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Toilet Training for Dogs - Tips from Animal Behaviorists

Dog by nature does not want to soil the area where they eat and sleep. However, since dogs have the natural instinct to roam around, they do not know the proper place and time to eliminate. They are not use to living in a house, unlike in the wild where they can eliminate wherever and whenever they desire. Therefore, it is important to teach your dog proper toilet training as early as possible.

Toilet training is an important part of keeping your dog clean and well trained. It needs to be taught as early as puppies since it is difficult to correct negative behavior that he have become familiar with. Animal behaviorist is the expert when it comes to dealing with dog's behavior. They provide some helpful tips in housebreaking your dog. Some of this includes proper guidance and encouragement.

If you notice, your dogs usually defecate or urinate at least feet away from their eating or sleeping area. This is because dogs by nature are clean and does not want to soil their area. However, to help enhance this natural characteristic of dogs, it is necessary to train them toilet training since they are not use to living in a house.

House training a puppy is basically the same with older dogs that is new to your house. You have to take him outside every 45 minutes or few minutes after he eats or drink. Take him to an area where he can defecate and urinate. If he does, do not forget to praise him. If he does not, take him out again after a few minutes. However there are signs that you can read if your dog is about to urinate or defecate, this includes sniffing or circling. Pay attention to these signs, if he manifest take him out immediately. This will give your dog an idea that going out is the right time and place for him to eliminate and associate outside to bowel and bladder thing.

The proper age of a dog to be housebroken will depend on the breed of a dog. Dog's personality differ depending on their breed, so if you think your dog can't still be housebroken, have patience and remember that it takes time. Puppies have not yet develop their bladder and bowel control not until they reach six months old, therefore they need to go out during the night. Older dogs can control and wait for their owners to take them outside before they eliminate, therefore there is a need for positive reinforcement on this to encourage them to continue with this positive behavior.

When your dog happens to eliminate in an area where he is not suppose to eliminate, do not yell at him or punish him. It will not do him any good but instead confuse him. The best way to address this is to ignore him. If he is about to do the act, distract him, get his attention and bring him outside. Let him finish outside and praise him afterwards. Clean up his thing and if he approach you while cleaning, ignore him and never scold him. It will cause him to hate you and will never connect your punishment to his action.