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Training Talk With Leslie Hayes:
Housebreaking Your Puppy & Introducing Your Pup To An
Older Dog
Leslie Hayes is a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers,
the co-owner of PupLife.com, Inc. and the
author of many positive reinforcement dog training articles. She is also the proud
guardian of a curly coat retriever, Scout.
Submit your dog training questions to Training Talk via our Contact
Us form. Due to the high volume of questions we receive, we cannot respond
to everyone.
Question
My 4 month old Chihuahua is still not housebroken.
Help! - Michelle, San Diego
Answer
Don’t fret, Michelle. Your Chihuahua
sounds perfectly normal. Until they are at least four months old, puppies simply
do not have the muscle control to hold their bladder. With their super-fast metabolism,
toy and tiny breed dogs simply have to "go" more often. Furthermore,
many puppies tend to regress when they begin getting their adult teeth in (right
around 4 1/2 to 5 months). While short-lived, this regression can be very frustrating!
Having the correct puppy
supplies is a great start. One of the best things you can do to help housebreak
your puppy is to invest in a dog
crate or dog
pen, also called an Ex Pen. Most dogs avoid soiling where they sleep which
is why crate
training is so effective. By using a crate you are also teaching your puppy
self-imposed, self-control and the ability to remain calm and collected when you’re
not there.
When you can't supervise her, your puppy should be in her crate or ex pen so she
cannot run in the other room and pee when you're not looking. Allow for frequent
potty breaks (at least every 2-3 hours) and try to take your puppy to the same
spot to potty (either outside or on puppy
pads). It’s advisable to use a collar
and leash so that you can make sure your puppy eliminates. You might also consider
giving your dog a verbal command like "Get Busy" or "Go Potty"
so that you develop a cue system. When your dog does eliminate, give her lots
of praise and yummy dog
treats and then let her do something fun like play
fetch or eat or see her doggy friends. Make sure to potty your dog first thing
in the morning, last thing at night, before and after meals and before and after
playtime. Sticking to a schedule is a good thing.
Never punish your dog for an accident. This can lead to a dog that is afraid to
eliminate in front of you. If your pup does have an accident clean it up as soon
as possible and then consider what you could have done to prevent it: “Did
I give her enough time to eliminate in the proper spot?” “Was is super
cold outside?” “Was it raining outside?” “Did I allow
her the opportunity to potty inside when I wasn't looking?” etc). If you
work long hours or travel frequently consider hiring a dog walker or take your
pup to doggy day care. Consistency on your part is key to housebreaking your puppy.
Question
We just got a new female puppy Shih Tzu, She’s about 7 weeks old. We also
have male Shih Tzu who is 2 years old. Our older dog seems to be afraid of the
puppy and wants no part of her. We have been showing him lots attention but he
still doesn't seem himself. What should we do? – Danielle via email
Answer
Introducing your new puppy to your adult dog can be a trying
experience, indeed. Puppies are a handful for owners and adult
dogs in the household. Because most puppies are insatiably
curious and haven’t refined their “manners”,
they usually wind up bothering adult dogs to no end. Most
adult dogs will growl or snarl at a recklessly playful puppy
in order to the set boundaries of acceptable behavior. This
is normal and is actually a positive thing. That being said,
never allow a puppy and an adult dog to be left alone together.
Give your adult dog plenty of time away from the puppy along
with quality time alone with you and your family whenever
time permits.
Of course, choosing the correct puppy
supplies is key. Utilize a dog
crate or ex
pen when you cannot actively supervise your puppy. This will help housebreak
your puppy as well as keeping her out of danger when you cannot give her your
full attention (you’ll also keep the puppy out of your adult dog’s
hair!)
Never allow your puppy and your adult dog to eat out of the same dog
bowl, as this may lead to resource guarding. Feeding each dog in a separate
crate is a great way to keep food fights to a minimum. This is also true if you
give your dogs raw bones or chews.
Set up structured times throughout the day for your new puppy
and your adult dog to interact. A great time to do this is
during your daily walks. Most adult dogs love walk time so
you’re capitalizing on a positive experience. And, because
there’s so much going on in the environment, the opportunity
for hostilities to emerge between the two dogs is greatly
diminished.
Don’t expect your puppy and your adult dog to hit it
off right away. Relationships take time to develop and each
dog needs a chance to learn about the other. While some housemates
may never become “best friends”, with enough time
and proper management most dogs living in the same household
will learn to accommodate each other peacefully.
For more help check out Darlene Arden’s fantastic book
on toy and tiny breeds, Small Dogs, Big Hearts. You can also
find a professional dog trainer in your area at the Association
of Pet Dog Trainers, or a professional dog walker/sitter
at the National Association
of Professional Pet Sitters.
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