Basic Indoor Potty Training Schedule

This is a basic guideline for an indoor toilet training schedule.  When toilet training, the thing to remember is that prevention of accidents is key.

Dog Toilet Training Schedule:

8:30a.m.         Wake up.  Remove dogs from kennel.  Place in confined potty area with breakfast.

9 a.m. Remove food bowls, leave dogs in potty area.  Praise lavishly for using the

        proper potty area.

9:10 a.m. Morning walk.  Praise and special treat for going potty outside.

9:45 a.m. Return from walk, place dogs immediately in potty area.  Praise lavishly 

        for using proper potty area.

10 a.m.        Supervised free time in the house.  Interrupt any mistakes.

11 a.m.        Dogs drink water.  Return to confined potty area and praise for proper

       toilet behavior.  Remove from confinement after proper potty.

12 p.m.        Baby gets ready for a nap.  Put dogs in kennel or confinement area.

1-2 p.m.        Dogs wake up from nap, remove from kennel and place in potty area.

3 p.m. Dog training or short dog walk.

3:45 p.m. After walk/ training/ play time, return dogs to confined potty area.

       Praise and treat for proper toilet behavior.

4 p.m. After dogs have used proper toilet, supervised free time in the house.

5:30-6 p.m. Husband returns home from work, greets dogs warmly for 1-2 minutes,

        then places both dogs in confined potty area.

6:30 p.m. Dinner time.  Dogs are confined to kennel or area while humans eat.

7 p.m. Feed dogs dinner.  Place in confined area with food.

7:30 p.m. Remove food bowls.  Release dogs for supervised free time if they have

        used the proper potty area.

9 p.m. Confined potty area.

10 p.m.        Give dogs 10 minutes in confined potty area, then crate for the night.

2 Italian Greyhounds

This client came to me with a rather interesting problem.  She has two Italian Greyhounds, Maggie & Toby.  Their problem is improper toilet use throughout the house.

Italian Greyhounds as a breed tend to be harder to properly potty train, especially for those of us who live in inclement weather.  The two were once successfully potty trained to go in the house in a designated area, but a house move and new baby in the house have thrown them off their routine.

The number one reason most people have problems toilet training is because of the lack of a proper exercise schedule.  All dogs, no matter their size, must be exercised with a proper walk every day.

Below is a basic list to keep in mind.  For this client, the things listed as "basics" are the most important to remember and focus on.

Toilet Training:

BASICS:

Regular exercise including walks

Keep to a schedule

Confinement when unsupervised

Lots of encouragement for proper toilet behavior, excitement and praise!

Immediately take to toilet area after:

*removing from kennel 

*waking up from a nap

*drinking water

*rigorous play time

*excited time (when you come home)

*returning from a walk

*first thing in the morning

*before bed

FEEDING:

Reduce food portion:  feed 1/3 to 1/4 cup twice daily.

Use extra food for training.

ACCIDENTS:

Prevention is key.  When caught in the act, clap hands loudly and say no.  Do NOT yell, scream, or get angry.  Immediately and calmly take dog to the proper toilet area.  Immediately clean up mess with proper enzyme cleaner.

PROPER TOILET USE:

Praise dog lavishly EVERY time they toilet in the proper area.  Give special treat after they have gone potty (these treats are ONLY for going potty in the correct area).

CRATE/ KENNEL:

The dog’s crate/ kennel should never be used as punishment.  This should be seen as a special, safe, comfortable place by the dog.

Toilet Training Action Plan:

*What type of indoor bathroom do you want to use?

-Using an indoor grass/turf bathroom will help with being able to go outside as well.

Products at Pottypark.com

*Where do you want the dog bathroom to go?

-Choose ONE spot for the bathroom to go.  Somewhere that may also be used as a confinement area with only enough room for food and water bowls, bed, and bathroom.

*What phrase to use for the command to go potty?

Since Italian Greyhounds are extremely reluctant to use the bathroom outside in the winter, it is important to give them a proper option inside the house.  In this case I would recommend purchasing an indoor dog bathroom that resembles grass so the dogs will be less reluctant to use the bathroom outside.  This will help ensure that they are able to use their indoor bathroom in a proper manner, but to also be able to go potty outside without hesitation.

Breed of the Month--Italian Greyhound

Italian Greyhound


Color:  Black, white, fawn, cream, blue, any of these broken with white (no brindle)
Height:  12.5-15 inches
Weight:  8-11 lbs
Life Span:  12-15 years


Breed Health Concerns:  Autoimmune disease, hypothyroidism, patellar luxation, dental problems, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, epilepsy.


Coat:  soft, fine, glossy, short
Country of Origin:  Italy

Visit the American Kennel Club for breed standards and more information.

There is evidence in the tombs of Egypt of this breed on artifacts and relics from 2,000 years ago.  The breed received its name, Italian Greyhound, around the 1500s as their popularity grew across Europe.

