Top 7 - Inappropriate Urination/Defecation

OH NO!!! What WAS that you just stepped in??? GROSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

House training is a big item on the Top 7 Hate list - nobody likes dealing with a nasty, stinky mess. Appropriate house training begins the moment you bring Fido or Fifi home - here are some critical yet simple rules right off the bat to keep in mind and implement with your furry friend:

1. Adult dogs can be housebroken in the same way as puppies.
2. Puppies have limited bladder control.
3. Dogs & puppies like to be clean and to sleep in a clean area.
4. All dogs do best when kept to a routine schedule.
5. Dogs have to go potty when...
a. they wake up in the morning or after a nap
b. within 1/2 hour after eating
c. before they go to sleep

By adhering to these rules everyone should be happy, and life will be peaceful and content.

Breaking it down for adult dogs, simply modify the puppy schedule to train the unhouse trained adult dog that is having problems. Start from the beginning just like you would with a puppy, using a crate and putting them on a schedule. The good news is an older dog can be expected to control itself for longer periods as long as you take them outside at the critical times - see a - c above. Until they are totally reliable, just take them out about every 3 to 4 hours in between the critical times.

Adopted older dogs that have always had freedom may be unwilling to have a bowel movement when on a leash. You can either walk them longer or keep them confined until they really gotta go. Just like a puppy, don't give them the run of the house and keep them in a crate or small area if you can't supervise them. You can give them more freedom as they become more reliable.

HOWEVER...

There is something ELSE to keep in mind - your male puppy will begin to lift or 'hike' his leg roughly between four and nine months of age, a sign of the activation of his sexual drive and his instinct to “mark” his territory. This is a perfect age to neuter your dog and avoid the unwanted behaviors that accompany sexual maturity — marking in inappropriate places, plus fighting and aggression toward other male dogs. Intact (un-neutered) males will mark any upright object and are especially hard on your shrubbery and trees. Some males will also mark inside the house, particularly if another dog comes to visit or if you're visiting in someone else's home. If you use your male for breeding, you can expect this behavior to get worse. Neutering your dog will protect his health, help him to live longer and be a better pet along with improving his house manners!