Housetraining a puppy is important for both the puppy and the owner. Problems with housetraining and similar issues are the main reason that dogs are surrendered to shelters. So proper housetraining can literally save its life and make it easier on both of you. It is important to establish proper toilet habits when the puppy is still young. After all, it will be very difficult to break once they are established. In most cases, true housetraining cannot begin until the puppy is 6 months old. Puppies younger than 6 months generally lack the bowel and bladder control that is needed for true housetraining.
The best housetraining program uses the dog's own instincts to avoid soiling its bed and the places it shouldn't do its ?business?. That's the basis behind crate training. Crate training is where the dog is confined to its crate in the owner's absence. Den training is where the dog is confined to a small area in the home. Dogs are naturally clean animals and will try their best not to use the dens as toilets.
This type of training usually works well for puppies or older dogs. The common problems from this type of toilet training are usually stem from not understanding the signals the dog is sending, inconsistent feeding times or trying to rush the process.
Do not rush! Some dogs cannot be rushed through the housetraining process and you should consistently praise your dog for eliminating at the right place. It's always better to housetrain your dog properly the first time than having the trouble of retraining your dog.
If your dog continues to soil the den area after house training, this may be because the owner has left the dog in the den for too long and the dog has an ?accident?. Another reason may be because the den area is too large. In this case, you can either make the den area smaller or take the dog to the toilet area more frequently. Another reason could be that the dog has yet to adopt the area as the bed.
Urinary tract infections and other medical conditions could also cause dogs to soil their beds. Please do a thorough check-up by a veterinarian to rule out any medical conditions.
Is your dog bored? One problem many dog owners overlook during housetraining is boredom. Boredom is actually the root cause of many behavior problems. Boredom can also be the root cause of problems with housetraining. Dogs that are bored often consume large amounts of water during the day. This excess water consumption can lead to frequent urination, even in its den area. Since soiling the den area goes against the dog's nature, it can quickly become confused and frightened, thereby setting the housetraining program back even further.
To prevent the dog from becoming bored when you are away, be sure to provide it with lots of different kinds of toys, as well as a safe and secure place to sleep. In addition, a vigorous period of play time can help the dog sleep while you are away. In addition, playing with the dog in its den area will help him bond with this area and recognize it as a safe, secure home.
Proper introduction Other problems with house training can occur when the dog's den is not properly introduced. In some cases, dogs may think of the den as a prison or a punishment. Those dogs may exhibit anxiety, such as whining, chewing and excessive barking. It is important for the dog to feel secure in its den.
The best way to housetrain a puppy or dog, or to re-house train a problem dog, is to know your dog's habits and needs. Creating a healthy, safe sleeping, play area and well-defined toilet area is important for any housetraining program.
A good diet and plenty of exercise are important to a dog's health, but they can't make a dog totally immune to illness. Early detection is the key to helping your dog overcome any health problem. If your pet's stools become very loose, or you notice a marked decrease in your dog's appetite and/or that she is very lethargic, she may just have a short-term "bug." On the other hand, if any symptoms continue for more than a few days, you should have your veterinarian examine her for parasites and infections.
Diarrhea is a common symptom in dogs, especially puppies. It can be triggered by stress or a sudden change in food, but also by a virus, bacteria or parasites. Diarrhea causes dehydration, which can be deadly to dogs. It is extremely dangerous in puppies, because they dehydrate faster than mature dogs.
If your dog has diarrhea for more than a day, contact your veterinarian for further instructions. You will probably be asked to collect a sample and bring it in so they can examine it to determine the cause and proper treatment.
Coughing, sneezing, and discharge from your dog's nose and/or eyes often indicate a respiratory infection. A lethargic dog with no appetite is likely fighting an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI). URI, caused by airborne viruses and bacteria, is highly contagious among dogs, but is not transmitted between dogs and humans. Early detection of URI is important; ignored dogs suffer from severe dehydration and risk developing pneumonia.
Bortadella, also called 'kennel cough" is another contagious respiratory disease commonly contracted in animal shelters, boarding kennels, or anywhere groups of dogs have close contact with one another. It is a short-term disease, and most dogs get over it with a few days of rest and tender loving care from you. It is possible to have your dog vaccinated against Bortadella - a good idea if you plan on boarding her or placing her in "doggie daycare."
Vaccinations are also available to protect your dog against more deadly diseases such as rabies, distemper and parvovirus. Most municipalities require that all dogs are vaccinated against rabies; some include distemper and parvovirus as well. Making these vaccinations mandatory protects the health of all dogs, and, in the case of rabies, human health as well. If your dog was vaccinated as a puppy, she's off to a good start. However, without yearly booster shots, your dog is at risk of great suffering from one of these diseases.
Dogs serve as hosts to a number of parasites. You will probably be asked to bring a fecal sample to your dog's yearly vet appointment, so that the staff can check for the presence of internal parasites. If you notice small, rice-like granules on your pet's bedding or around her anus, she is suffering from an infestation of worms and needs to be seen by your vet to get proper treatment. Other parasites take up residence on the outside of your dog's body. Mange and sarcoptic mites live on the hair follicles and skin of dogs, while ear mites live on the inside of the ear. These parasites are so small you might not see them, but they cause your dog extreme discomfort. Head shaking and pawing at ears are signs of ear mites. Frequent scratching and skin-biting can indicate either skin mites or a dog's worst enemy: fleas.
Both John Lim & Kathy Burns-millyard are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.