on his own. In this instance it is not necessary to hide the bottle from your dog, but avoid getting involved. It is simply a cause-and-effect correc- tion that he will learn from on his own.
BREATH SPRAY
A small canister of breath spray fits neatly into a pocket or fanny pack and can be sprayed to deter mouthing or jumping. Never spray your dog in the face or eyes. Simply spray what he is biting, nipping, or jumping toward.
DIRECT STOP
This canister of citronella is more powerful than breath spray and can serve to startle your dog when he is barking or jumping on company, furniture, or coun- ters. You do not want him to see you spraying him. Do it from behind as detailed in the section, “Spray-away Shooters.”
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