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House Training An Adult Dog

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How to House Train an Adult Dog

House Training Adult Dog
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Potty accidents, caused by adult dogs, is much more common than you think. Most adult dogs will potty outside in the backyard, but will also potty inside when the right opportunity arises (e.g. when it’s raining outside :)). Regardless of the reason, some adult dogs may need a house training refresher course. If your dog potties inside your home, follow these simple steps to house train an adult dog.

Dog House Training 101

When teaching an adult dog potty training skills, you should follow the same steps you’d take for potty training a puppy. Remember, it’s up to you to teach a dog house training skills. Dogs aren’t pre-programmed to understand pottying indoors is considered rude. 🙂

Crate Your Dog

Confining a dog to a small area is an important step for house training an adult dog. Usually, dogs won’t potty where they sleep, so confining them in a crate teaches dogs to “hold it.” Crate training can be extremely helpful when used properly. However, you shouldn’t leave your adult dog or puppy in a crate for more than 4 hours. If you’re unable to keep an eye on your dog, toss a food filled toy into the dog crate and close your dog inside. This will prevent her from wandering into the formal dining room and pottying. When in doubt, crate your dog before chatting on the phone or reading through text messages.

Leash Your Dog During Potty Walks

When asked if their dogs potty in the backyard, pet owners swear their dogs do, yet their dogs come right back indoors and urinate on the carpet. While this raises a red flag from a dog trainer’s perspective, it’s important to rule out any health issues with a veterinarian first. Once health issues are cleared, it’s time for leashed potty breaks in the yard.

Bring your dog outside on leash in the most boring part of your backyard. Now wait for “it” to happen, and reward when your adult dog potties. Once she’s done, give her a treat and unsnap the leash. Leash walks aren’t forever. It’s a dog training tool to verify a dog is actually pottying outside, and it provides plenty of opportunities to reward good behavior.

If a dog doesn’t potty outside, bring her indoors and place her inside the crate with a food stuffed toy. After 20 minutes, take her outside again. Continue until she potties outside and reward her, so she learns that pottying outside makes treats happen.

Set a Schedule

Life gets busy, and dogs are usually forgotten. Creating a set potty schedule is key. Following a set schedule will certainly jump-start a house training protocol. Set your dog’s potty training schedule in a highly visible area, such as a refrigerator. Even better, set a reminder on your smartphone. Check out an example of a house training schedule.

There is One Big Difference Though

When house training a dog, the core principles and skills are the same regardless of a dog’s age. But there’s one big difference that most pet owners seem to forget, and it’s a challenging one. When dogs practice a behavior for a long time, they get really good at it. Behaviors become patterns and habits, which are challenging to fix. It will take longer to house train an adult dog than a new puppy.

This applies to humans as well. Don’t believe me? Try shaking hands with your left hand next time. It feels weird, and most people quickly return to what they know, which is shaking hands with their right hand. You’ve shook hands with someone’s right hand for years, so it feels weird doing anything else. Remember this when your adult dog has a potty accident; they’re relearning new habits and skills.

It Can Be Done

Patience and consistency is key. When your adult dog has an accident, it’s usually because she was allowed too much freedom too soon. Take a step back, and follow the three steps for house training an adult dog. Never punish your dog for potty accidents, as she’ll learn to potty in far away areas, which is counterproductive. Reward often and keep an eye on your dog until she’s had 30 potty accident free days.

UP NEXT: 5 Tips for Sharing a Home With an Incontinent Dog

Why You Should Avoid Pet Stores Selling Puppies

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Puppy Mills & Pet Store Puppies

Puppy Mills
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Over the last couple of years, passionate dog lovers have successfully brought attention to a sore spot in the pet industry—pet store puppies. It seems like this movement is finally picking up momentum, as many large cities are now banning pet stores from selling puppies and dogs. This is certainly a win for dog lovers everywhere, and here’s why.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] Puppy mills are run by heartless individuals looking to raise dogs cheaply and make a quick profit.[/perfectpullquote]

What are Puppy Mills?

Puppy mills are deplorable dog breeding factories. They mass produce purebred and designer dogs to fill demand for new puppies. Puppy mills ship very young puppies to any location regardless of distance.

