Bringing Your Dog Home

Dog Proofing Your House

If you have raised a dog before, you know how curious and investigative it may be. There are certain items in your household that can be dangerous for your dog.

Prior to bringing your dog home, we recommend that you:

•  Lift and hide any television, phone or electrical cords within the dogs reach.

•  Keep the floor clear of items that you don't want the dog to have, such as children's toys, slippers, magazines, or newspapers.

•  Consider temporarily picking up small area rugs, especially those with fringed edges.

•  Remove houseplants from dogs level. Many can be poisonous if ingested.

•  Take steps to insure that the dog doesn't get into lower kitchen or bathroom cabinets that usually contain cleaning products. You can purchase child safety latches, or tie a rubber band around the knobs to hold the doors together.

•  Bitter apple spray is a product we recommend to prevent chewing; you apply it to the wood furniture legs to discourage chewing. It is available at most pet shops.

What To Do When You First Get Home 

The first thing to do when you arrive home with your new dog is take it out to the desired "get busy area" and encourage him to relieve. Give your new pet at least 10 minutes to become accustomed to its new surroundings. Your pet should relieve itself, if not, refer to the section on housebreaking for advice.

You will be very excited about the newest family member, but give the dog time to adjust to its new home. Set the stage for an easy transition; keep guest to a minimum, and introduce new friends in moderation.

While your new dog is exploring its new home give the dog adequate time so it is comfortable, reinforce this behavior by being call, and enjoying the outing as well. While exploring, permit the dog to check everything out this builds confidence and acceptance. Permit the dog to investigate, but never let it pull o the leash to get to something or someone, let the dog investigate its new home, with you close by, supervising, so that he won't get into trouble.

The First Night 

After you've met all of the dog's physical and psychological needs, he should be put in his kennel. The kennel should in your room. It truly makes the dog more comfortable being with you.

Things to remember when using a crate (also know as the kennel)

•  The kennel should be the dog's home, its private spot, its safe haven. The crate should comfortably accommodate the dog, either sitting or lying down. It should not be big enough so that the dog can use one portion as a relief area and the other as a living area.

•  The kennel is a wonderful tool for housebreaking your dog, feeding and watering your dog and for confinement when you cannot supervise him.

•  Always positively reinforce the use of the kennel; you'll see that eventually the dog will proceed into the kennel on its own.

•  NEVER USE THE KENNEL FOR PUNISHMENT

Back to your 1 st night...

If your dog starts to fuss, wait a few minutes to see if he will settle down, if he doesn't then tell him in a stern voice to be quiet. If he persists, tell him again in a harsher, sterner tone. If the harsher, sterner tone doesn't work, then open the kennel door and place your hands on the dogs collar. Look the dog in the eye, and growl. "Quite!" continue until the dog quiets or averts eye contact, thus submitting, then, offer verbal praise "Good Quiet!".

Housebreaking and Relieving

Your ultimate goal is to teach the dog to relieve itself outdoors and to teach the dog to relieve itself by the verbal command "Busy Busy".

•  First, find a "Busy Area"

•  When a dog relieves itself, we call that "Getting Busy".

•  To begin housebreaking, you must designate a spot as the "Busy Area", this is the consistent place you will bring your dog to relieve.

•  The Busy Area should be kept clear of objects or things the dog might find interesting to smell. The goal is for the dog to relieve itself, not scavenge or sniff miscellaneous objects.

•  When it is time to "get busy"..When you take the dog to relieve, it always should be on the leash, always leave the house through the same door. Once you get to the "busy area", give the verbal command of "busy, busy" or "get busy", while you are waiting for the dog to relieve himself, you should stand very still in one spot, the dog should be directly in front of you, guide the dog's leash in a figure 8 pattern, this movement helps to stimulate the dog to relieve, keep repeating the 'get busy' command (in a low monotone voice, and movement for at least 10 minutes, or until the dog relieves which ever comes first. As the dog relieves, offer quiet praise.

•  Once the dog finishes its business at the spot you have selected, praise, praise, praise. Bend down and lavish the dog with hugs and kisses, cheer enthusiastically and verbally praise the dog so that it knows it gave the desired response. "Good boy!". Good Busy Busy!" The dog's tail should be wagging because the dog will know that it did the right thing. There should be abundance of praise every time the dog relieves.

•  If the dog doesn't relieve, it should go back in its kennel, under your observation and you should take him back out again in 10 or 15 minutes. However, if the dog starts to bark, cry or circle take him back outside to its spot IMMEDIATELY and lavish it with PRAISE once it goes.

Signs That The Dog Needs To Relieve 

•  Sniffing the rug, floor, or ground while walking

•  Circling in one spot.

•  Whining or barking at the door to the busy area.

•  Looking at you while standing at the door to the busy area

Accidents:

•  Understand that your dog's accidents are normal, and don't let them discourage you, continue with your efforts; consistency is the key to housebreaking and establishing a good relieving schedule.

•  If the dog has an accident in the house in front of you, say "No", take the dog outside to its spot. Then praise if he relieves.

•  If you discovered the accident after it happened, DO NOT reprimand or correct the dog. It will not understand why it is being corrected.

•  When cleaning accidents in the house, use paper towels to absorb urine, then treat the spot. Use a 4 to 1 solution of water and vinegar, baking soda neutralizer can eliminate the odor: sprinkle some on, let dry, then vacuum.

•  DON'T use any preparation that contains ammonia, it is contained in urine and only reinforces the scent.

Tip To Make Housebreaking Easier

Take the dog out the same door each time to relieve itself. When taking the dog out, look the dog in the eye and say, "Do you want to get busy? Do you want to go out? Do you want to get busy?" Look for signs that your dog understands what you're trying to communicate. Is his tail wagging enthusiastically? Are his ears perky? Is he looking you in the eye? Then take your dog to the specific spot that you have designated as the busy area.

At first you can leave a bit of feces in the area for a day or so to reinforce the dog's association between the area and the activity. Dogs always should relieve themselves on the leash. Use the term "get busy" so the dog associates the term with the action.

Once it is finished its business. Praise the dog both physically and verbally, and then leave the area. Remember PATIENCE and CONSISTENCY are needed for housebreaking. Practice will make perfect.

Common Housebreaking Mistakes 

•  NEVER...Rub a dogs nose in the mess. It isn't teaching him anything! Plus, it is cruel, ineffective, and can lead to stool eating.

•  NEVER.Yell at the dog if you catch him in the process of eliminating. This will only teach the dog to fear you. Rather, just say "No" and take the dog to the busy area.

Leash Training

 All dog training is based on one principle conditioning though repetition of commands new to the dog.