Dog House Training Solutions

Dog House Training

2006-04-12T13:20:00.000-07:00

Dog House Training
How to deal with dog house training problems and issues ...

The best dog house training uses the dogs own instincts to avoid soiling its bed - and to train a dog where and where not to eliminate. That is the basis behind dog crate training, in which the dog is confined to its crate in the absence of the owner, and den training, in which the dog is confined to a small area of the home. In essence, the crate, or the room, becomes the dog’s den. Dogs are naturally very clean animals, and they try their best to avoid using their dens as toilets.

This type of dog training usually works very well, both for puppies and for older dogs. Problems with this type of toilet training are usually the result of not understanding the signals the dog is sending, not being consistent with feeding times, or trying to rush the process.

While the dog house training process can be sped up somewhat by consistently praising the dog and rewarding it for toileting in the proper place, some dogs cannot be rushed through this important process. It is always best to house train a dog properly the first time than to go back and retrain a problem dog.

If the dog continues to soil the den area after dog house training, the most likely reason is that the owner has left the dog in the den for too long. Another reason may be that the den area is too large. In this case, the best strategy is to make the den area smaller or to take the dog to the toilet area more frequently.

If the dog soils the bed that has been provided in the den area, it is most likely because the owner has left the dog there for too long, and the dog had an understandable accident. Or it could be that the dog has not yet adopted this area as the bed. In addition, urinary tract infections and other medical conditions can also cause dogs to soil their beds. It is important to have the dog thoroughly checked out by a veterinarian to rule out any medical problems.

One other reason for dog house training accidents that many people overlook is boredom. Dogs who are bored often drink large amounts of water and therefore must urinate more frequently than you might think. If you notice your dog consuming large amounts of water, be sure to take the dog to the established toilet area more often, and provide the dog with toys and other distractions to eliminate boredom.

Boredom is the root cause of many dog behavior problems, not only dog house training issues. Chewing and other destructive behaviors are also often caused by boredom and separation anxiety.

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

The best way to house train a puppy or dog, or to re-house train a problem dog, is to make yourself aware of the dog's habits and needs. Creating a healthy, safe sleeping and play area for your dog, as well as a well defined toilet area, is important for any dog house training program.

Dog house training is not always an easy process, but it is certainly an important one. The number one reason that dogs are surrendered to animal shelters is problems with inappropriate elimination, so a well structured dog house training program can literally be a lifesaver for your dog.

Dog House Training

2006-04-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

Dog House Training

House training your dog is one of the most important parts of training any dog to be a valued part of the family. As with many other aspects of dog training, the best way to house train a dog is to use your dog's own nature to your benefit.

The great thing about dogs, and the thing that can make dog house training much easier, is that dogs are instinctively very clean animals. Dogs would rather not soil the areas where they sleep and eat. In addition, dogs are very good at developing habits regarding where they like to urinate and defecate. For example, dogs that are used to eliminating on concrete or gravel will prefer to eliminate there rather than on grass or dirt. It is possible to use these natural canine habits when house training your dog.

How to set-up the dog house training area:

The first step in dog house training your dog is to set up your training area. A small, confined space such as a bathroom, or part of a kitchen or garage, works best as a training area. This method of training differs from crate training. Crate training is great for puppies and small dogs, but many larger dogs find a crate too confining.

It is important for the owner to spend as much time in the training area with his or her dog as possible. It is important for the owner to play with your dog in the training area, and to let your dog eat and sleep in that area. Your dog should be provided with a special bed in the training area, anything from a store bought bed to a large towel to a large box. At first, your dog may eliminate in this area, but once your dog has recognized it as his or her own space, he or she will be reluctant to soil it.

After your dog has gotten used to sleeping in the bed, the owner can move it around the house, relocating it from room to room. When you are not with your dog, your dog should be confined to the training area.

How to set-up your dog's toilet area:

The second part of dog house training is to set up the toilet area for your dog. It is important for your dog to have access to this place every time he or she needs to eliminate. It is also important for the owner to accompany your dog each time until he or she gets into the habit of eliminating in the toilet area. This will ensure that your dog uses only the established toilet area.

A set feeding schedule makes your dog house training process a lot easier for both you and your dog. Feeding your dog on a regular basis will also create a regular schedule for your dog's toilet habits. Once you know when your dog is likely to need to eliminate, it will be simple to guide your dog to the established toilet area.

Once your dog has established a toilet area and is using it on a regular basis, it is very important to not confine your dog without access to the toilet area for long periods of time. That is because if your dog is unable to hold it, he or she may be forced to eliminate in the training area. This habit can make dog house training much more difficult.

Continuing your dog house training process:

After your dog is consistently eliminating in the toilet area and not soiling the training area, it is time to extend that training area to the rest of the home. This process should be done slowly, starting with one room and slowly expanding to the rest of the house. The area should only be extended once you are sure of your dog's ability to control its bladder and bowels.

When you first expand the training area to a single room, let your dog eat, play and sleep in that room, but only when supervised. When it is not possible to supervise your dog, place it back in the original training area. Then, after your dog has accepted the room as an extension of the original training area, the area can be extended.

How to speed up your dog house training process:

If this process is too lengthy for your needs, it can be speeded up, but it is important to proceed cautiously. It is easier to take your time up front than to retrain a problem dog later. One way to successfully speed up dog house training is to praise and reward your dog each and every time it uses the established toilet area.

It is also important not to punish your dog for mistakes. Punishment will only confuse your dog and slow down your dog house training process.

Dog House Training Tips

2006-03-17T14:39:00.000-08:00

Dog house training

Dog house training is one of those issues that every dog owner must grapple with. In most cases dog house training is the first major milestone in the relationship between owner and dog, and it can sometimes be difficult and confusing for owner and dog alike.

The best dog house training procedures are those that use the dog's own instincts to the owner's advantage. These strategies take into account the dog's reluctance to soil the spots where he eats and sleeps. This is the concept behind den training and crate training. Dogs are very clean animals, and in nature they always avoid using their dens as toilet areas.

These kinds of natural training methods generally work very well, for both puppies and older dogs. Naturally, older, larger dogs will need a larger area for their den, and dog crate training is generally best used for puppies and small dogs.
Dog house training

Dog House Training

2006-03-14T15:15:00.000-08:00

Hello and thank you for visiting my dog house training blog. I will be posting articles on dog training over the next couple of weeks detailing important techniques on dog house training.