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The Common Dog Housetraining Issues

By: John Lim

Housetraining a puppy is important for both the puppy and the owner. Problems with housetraining and similar issues are the main reason that dogs are surrendered to shelters. So proper housetraining can literally save its life and make it easier on both of you. It is important to establish proper toilet habits when the puppy is still young. After all, it will be very difficult to break once they are established. In most cases, true housetraining cannot begin until the puppy is 6 months old. Puppies younger than 6 months generally lack the bowel and bladder control that is needed for true housetraining.

The best housetraining program uses the dog’s own instincts to avoid soiling its bed and the places it shouldn’t do its “business”. That’s the basis behind crate training. Crate training is where the dog is confined to its crate in the owner’s absence. Den training is where the dog is confined to a small area in the home. Dogs are naturally clean animals and will try their best not to use the dens as toilets.

This type of training usually works well for puppies or older dogs. The common problems from this type of toilet training are usually stem from not understanding the signals the dog is sending, inconsistent feeding times or trying to rush the process.

Do not rush!
Some dogs cannot be rushed through the housetraining process and you should consistently praise your dog for eliminating at the right place. It’s always better to housetrain your dog properly the first time than having the trouble of retraining your dog.

If your dog continues to soil the den area after house training, this may be because the owner has left the dog in the den for too long and the dog has an “accident”. Another reason may be because the den area is too large. In this case, you can either make the den area smaller or take the dog to the toilet area more frequently. Another reason could be that the dog has yet to adopt the area as the bed.

Urinary tract infections and other medical conditions could also cause dogs to soil their beds. Please do a thorough check-up by a veterinarian to rule out any medical conditions.

Is your dog bored?
One problem many dog owners overlook during housetraining is boredom. Boredom is actually the root cause of many behavior problems. Boredom can also be the root cause of problems with housetraining. Dogs that are bored often consume large amounts of water during the day. This excess water consumption can lead to frequent urination, even in its den area. Since soiling the den area goes against the dog’s nature, it can quickly become confused and frightened, thereby setting the housetraining program back even further.

To prevent the dog from becoming bored when you are away, be sure to provide it with lots of different kinds of toys, as well as a safe and secure place to sleep. In addition, a vigorous period of play time can help the dog sleep while you are away. In addition, playing with the dog in its den area will help him bond with this area and recognize it as a safe, secure home.

Proper introduction
Other problems with house training can occur when the dog’s den is not properly introduced. In some cases, dogs may think of the den as a prison or a punishment. Those dogs may exhibit anxiety, such as whining, chewing and excessive barking. It is important for the dog to feel secure in its den.

The best way to housetrain a puppy or dog, or to re-house train a problem dog, is to know your dog’s habits and needs. Creating a healthy, safe sleeping, play area and well-defined toilet area is important for any housetraining program.

Article Source: http://www.bluearticles.com


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