THIS IS AWESOME! My favorite dog trainer and dog whisperer of all time has just released a free video online explaining how to eliminate 94% of all unwanted behavior in ANY dog. Her name is Krista Cantrell and I absolutely LOVE the way she teaches. Click on the video to watch. You'll be glad you did...

The key to house training your puppy to make the transition from going to the bathroom on paper indoors to holding it and waiting until it can go outside is a bit of common sense and outdoor manners. Transfering from paper to going outside requires you to carry the puppy to the proper place. Little dogs can be easily carried outside, however you may need to get a carrier to transport bigger dogs if you do not have the strength. Once you have finally carried your puppy outside without any incident and all you see before you are blocks and blocks of concrete, where should you go?

It is common sense that certain places like play grounds, flower beds, city trees, landscaping and other places people are should be off limits. Letting a male dog lift his leg on somebody’s garbage can or other things that might be touched by humans is not very nice. Make sure you are properly prepared to invest a lot of time outdoors with your puppy potty training. A fearful puppy won’t be relaxed enough to want to potty and the puppy can be so distracted by all the stimuli that it won’t want to go outside.

Can your pup focus enough amidst all the noise of traffic and people to ever learn to use the concrete? Yes, with training. One method for outdoor potty training sessions is called ‘curbing’ which is where your dog eliminates over the curb into the gutter. Position your puppy’s rear end over the curb and let it eliminate. Give gentle and somewhat quiet praise to your puppy while he is going then praise with exuberance afterwards. Just be aware that if you praise too much during the act, your puppy will get distracted and wriggly – not a good combination in mid-elimination.

If your dog makes an error, just pick up the mess and don’t be perturbed about it, just smile and nod. Don’t drag the pup over in mid-poop and scold it for going in the wrong place, instead get it to the right place next time. Make it a habit and praise your dog and very soon your pup will catch on with his dog potty training. Life will just run smoother if you can teach your puppy to go on cue. When the time comes for the dog to begin his business, gently repeat the cue words and praise the puppy and when he finishes, praise him again.

A Few Other Potty Training Choices

There are plenty of alternative potty areas for pet owners who live in urban settings that they may not even have considered like utilizing a fenced or walled off rooftop which may be more convenient than getting down to the street. Be certain the place is properly secured with a sturdy fence that the dog cannot squeeze through. If it’s walled, keep your dog on a leash to ensure the pup doesn’t decide to explore the drop on the other side. A terrace is one other option that works well for larger dogs. Also, there are buildings that have storage or basement areas that can also be used as a potty place, just ensure it is a surface like concrete or tile that can be easily washed off.

A few people have installed graveled pits or grass strips, fake and real, on their patios for dogs to use, however, these tend to get dirty quickly. You have to be very consistent with replacing the grass and cleanup when it is necessary to keep it clean enough so your dog will continue using them. The last point is to remember your neighbors as the smell can become pretty intolerant especially through the hot summer, so cleanliness is key. Dog house training, inside or out needs a little bit of time and patience, but it is well worth the effort.

No TweetBacks yet. (Be the first to Tweet this post)

Technorati Tags: , , ,

Tagged with: • • •

Filed under: General Dogs Discussion

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!