Wednesday 29 July 2015

Puppy Potty-Training ("Housetraining")

Teaching Puppy to Potty Outside

We recently adopted a puppy from a shelter, she was about 4 1/2 to 5 months when she came home with us, and was not potty trained.

Phoenix, our Pointer-mix
We hadn't potty-trained a puppy in a long time (Maddy is 9 years old this summer), so it was a good refresher on the basics.  One of the most frustrating problems for dog-owners is when they have difficulty house-training their dog or puppy, so here are some tips for making the process go more smoothly:

1.  Confine puppy when you cannot supervise. 

Kennel train your puppy so that she is happy to lay on a blanket or dog bed and chew on a stuffed Kong while you are busy doing other things.  Puppies are much less likely to soil in their sleeping space (provided they are not confined for longer than they can hold it), so this sets you up to be able to take her right outside as soon as you open the kennel door and she will likely do her business outdoors.

You can also use an X-pen, or baby-gate puppy into a bathroom (make sure towels, razors, toilet paper, etc. are out of reach) to make for easy cleaning if she does have an accident.  A moment of distraction is all it takes for a puppy to sneak away and make use of the carpet, so it's always best to confine before you get focused on something else.  You can also tie a leash to your belt and keep puppy within your eyesight at all times, just be sure you are aware of your movements and how they are affecting puppy.

Keep your eyes peeled for signals that your puppy needs to go.  Some behaviours are:
  • Sniffing for a spot 
  • Circling
  • Puppy seems unsettled and is pacing

2.  Go outside with your puppy.  

Yes, even if it's -50 and snowing, put on your boots and parka and mittens and take your treats with you.  This way you know puppy has done her "business" and you can reward her on the spot for it.  If you wait at the door or watch her through the window and give her a treat when she returns, congratulations, you are teaching your dog to come in from the yard when called - which is great - but you are not reinforcing her for going potty outside.  Puppies have very short attention spans and you need to get a delicious morsel into her mouth as soon as she has completed the act.

If you're lucky and you're potty training when the weather is nice, wander around the back yard and ignore your puppy.  Let her sniff and explore and play, but don't interact with her and just keep an eye on her.  Eventually she will need to go, then you can walk over telling her what a good dog she is, and give her something delicious.  Once she has done her business, then you can further reinforce her by playing and interacting with her.  If you are taking puppy out on leash - which is a good idea to do even if you have a fenced yard, because you want puppy to learn to go when on leash - don't end the walk as soon as puppy has finished all her business.  This will teach puppy that the fun (walking, sniffing, exploring) ends when she goes potty, so she will try to hold out longer to ensure the walk lasts.  Stay in the yard while puppy is on leash and wait for her to do her business, then use the walk as part of the reward for going potty outside.

3.  Make frequent trips outside

Young puppies have small bodies and cannot hold it for long.  When confined, puppies generally can hold it for 3-4 hours (depending on their age, breed, size, health, and individual differences).  However, when puppies are active they can go as frequently as every 30-45 minutes!

Puppies most commonly need to go:
  • After being physically active (after playing or anything exciting has happened)
  • Shortly after eating (I mean shortly - as in minutes or even seconds!)
  • Immediately after waking from sleep and after having been confined 
  • Shortly after drinking a large amount of water

4.  Prevent mistakes, don't punish them

It will not help your dog learn to rub her nose in it, to hit or scold your puppy, or to punish her for soiling in the house.  This is especially true if you did not catch her in the act.  Puppies have short memories and will not know why they are being punished, they will think they are being punished for whatever they were doing in that moment, which could be happily greeting you at the door.   Punishing puppy if you do catch her in the act may cause her to be afraid to potty in front of you (even when outside), causing further difficulty with housetraining.

If you missed it entirely, just clean it up using an enzymatic cleaner and review your supervision plan, ensuring you have puppy in your sight at all times.  If you catch her in the act, scoop her up and get her outside as quickly as possible.  If she finishes potty outside, giver her a very tasty treat and tell her what a good girl she is, showing her that she gets rewarded for going outside and not in the house.


It's best to get puppy in the habit of going outside and to avoid mistakes as much as possible.  Once puppy starts going potty in the house it is much harder to break her of the habit (though still possible!).  The above protocol works with dogs of any age, but keep in mind that puppies and adult dogs learn differently and both their bodies and brains are very different developmentally.  Also a previously housetrained dog who regresses can benefit from going back to fundamentals until she is back on track.

*If a previously housetrained dog suddenly starts having accidents and you can't think of a reason for this, please make a trip to your veterinarian for a check-up as this could be a medical issue.

If you are struggling with a difficult housetraining situation, or are new puppy-owners and would like assistance potty-training your new pup, please contact our Certified Professional Trainer, Jillian to set up a consult.

Details on our rates and service area can be found on our website, and details about Jillian's qualifications and training philosophy can be found at Pawsitivecare.ca/about-the-owner

Enjoy your adorable new puppy, or new furry friend, and happy training!


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Thursday 23 July 2015

Preventing Heat Stroke in Your Dog


Preventing Heat Stroke in Your Dog

Originally written July 23, 2015

Today's heat advisory has brought back to the forefront our hot weather policies and preventing heat stroke in the dogs we walk. 


Here are some of our tips to help keep your dog safe when it's very hot and humid out:

  • When the schedule allows, set the dog walk up for earlier in the day, when it's cooler 
  • Provide a portable water carrier so your dog-walker can offer water to your dog throughout the walk 
    • It is advisable that each dog have their own water bottle or bowl to prevent the spread of disease or illness 
  • Dog walkers will take breaks in the shade and monitor the dog for signs that he needs a break.  Some early signs are:
    • Panting more heavily
    • Trying to search for shade and/or water, pulling towards trees or cooler areas
    • Walking more slowly
    • Thicker, more sticky saliva
  • There are signs of more severe hyperthermia (heat stroke), however we advise being proactive and preventing the dog from getting to that point.  An article on the more serious signs and what to do in a heat stroke emergency is available on the Pet Education blog
With regards to our professional dog-walking service, our policy is that when the temperature reaches 35 degrees Celsius or higher with the humidity index, we reduce walks to 20 minutes or less, or 20-minute intervals for hour-long walks.  

We will remain with your dog for the full scheduled visit, but will bring the dog back home to cool off, drink water, and can play games inside or snuggle and spend time with your dog in ways that they enjoy.  If the walk is a full hour, we can go back out again for a final opportunity for a potty break and a little more walking before we leave.  

If your dog is particularly sensitive to the heat, please let us know so that we can be especially vigilant and plan for more breaks in the shade or a shorter walk if needed. 

We can also do water play in your back yard if you have a pool or other water toys for your dog.  



Clients can also provide stuffed frozen Kongs or other cool treats for your dog to snack on when you are away.  If you leave a Kong or frozen treat in your freezer we are more than happy to offer it at the end of our walk.  For suggestions on preparing frozen Kongs, see our Kong Stuffing Blog Post.


If it's just too hot to take your dog out for longer than a potty break, check out our Boredom Busters blog for ideas to keep your dog entertained in the house.  

All of our dog-walkers and pet-sitters are trained in Emergency Pet First Aid.  We never transport your dogs in our vehicles without your express written consent, and dogs are never left unattended in vehicles.  


Manitoba Parks also has a Paws in Parks webpage with a list of dog-friendly activities in the province, including a list of dog-friendly swimming areas:

Click for enlarged image

Enjoy the summer and stay safe! - Don't forget water for the humans too :) 



More more informative blog posts, visit our main page at PawsitivePooch.BlogSpot.com
www.PawsitivePooch.BlogSpot.ca