Also known as "Iggy," the Italian Greyhound bonds quickly to his family and is very affectionate.  It is recommended that you have more than one Iggy to keep them happy, as their fragile physique is too delicate for most other breeds and small children to play with.  Extra care must be taken when adding this breed to your home.  Potty training this breed can also be a bit of a challenge, especially if you live in area with inclement weather.  The Italian Greyhound may need you to give him a coat in cold weather to keep him warm and healthy.

The Italian Greyhound tends to be a nervous, anxious breed.  It is very important that owners of this breed do not unintentionally encourage this behavior.  Never pet or comfort a dog that is shaking or trembling with fear.  By giving attention at this time, you are communicating to the dog that this anxious behavior is good.  You are telling your dog to continue that behavior, which we do not want.  It is important to have a calm, relaxed demeanor at all times with this breed, and especially during training.

Exercise:
The Italian Greyhound will generally adjust to what the activity level of your household is.  The Iggy gets plenty of exercise with a short walk each day, and following his family around.

Grooming:
The Italian Greyhound has thin skin that must be kept warm and clean.  This breed's coat is easy to care for with a simple wipe-down every now and then.  The Iggy's face requires extra attention to stay clean and free from infection.

Training:
Socialization is key for this breed, the Iggy is a shy breed and will learn how to cope with all situations if properly socialized.  Train this breed from puppyhood to help encourage lifelong basic manners and good listening.  Proper motivation and quick training sessions are the best way to train your Italian Greyhound.

Common Training Terms

When beginning training your new dog, a LOT of information will be thrown out at you.  Everyone from the person you got your dog from, to the vet, to your next-door neighbor will be willing to offer you advice about how to train your new pet.  My advice?  Find a trainer that uses positive reinforcement methods and that you are comfortable with.  I highly recommend that EVERYONE take a basic manners dog class.  I have had dogs my entire life and had never taken a basic manners dog class until recently.  Even with everything I knew about dogs then, the information I learned in dog class was amazingly helpful.  Below is a helpful list of terms that you will probably come across in your dog training adventure.

Bribe.
Prior to asking your dog to perform a known cue or behavior, you show the dog something he values in an attempt to gain his compliance.

Capturing.
This is basically just waiting for a dog to do something specific, then rewarding him the second he does it.  Capturing training does not cue or prompt the dog in any way.

Lure.
Using a lure is enticing the dog with something he values in order to lure him into a position or cue.  The food lure is used in positive reinforcement training.

Molding.
This is actually physically placing the dog into the position you desire.  This is not generally recommended.

No Reward Marker.
This is a simple sound or phrase like "eh-eh," or "uh-oh" that communicates to the dog that the behavior you just presented me is not what I was looking for.  This is telling the dog, "that's not it, please try something else."

Proofing.
Proofing is the process of testing the dog's knowledge of a known behavior.  By testing where your dog is at with a cue, you can determine what he needs to work on and where to go from here.

Punishment.
A penalty that the dog does not like that will decrease the likelihood the dog will repeat that behavior.  This can be as simple as removal from an area, or as harsh as a physical correction (not recommended).

Reinforcement.
Anything that will increase the likelihood a dog will repeat a behavior.  Reinforcers are different for all dogs but generally include things such as:  treats, toys, attention, eye contact, and talking to a dog.

Reward.
Surprising the dog with something he values after performing the correct cue or behavior.
Example:  you ask a dog to sit, he sits, he take our a hidden food treat and give it to him.

Shaping.
This is rewarding any slow progress the dog makes towards the desired goal.  This is something that is helpful to be used with shy dogs.

Breed of the Month--Boxer

Boxer

Color:  Brindle, fawn shades, white markings, black mask
Height:  Males:  22-25 inches/  Females:  21-23.5 inches
Weight:  Males:  66-70.5 lbs/  Females:  55-62 lbs
Life Span:  11-14 years

Breed Health Concerns:  Allergies, Boxer cardiomyopathy, bloat, ear infections, hip dysplasia, epilepsy, congenital deafness, subaortic stenosis, hypothyroidism.

Coat:  Tight against body, smooth, hard, shiny, short
Country of Origin:  Germany

Visit the American Kennel Club for breed standards and more information.

Boxers are descended from the Bullenbeisser, originally bred to pull cars, hunt, and bait bulls.  The Boxer breed itself was refined in the late 1800s in Germany.  After World War I, the boxer was brought over to the United States, and has been a very popular breed ever since.

The boxer is known for his playing move of "put 'em up," as he seems to raise his paws up to play.  Boxers are energetic, curious, high-spirited, and playful.  Amazing with children, the boxer is a loyal family member.  Early socialization is key.

I have met many Boxers and would advise that socialization is the most important thing for a dog of this breed.  If properly socialized early on and throughout life, the Boxer will get along with humans and animals alike.  If this breed is not socialized well, they can become somewhat aggressive towards strangers and other animals.

Exercise:
The Boxer is a very high-energy breed and very athletic.  This breed needs a large amount of exercise each day.  Activities, lots of play time, and long walks every day are important.

Grooming:
The Boxer's short coat is easy to care for, but the folds in the dog's face require extra attention to be kept clean and free of infection.  The shortened muzzle of the dog can contribute to drooling.