Why Puppy Mills are Bad

Puppy mill dogs are kept in tiny cages where they’re forced to live in their own feces and urine. They don’t have access to veterinary care, are skinny from lack of nutrition, and have matted coats and severely overgrown nails due to lack of basic care.

Breeding stock aren’t health or temperament tested. Instead, they’re forced to have litter after litter to feed consumer demands from pet stores and unknowing pet owners. Puppy mills are run by heartless individuals looking to raise dogs cheaply and make a quick profit.

RELATED: Finding a Dog Breeder: How to Find the Right One

Looking at pictures of puppy mills is sickening enough, but witnessing a puppy mill in person is gut-wrenching. The stench will knock you off your feet and burn your eyes. These poor dogs are barely able to turn around in their cages and are left in dark rooms with no access to sunlight. Most puppy mill dogs have never walked on grass.

Watching these sickly momma dogs covered in mats and feces feeding tiny puppies just makes your heart hurt. Since these dogs have been handled and treated this way, puppy mill dogs are completely terrified of humans.

Given these horrible conditions, it’s easy to see why puppy mills are bad. Unfortunately, puppy mills are everywhere. Most are hidden in rural areas. When one is shut down due to animal cruelty laws, another one pops up to fill demand for puppies. It’s a never-ending battle, and dogs are the victims.

Pet Store Puppies

High consumer demand for puppies is the reason pet stores turn to puppy mills. Pet stores selling puppies are looking to fill inventory quickly, and puppy mills are the most convenient way to fulfill these needs.

Pet stores don’t help these poor puppies out. Pet store puppies are kept in crates 24 hours per day with no access to the outdoors and are forced to potty where they sleep. Potty training a puppy mill puppy is beyond challenging because they’ve learned to potty anywhere. Puppies are little sponges until they’re 16 weeks old, so keeping a puppy in a crate with limited interaction with the world is detrimental. In addition, pet stores don’t properly screen prospective pet owners. This means these innocent pet store puppies could end up anywhere.

Just Say No

Nothing will be done until we do something about it. As a concerned pet owner, I urge you not to buy pet store puppies and educate prospective dog owners on why puppy mills are bad. Don’t shop at pet stores that sell puppies and don’t purchase dog treats from pet stores that don’t sell dogs or puppies. At the very least, please share this article to educate others.

Don’t feed puppy mills. Just say no.

The Risks With Having A Dog Door

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You Might Want to Rethink Installing a Dog Door

Dog Door Installation
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Installing a dog door that allows your dog access to the backyard is a personal decision. As a dog trainer, I’m not very fond of dog doors. Understand that when I’m called to address dog behavioral concerns, the dog door is usually tied to the cause. It’s not the dog door’s fault though; it’s giving your dog unlimited access to the backyard that’s the culprit.

Before your hackles rise up, allow me to explain why I dislike dog doors. Once you understand the risks from a dog trainer’s perspective, then decide if a dog door would work for your dog.

Dog Door Risks

Your Dog May Bark More

Easily, excessive dog barking is the most common behavior issue during private consults—usually coupled with aggression. When dogs have unlimited access to a dog door, they’ll learn to run outside at the slightest sound and bark. Soon, this becomes a pattern, and dogs become really good at barking at anything and everything.

After a few weeks, neighbors will start complaining about excessive barking during the day when pet owners are at work. Then, neighbors will start to complain about dogs randomly barking at night. Eventually, the barking dog will be known as a nuisance barker and Animal Control will intervene and fine the pet owners.

Usually, I’m contacted right before or after Animal Control is involved. By this time, a barking dog has had plenty of time to practice barking. He’ll have become very efficient at rushing through the dog door to address whatever noise was heard. During my private lesson consults, many pet owners swear their dogs are “protecting their properties” by barking. Honestly, a dog’s presence and 1-2 barks is enough to warn intruders. Barking incessantly is a nuisance and unnecessary.

If this sounds like your dog, it’s time to lock up the dog door and hire a dog sitter for afternoon potty breaks. Also, leave soft music playing to drown out outdoor noises and prevent your seasoned barker from practicing his barking behavior again. Provide plenty of mental enrichment toys to keep your dog’s brain busy solving puzzles instead of barking.

