Posts Tagged ‘housebreaking’
Holistic alternatives to puppy pads
February 19th, 2010
Small dogs are notoriously difficult to housebreak compared to larger dogs. Puppies and small dogs have smaller bladders than big dogs and can’t hold it as long. While some dogs go only 3 times a day, I can’t imagine that it is good for the dogs’ urinary track/kidney health or the carpet. I strongly recommend teaching dogs to use the toilet out doors rather than on puppy pads unless there are compelling reasons not to. The grass would be the best solution but if not grass, some type of doggy toilet would then be needed if an owner works a full day and can’t take the dog out to the bathroom.
I will admit that I used puppy pads for my dogs as puppies and also still use them when I know I will be gone all day. Puppy pads are basically baby diapers. They hold poop and pee and are not biodegradable just like diapers. Not good for the environment at all! Even if there were biodegradable puppy pads, they wouldn’t degrade in the landfill where they would end up. Just like diapers, there is a large market for various products that provide convenient toilet options, while also being good for the environment.
Washable puppy pads
Similar to cloth diapers, dogs with toilet needs could be taught to use washable, cloth, puppy pads. These are also called or considered whelping pads. Usually they consist of a top cloth, an absorbent layer and a leakproof plastic layer. Washable pads are less expensive than a box of puppy pads and can easily be washed instead of thrown away. I’m sure many people will wonder if these are any more eco-friendly than disposable (just like the cloth v. disposable diaper debate) but this is a viable option for those with landfill guilt.
I bet my dog would want to sleep on it though.
If you are interested in washable puppy pads check out our store here!
Commercial dog toilets
I bought a Ugodog for my dogs a while ago but to be honest, I could never convince my dogs to use it. The Ugodog is a plastic tray covered by grating that allows for clean dog feet and collection of urine in the tray below. I wish I had known about this product when my dogs were small as retraining now is more time consuming than I care for. I would recommend this product to anyone who has a new puppy as it contains nasties and can be used with or without paper in the tray. It is also large enough that a larger dog/puppy could use it if needed.
There are also numerous dog toilets sold online and on tv that have artificial grass.
The only downside to these products in my opinion is that in terms of cleaning, they are no more pleasant that picking up used puppy pads. Some of them have trays that need to be emptied (possible spillage?) or have actual puppy pads/newspaper in them! In some of the deeper boxes, maybe cat litter (non-clumping/not clay) could be more convenient to remove dog messes.
Litter box train your dog
For some reason Emmala always wants to EAT litter not poop in it so I don’t feel like this is a viable option for my pups. Eating clumping litter is a real danger to a dog so don’t use it if you are going to litter box train your dog. Of all of the above options this is my favorite.
There are several biodegradable litters that could be used for a dog. Feline pine is made of.. pine. Clumping litters could cause obstructions so I wouldn’t recommend them. There are also actual litters designed for dogs available for purchase along with specially designed dog trays.
My ultimate goal was always to litter train my dogs and buy a cat genie!!!! But alas..
Always observe the dog carefully if using litter as it may be considered tasty not appealing for pooping.
Actual toilets
The human toilet may be an option for the novelty dog trainer. Just like cats a few special dogs have managed to learn to go in the human toilet. I don’t know if they flush too but it’s a start!
For those who are the most handy, or dedicated to dog toilet. You could actually make and install a urinal type dog toilet or buy a “pet potty”. As I can’t brandish my drill and hammer with any skill, I don’t have a dog toilet. :( It would be really cool though!
Can’t control the monster dogs!
February 17th, 2010
It isn’t something that many people mention to their friends but many people inadvertently allow their house to go to the dogs. Because of our busy lifestyles, training and maintenance of dogs can become a burden. Whether it’s housebreaking problems or simply puppy mischief, dogs can ruin a person’s life and they can ruin relationships and peaceful households.
Most people have no idea what I’m talking about right? Wrong! With the popularity of inside dogs and dog children, many people don’t know how to control the dog situation in their homes.
While dogs range in their levels of innate naughtiness, it is always the owner’s job to rein it in and make living together possible. Moms really shouldn’t expect the kids to do (any of) the cleaning. Face it when we were eight, we all said we’d take care of the puppy but did you really mean it?
The best way to keep the house livable for humans is to confine the dogs and limit the areas they have access to when home alone.
