House Training Your Puppy And Or Adult Dog
Housetraining a dog is one of the most difficult parts of owning a dog for many owners and failing to house train a dog is also one of the main reason dogs are abandoned. The following is a list of keys factors used by Josh Schermer of Downtown Pets a New York City dog walking and dog training company.
1. The best way to house train a dog is with a crate.
Crating a dog while also increasing it's daily walks provides the best example of home and bathroom to the dog.
2. A dog must earn it's freedom from the crate.
When you wake up in the morning take your dog out immediately for a bathroom break. If it goes it can be out of the crate for a short period of time. If it doesn't go then you need to put it back in the crate, feed it and then take it out again. This must be the routine in the beginning of housetraining and your dog must earn it's freedom.
3. How long can this freedom last for?
Start on the short side with thirty minutes to an hour BUT you also must keep your dog within viewing distance during this time. Close the doors to the area you're in and / or keep your dog on a lead too. As your dog proves an ability to not go in the house you can increase this free time out of the crate.
4. How long should a dog be "in" a crate? As a rule a dog should not be in a crate more than five hours unless it's during the time you go to sleep at night where they will be in there all night.
5. Can I crate an adolescent puppy?
Yes you can but keep in mind that a puppy will likely need to go to the bathroom a frequency in respect to it's age. So a two month old puppy will need to go every two hours and so on.
6. Why is my dog going # 1 in the crate?
The major reason a dog goes in a crate is because it has been left in there to long. But when it makes a mistake is it only going number one? If it is try and start only giving it water as it leaves the crate to go out for a walk. If after that your dog is still is going number one in the crate it might have a bladder infection and you should make an appointment with your vet. Please make sure to consult your veterinarian before altering your dogs drinking and or eating schedule.
7. Why is my dog going # 2 in the crate.
Your crate might be to big? It should only allow your dog to stretch out and no more. The point of the crate is to not let your dog move away from a #1 or #2 if they go in the crate. If the crate is to big then can move to a side of the mistake.
8. What type of walking schedule should I keep to housetrain my dog?
Start on the heavy side. If your dog is a medium to big dog and over six months you can get away with a walk every five or six hours from waking up in the morning. But if you have a younger puppy and or a smaller dog who is not housetrained you might want to start with a heavier walk load. Keep in mind the majority of these can be bathroom breaks but throw in at least one good cardio walk a day too.
9. Do dogs like crates?
Overall they do and it actually has a calming affect on many dogs. We've had many owners who once their dog has become house trained they have taken the door off the crate, put a cover on it and it's become their dogs own little den (which is how they look at it anyway, like a wolf would).
Written By: Josh Schermer
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