Your Dog May Escape

When the right motivation combines with plenty of opportunities to practice climbing a fence, a dog will scale a 6-foot fence with ease. Motivation to bark includes another barking dog, kids riding bikes, or another dog approaching the fence. Pair motivation with the ability to climb a fence, and your dog will eventually get really good at escaping your backyard.

Dogs are smart. If they can’t go over the fence, they’ll go under. Don’t be surprised if your dog escapes if you give him 24-hour access to the backyard.

RELATED: The Dangers of Invisible Dog Fences

Your Dog May Become Aggressive

While incessant barking in a backyard is a common complaint from pet owners, there’s a much more dangerous issue. When dogs are allowed unlimited outdoor access without supervision, they’ll become frustrated and learn inappropriate behaviors, such as aggression.

When dogs see other dogs walk past their fence, they’ll learn to bark and even fence fight. Some dogs become very dog aggressive just from practicing this behavior in the backyard. And at times, some dogs become aggressive to people walking near the fence or children riding their bikes on the sidewalk.

If your dog is dog or human aggressive, keep him securely indoors and away from windows. Hire a pet sitter to bring your dog potty in your securely fenced-in backyard. This way, your pet sitter can redirect or reward good behavior when your dog encounters a trigger.

Thieves and Wildlife May Intrude

Most pet owners with dog door installations scoff at the idea of thieves and wildlife entering through a dog door, but it happens. While we assume our dogs will deter thieves and wildlife, sometimes these threats are actually drawn to dogs. Thieves can pepper spray your dog and enter your house through the dog door. Or worse yet, steal your dog.

Wildlife will follow the scent of food, especially dog food left near a dog door opening. Most wildlife scavenging for food aren’t very friendly either. They can seriously harm you and your dog plus carry disease.

No Dog Door, So Now What?

Installing a dog door is a personal decision, but I do think hiring a pet sitter is a much better idea. Yes, I know it’s more expensive, but it will prevent inappropriate dog behaviors caused by unlimited and unsupervised access to your backyard. Plus, hiring a professional dog trainer who provides results are expensive. Most dog trainers charge more than $100 an hour. So dog door drama costs can add up too. 🙂

If you’re one of the lucky ones without dog door drama, count your blessings. But do know, things can change quickly and you may want to ask your neighbors or set up a camera to make sure your dog is polite when outdoors. 🙂

Why You Shouldn’t Bring Your Dog To Festivals

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4 Reasons Not to Bring Your Dog to Festivals

Dog-Friendly Festivals
kasto/Adobe Stock

Mardi Gras was last week, but the buildup of parades and festivals had started weeks ago. I witnessed pet owners bringing their large and small dogs to these dog-friendly events, but these dogs weren’t enjoying the festivities as much as their owners.

As a huge dog lover, I completely understand why pet owners would want to share fun festivities with their four-legged family members. However, the dog trainer in me quickly intervenes to point out why dogs should be left at home. From what I saw this Mardi Gras season, it’s best not to bring your dog to festivals with you.

It’s Extremely Loud

Festivals and parades are extremely loud. Each parade starts off with a fire truck and ends with a police car blaring sirens and lights. Not only is this scary for small children—I witnessed many clutching their tiny hands over their fragile ears—it’s also frightening to dogs.

Crowds scream, school bands clang as they march past, loud music roars as floats pass by, and people push and shove for beads. Thankfully, I only spotted a few dogs within a 12-foot thick crowd. But from the glimpses between human legs, every dog I saw looked terrified. This isn’t fair to dogs.

RELATED: Fake Service Dogs Do a Disservice

Worst Place for Socialization

Dog-friendly festivals and parades are the worst places to socialize a puppy. Dog socialization refers to exposing your puppy to something positively, so he’ll learn that it’s harmless and safe.

Not only are festivals loud, but strangers lumber past and try petting unsuspecting dogs. Pair that with being stepped on or bumped into and your puppy will quickly learn that people are scary during these events. It only takes a single scary incident for your puppy to be frightened of people for years.

Overcoming this fear won’t be a simple “fix” either. Trust me.

