Shirlee Kalstone - How to Housebreak Your Dog in 7 Days

INTRODUCTION

Owning a dog is one of lifes great joys. But dog ownership is a long-term commitment, since healthy dogs can live fifteen years or more. Its a lot more pleasant to share your existence with a dog that is well trained and not a nuisance. Training isnt just for the sake of others, either; no one, no matter how much that person loves his or her pet, wants to live with a disobedient animal that leaves calling cards all over the rugs and floors. Every dog should be housebroken, and there are few exceptions to the rule that every dog can be housebroken.

My first introduction to dogs was in early childhood. My mother was a Cocker Spaniel fancier, and I grew up surrounded by the most enchanting jet-black and taffy-colored creatures. The first dog of my very own, Buzzy, shared my toys and slept in my bed. Is it any wonder that when I became old enough to choose a career, my life (pardon the pun) went to the dogs? My experience over forty years as a breeder and exhibitor of Poodles, Whippets, English Setters, Cocker Spaniels, Weimaraners, and Burmese and British Shorthair cats, and as a trainer, groomer, humane worker, and a teacher, lecturer, and writer on the subject of dogs and cats, has brought me into contact with pet people throughout the world. Ive seen almost every kind of canine problem behavior.

I wrote this book to make housebreaking less aggravating for pet owners. In training my own puppies, I learned years ago that dogs can be housebroken in a short time by following a simple formula: feed them regular and nutritious meals, put them on a strict outdoor-walking or indoor-paper schedule, confine them at night and at specific times during the day until they can be trusted to have the run of the house, and give them plenty of praise. It sounds elementary, yet during my work at animal shelters I discovered that more dogs lose their homes because they are not housetrained than for any other reason.

William Campbell, a leading authority on canine behavior, writes in Behavior Problems in Dogs, Puppies first become fastidious and avoid messing in their litter homes at about five weeks of age. If we can use this tendency in the pups new human home, the housebreaking chore can be accomplished within days, rather than the more commonly required weeks or months.

Training of any kind is basically communication between owner and dog, and Im convinced that most housebreaking failures usually are the owners fault. Barbara Woodhouse, the famous British dog trainer, once said there are no bad dogs, only inexperienced ownersand shes right. When a healthy dog cannot be housebroken within a week, give or take a few days, its probably due to the owners procrastination or inconsistency. Either the owner hasnt the foggiest notion of how to proceed, or is too lazy to follow a simple training program even for seven days, and the undisciplined dog develops bad habits that are nearly impossible to break. The owner often gets frustrated and punishes the dog, causing physical or emotional damage. Rubbing a dogs nose in any mess he makes, yelling, beating, and other harsh reprimands do nothing to further housebreaking and, in fact, only help to suppress a dogs temperament. Modern trainers hardly ever resort to force, because they know they can accomplish more with positive reinforcementthat is, praising good behavior.

The key to successful housebreaking is to begin the day your dog joins your family. If yours is a baby puppy, keep in mind that he is too young to control bladder and bowel movements for very long. Until hes ready for formal housebreaking, though, you can at least begin to lay the groundwork for it. (See The Very Young Puppy,.) Ultimately, it is your responsibility to teach the dog to urinate and defecate outdoors in the yard or in the street, or indoors on newspapers, or at any other place of your not the dogs choosing.

Please read this book from beginning to end before undertaking any of the procedures. It sets forth a specific method of training rather than random suggestions. If you read the book carefully, follow the simple formula, use common sense to prevent accidents from happening, have patience, and praise your dogs positive behavior, you can look forward to a housebroken dog that is a joy to live with. Its very easy. There are no gimmicks. Its a strict but not a hard-hearted system.

Your dog will willingly and eagerly do virtually anything to please you if you just show him what you want. You can housebreak your dog in a week once you learn the system and understand the concept behind it. And isnt it worth spending just seven days to derive years of pleasure from a well-mannered dog?

The training program has been successful for me and for my
clients. With a little determination,
it will work for you. Happy
housebreaking!

The 7-day housebreaking formula is based in part on your dogs inherited behavioral instincts. Dogs are social creatures that readily adapt to dominance-subordination relationships. They prefer to live in groups, or packs, rather than alone. A bond of attachment formed among the pack members keeps the group together. But the bond by itself is not enough to maintain order in the group. There is also a leader and a chain of command.

Canine pack relationships are based on a dominance hierarchy, or a descending pecking order. There is always one dog in each group that becomes the pack leader. The leader will dominate, establish organization, discipline the rest, and maintain group order. Other pack members rarely challenge the leader. Next in rank is the second-in-command. He or she is controlled only by the leader but, in turn, dominates all the pack members below in rank. Every member of the pack has a position in the hierarchy, and once these positions are established, each dog knows precisely which members are above him in rank and which are beneath him, and what his role is.

In all the packs activities in the wild, the leader firmly shows the other members that he is boss. He will take the initiative in play, and he will become the first to mate. He will eat first after a hunt, but once he has his fill, the other dogs take turns at eating in hierarchical order. The leader will defend his possessionshis living quarters, food, and mateat all costs. The chain of command will change, of course, over the years. Young adults, always on the alert for weaknesses in others, may try to defy more dominant older dogs, and rise to a higher position in the hierarchy if they are victorious. Younger and stronger dogs eventually assume authority in this manner as the dominant animals grow older and less healthy and vigorous. Dogs always inherit these pack tendencies, whether they are wild or domesticated.

The same pack behavior patterns govern a dogs relationships with humans. Once a dog enters a new home, you can simply interchange the word pack with the term family. All the members of the household are part of the pack in the dogs eyes. It is extremely important, therefore, that your dog learn his position in the family hierarchy immediately to ensure a well-trained and dependable pet.