Austin Dog Trainer Blog

Very funny!

http://birdloversonly.blogspot.com/2007/09/may-i-have-this-dance.html

More housetraining tips for training your dog or puppy to go outside!

I don't think anyone can ever have too many housetraining tips!  Here are just a few more to add to your arsenal:

Have a specific area that is just for pottying outside and take your dog to this spot each time.  For example, use a small corner of the yard for letting your dog go to the bathroom and then let them play in the rest of the yard AFTER they've pottied.  You can even block off this area with garden fencing.  When we do housetraining board and train at our Austin Dog Training Center, we teach each dog to eliminate on cue.  Although this takes time for them to learn, all of our Austin Board and Train Dogs learn to go as soon as they are taken to their potty spot a lot faster than they learn the potty training cues.  You'll save yourself a lot of frustration by helping your dog learn to go to the bathroom in the same spot too!

Another great thing you can do to help housebreak your dog or puppy is to always take your dog or puppy out to the potty area on a leash.  This helps your dog or puppy distinguish between going to the bathroom inside versus going to the bathroom outside.  A lot of times, the concept of "these four walls make up our house and we don't pee or poop in the house" can be somewhat vague to a dog.  Dogs often decipher what is "the house" by scent, so a room that isn't used very often (like a guest room or formal dining room) may turn into your dog's favorite bathroom simply because there isn't any scent of the family in there (to them, this is outside of the "home").  Being on leash versus off leash is a more clear distinction that your dog can learn more easily.  For example, your dog can learn that you "pay" (with treats, belly rubs, and cheers) for peeing or pooping on a leash but not off leash.  If done properly, that could solve your inside versus outside dilemma!  Just be sure that if you decide to do the on leash versus off leash distinction, you use a crate or babygate to keep your dog near you in the house not a leash - that would confuse matters a little too much!

Cara, Austin Dog Training and Behavior