Your Dog Will Get Hurt

People will step on and hurt your dog. Festival goers aren’t paying attention, and will accidentally step on your dog’s foot or tail. The chances of your dog being harmed is even higher when you add alcohol to the mix. 

Some pet owners think clutching their small dogs in their arms will keep them safe, but even these tiny dogs are at risk too. Rambunctious and drunk crowds will elbow and push their way through a crowd regardless.

Food on the Ground

Festival grounds are littered with dropped ice cream cones, ant-covered hot dogs and spilled beer. It seems disgusting to us, but it’s an inviting buffet for your dog. While some of these food items aren’t necessarily dangerous to feed your dog, ingestion of fatty foods can cause pancreatitis.

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas and an extremely painful illness that can easily become a chronic issue. Plus, pancreatitis can be fatal to your dog. Treating pancreatitis in dogs is expensive too, as most dogs need hospitalization for several days.

This festival season, keep your dog safe at home with soft music and a frozen yogurt stuffed Kong. He will thank you.

Festivals and parades are meant for humans, so keep your dog safe at home.

Dogs Find Choices Very Rewarding

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Choice Dog Training

Easiest Way to Train a Dog
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As with everything in life, trends appear, stick around or rapidly disappear. Lately, a new dog training trend focuses on giving dogs choices during the training process. This “trend” puzzles me a bit because choices should be a part of all dog training. Dogs deserve choices, and sometimes dogs find choices more rewarding than food. Below, we show you the easiest way to train a dog through choices.

How Choice Dog Training Works

Dogs should be allowed to make choices during training sessions and in life. At first, this concept scares most pet owners and a few dog trainers alike. However, giving dogs choices actually speeds up training when dogs learn they’re able to control their environment.

Making choices in situations is super empowering, and giving dogs the ability to make their own teaches them to trust their pet owners completely. As humans, we must honor our dog’s choice and not push the issue. This is where pet owners become concerned and confused, as they’re envisioning dogs walking across kitchen countertops or running freely through the neighborhood. Nope, you’ve envisioned the pendulum swinging too far.

Instead, you reward your dog for making the right choice, which increases the likelihood that your dog’s certain behavior will happen again.

Giving Your Dog a Choice

Participation is a huge choice that most dogs don’t enjoy. Many dogs don’t have a choice, and are forced to participate during vet visits or petting from strangers. Some dogs dislike having their nails trimmed, and will growl whenever someone reaches for or touches their feet.

Example: Dog Dislikes Nail Trims

The first step is to acknowledge whether or not your dog is worried about nail trims. Then, teach your dog that touching his feet and trimming his nails make hot dogs appear when he chooses to participate.

Sit on the floor with diced up hot dogs in your lap. Click and reward your dog for walking up to you. Yes, hot dogs are encouraging your dog to walk over to you, but we want to reward dogs for choosing to walk toward us.

Reward your dog a couple of times for walking over to and standing near you, then reach toward his paw, but don’t touch it. If your dog pulls his paw away, sit still and return your hand back into your lap. It’s no big deal. At first, your dog might look a bit confused because this might be the first time he’s given a choice.

Some dogs may back away, and that’s fine. If your dog chooses to walk away, at anytime, honor your dog’s choice. Wait a few seconds, and reward him when he chooses to walk toward you again. Remember, you’re holding something he wants (hot dogs).

Reach for his paw again. Click/treat when he chooses to stand still (doesn’t move backwards or pulls foot away from you). Practice 2-3 times, and then end the session. Continue to practice slowly until your dog allows you to touch his paw and eventually trim his nails.

Honoring Your Dog’s Choices

When pet owners honor their dog’s choice, something magical happens. Dogs learn that they’re able to stop something scary without becoming aggressive. Also, they learn that their pet owner won’t force the issue. This is empowerment at its finest, and it will positively change your dog’s behavior.

Forcing a dog to comply gets you nowhere and actually stops the learning process. This type of dog training has nothing to do with “everybody wins a trophy” phenomena. Instead, it’s based on learning principles, consequences and scientific data.

Choice dog training is the easiest way to train a dog, so why not use it?

Dog Training Nation is a dog training blog for pet owners and dog lovers. We cover a range of topics from puppy socialization tips to dog aggression to dog health. It is our hope you share our content to make the world a better place for dogs.

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