Housebreaking
Dogs pooping and peeing in the house is a huge problem. If dogs are completely confined to the house for 10 hours, how can it be expected to hold it? And when the dog finally gives up and goes, that spot becomes the designated ok to poop in spot. And there the battle is lost. Doggy will think of that spot as a good spot to go in until he is corrected.
The easiest way to prevent doggy from deciding to hell with housebreaking is to come home early and take doggy out at lunch. As most people, myself included, can’t do this it becomes a real challenge to completely housebreak a dog when leading a busy lifestyle with no accessible yard. In my life, being busy often leads to inconsistency, which leads to problems with my dogs which then leads to everyone hating me.
If puppy needs to be left unattended for an extended period of time, he should be confined to an appropriate area with access to water, shade, and a bathroom. Appropriate areas may include an outdoor dog run, a securely enclosed yard, the kitchen (if you’re willing to clean), a patio, a dog pen or anywhere that is easy to clean, safe, and ok to get dirty. A puppy pad or toilet can help to confine mess that makes life unbearable but frankly those get old.
When the humans come home, dogs can come out and play but when they are unsupervised they need to be in an area that is puppy proof and easily cleaned. The dogs will be safe and for our sake only allowed to destroy their own space.
100% of poop being made outside is of course the ideal but if that isn’t looking possible right now, the easiest thing to do is to quarantine it.
Naughty dogs
As I’ve written before, Eppie is a naughty and curious dog. And while I am endeared to her because of that, it also creates a lot of messes. She likes to open things and spread things everywhere! My dog are allowed free reign down stairs and I always move everything that I do not want destroyed or eaten at least five feet off the ground.
Ideally, when a naughty dog is left alone it should be confined to a sparsely furnished room with easy to clean floors. In my home, grout is my worst enemy as is the carpet! Leave only dog items in the room that are allowed to be chewed, scratched, or otherwise maimed. Let me be the first to tell you that leaving cardboard, a crocheted blanket, human food, or anything else fun in the room will most likely result in a tornado. Don’t leave the dog in the garage if the garage is the designated storage area!
I suppose after all of that my message is that some people have problems living with their dogs. The true goal of co-habitating is to set your dog up for success by limiting their ability to wreck the whole house. Remove all valuables and food from reach and make a designated pet potty if needed. It isn’t the dog’s fault that there was so much to be played with!
Holistic Housebreaking tips for a new puppy
February 10th, 2010
A new puppy almost always begins a relationship with its owners by peeing on the floor. Occasionally, they leave even more considerate gifts for us. It isn’t really puppy’s fault that that spot happened to be convenient for peeing! But either way, new family members need to be housebroken or retrained.
When getting a previously house-broken dog, it is wise to expect a few mistakes in their first few days as they’ve just been uprooted from their former lives. Try not to let the new dog wander over anything that it would be a tragedy to pee on. This goes for puppies too. Expect a few mistakes as they don’t have the best control over their bladders yet. Doggy needs to learn where exactly is appropriate for its private business.
The best way to remove poop from inside and coax it outside is to have a regular schedule that includes walking. Feeding dogs at the same time every day sets them up for a regular pooping schedule then a walk will help move it all out before you leave for work. The physical activity seems to warm everything up. Walk morning and night.
Certain new foods may create upset stomachs when feeding home cooked foods. Keep a stable diet for dogs during housebreaking, limiting the amount of new foods. When a new diet is being introduced make sure to allow for ample opportunity to go potty while you are home! If fed in the morning, may it not come as a surprise that puppy couldn’t wait!
Even worse than poop, pee travels along floorboards and grout lines. It stinks and can be hard to clean. When home do not allow dogs that are not house broken out of sight and take them to the designated grass every hour at first. Most dogs will not pee right at your feet and if it does, it can be interrupted and taken to the right place. Be conscious of bathroom body language like sniffing, crying, or circling or the beginnings of a squat. If there are mistakes, clean them up and remove all smells that may encourage a repeat offense. Once puppy knows the house is not for peeing, she will know to hold it.
The most important part of housebreaking is schedule and consistency. Dogs need to know that you are coming back and that they should wait for you to come home. They need to know someone really is coming home and the house is in no way a bathroom! If the dog will be home alone for an extended period of time, it may need a doggy toilet (puppy pads etc) but walking and taking the dog out regularly minimizes the amount of poop and pee that goes into that area. I promise this will make your life easier! And if not there’s always crating.