As with all our schooling
methods, the principal is to reward the correct behavior
and ignore all others.
Starting out
From the start you should encourage your dog to use
a specific area. Initial 'paper training' will only
give you an extra lesson to teach them later. They
may also develop a habit of peeing on any
newspaper!
A good, healthy, regular diet means that your dog
should need the loo at roughly the same time each
day, usually just after they have eaten.
Remember your dog needs to urinate at shorter intervals.
After meals
Begin after meals by taking your dog outside for 2
minutes or so, if he/she doesn't go then take them
back inside. try again at 10 minute intervals.
As soon as they have been, reward them with a really
tasty treat and plenty of overboard praise (It's no
good if you do it 30 seconds later).
If you associate a word of command such as 'Busy'
while your dog is going it is possible to get them
to relieve on command - assuming they need to!!
Over the first few weeks you will
have mistakes, before the teaching is 100%. When mistakes
happen, simply show that you are disappointed in them
but do not punish them,
they won't understand what is wrong. You are more
likely to cause house training problems than solve
them.
Make sure you take them out first thing in the morning
and last thing at night, again praising & rewarding
after they have relieved themselves.
If you do have difficulty with this method
do not hesitate to visit your Vet as your dog may
have a medical problem.
