It’s a lot of fun and really exciting to have a pet dog. However, there is something that all pet owners worry about and that is on the issue of potty training their pets. It is extremely important to Potty train your pet. You surely wouldn’t want to take the risk of having a spoilt dog on your hands, and spoilt rugs, bed, and furnishings. I know, the first thing that comes to mind is the cleaning and the foul smell in your home. Having a spoilt pet is the most frustrating thing that can happen to any pet owner. What do you do about it? Well, take time and learn the art of potty training your dog and you will soon see that it is worth the effort and time spent.
Luckily, Dogs are sensible and smart and that makes them easy to train. So, potty training your dog is not all that bad. Just learn to do it the correct way. First, learn to understand the signals that your dog gives, when he needs to discard the waste. By and large, dogs usually start going in circles, sniffing and scratching the door. If you can recognize these signs, then training your dog is simple.
If you are a pet owner, you would certainly have heard of doggy doors. Do not get into the habit of opening the door whenever he shows the above mentioned signs. The way to do it is, have a doggy door and show him how to use it. Just open it a couple of times to let your dog out and being the smart fellow that he is, he will soon know what needs to be done when nature calls. That makes your dog independent and you can heave a sigh of relief.
Another method that needs your involvement is taking your dog out for walks at prescheduled times, both in the morning as well as evening. For the first few times, stop and encourage your dog to defecate and urinate during such walks, and do not forget to show him the place to do it. He could get into the bad habit of relieving himself at the wrong places, if not shown where. Just imagine having your neighbors complain about poo in their gardens. I am sure you wouldn’t want that. Having said all that, make sure you maintain timings for your walks. This sounds like a heavy responsibility, but can be fun and help you in organizing yourself too.
A dog is affectionate by nature and expects people also to show affection and approval. When your dog does things right like urinating or defecating at the correct place, make sure to praise your pet with encouraging words and patting it. This helps a great deal when potty training your dog. But then, on the other side, what do you do when your pet makes a mistake like defecating in your neighbors garden? Give it a mild punishment, and show that you are displeased and that your dog has made a mistake. That does not mean you hit your dog. Never do that. Just change your tone and show your anger and your dog will understand.
When you are training your dog, keep a watch on him. Observe his movements and see if he is learning as he should. Some dogs take time to learn but do not lose patience. Be firm but affectionate to your dog while training and this will certainly yield results.
Potty training may take up some of your time initially, but in the long run, it will save you a lot of time and hassle of being after your dog and cleaning up after your pet. Imagine a house that smells good in spite of having a pet. You will enjoy your dog more.