Training:
The Boxer needs a fair but firm hand when it comes to training.  This breed's problem-solving ability and intelligence can make him a challenge to manage.  Basic obedience and socialization from puppyhood are very important.

Training Philosophies

There are many different dog training methods and ideologies out there.  To help you get a little understanding and be better able to pick the right trainer for you and your dog, I have listed below the three basic types of dog training philosophies.


1) Positive-Only Trainer.
These trainers will only use positive reinforcement training methods.  Trainers in this category will NEVER use corrections or punishment in their training programs.  The standard for positive-only trainers is use of food rewards.


2)  Balanced Trainer.
A balanced trainer will use positive methods whenever introducing new behaviors, customarily rewarded with food or toys.  Physical corrections are only used when all other training methods have been tried and failed.  The balanced trainer rarely has use for corrections.  To shape new behaviors, the balanced trainer will use the No Reward Marker and occasional negative punishment (removal of a reward).  
I would consider myself a balanced trainer.  I am familiar with both compulsion training and positive reinforcement.  I have seen how amazingly well positive reinforcement works for both the dog and the owner, and I always use this method of training.  Only when all other training methods have been exhausted would I try harsh methods or punishment.


I also believe that being a balanced trainer means helping your clients get a well balanced dog.  
Such Good Dogs firmly believes that all living creatures must find the correct balance of energy to be both happy and healthy. When training dogs, it is extremely important to be aware of your own energy. Dogs pick up on our energy and what we may be feeling without us even realizing they have done so. Further more, if you are unaware of your energy and try to train your dog when you are angry or frustrated, the dog will sense this and your training session will not go very well.  In fact, you can actually set back progress of your training by doing so when you do not have the proper energy and mind-set.  Life is all about finding balance.  We can teach you how to find balance for you and your dog.


3)  Compulsion Trainer.
Trainers in this category have the attitude of, "do it because I said so."  Compulsion trainers use punishments such as leash corrections to not only introduce new cues, but to train and maintain new behaviors as well.  The only motivation for the dog to comply is to avoid correction.  Compulsion trainers often use Prong and choke collars in training.  I am happy to say that this method of training dogs is now considered the "old school" way of thinking.  I would not recommend trainers who only use compulsion training methods.  

Traits that may impact training.

There are many traits a dog may inherently have that can impact training.  A dog's various behavior drives have a huge impact on training (previous blog posted 3-29-2011).

Other traits that may impact training include a dog's harness and independence.

Independence is a dog's need to govern himself.  Some dogs that do not easily take direction may be born leaders.  Dog's like this are usually unresponsive and may seem pushy.  To modify a dog with strong independence, owners must develop a training drive.

Most dogs will easily take direction given the proper motivation.  Many people think their dogs are highly independent when really they only took the leadership role because their owner did not.  Keep in mind that training a dog always includes reminding him who's in charge.  This does not mean you should yell at or abuse your dog, but that you should remain firm while being gentle.


Hardness refers to a dog's pain tolerance and ability to recover from pain.  A hard dog is able to accept large amounts of pain without seeming to notice.  People sometimes describe these dogs as having "tough hides."  Harsh corrections will not usually work on a hard dog.  Training should be focused on proper motivation and positive reinforcement.
A soft dog cannot tolerate pain at all and will cry or cower at the tiniest provocation.  When training a very soft dog, owners must remember to go very slow and always remain calm.  Often it is helpful to be extra aware of your body language and movement.  Moving to quickly around a soft dog can frighten him and hinder your training.

Being aware of where your dog is within all of these traits (behavior drives, independence, & hardness) will help you design a personalized and more appropriate training program for you and your dog.  

Breed of the Month--Silky Terrier

Silky Terrier

Color:  tan and blue

Height:  Males 9-10 inches/  Females: smaller

Weight:  8-10 lbs

Life Span:  12-15 years

Breed Health Concerns:  Allergies, patellar luxation, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, epilepsy, diabetes, collapsing trachea, dysplasia.

Coat:  flat, glossy, fine, silky single coat

Country of Origin:  Australia

Visit the American Kennel Club for breed standards and more information.

The Silky is a mix of many terrier breeds, developed in Australia in the early 1800s.  This breed is very adept at killing vermin but was mainly developed as a house pet and small companion.  

The Silky Terrier enjoys being with his humans, but is not really a lapdog.  The Silky Terrier is curious, smart, friendly, and lively.  It is important to socialize this breed from a young age; as with many small dog breeds, socialization is important to ensure a dog that behaves in all situations.

The Silky Terrier is very capable of quickly winning the hearts of anyone passing by.  They are small, cute, fluffy, and soft.  Who wouldn't fall in love with such a cutie?

Exercise:

The Silky Terrier does require more exercise than most other toy breed dogs, but one moderate walk and a bit of playtime each day will keep this little guy happy.

Grooming:

Silky Terriers must be bathed regularly and brushed daily to keep from developing tangles and mats.  Many non-show Silky owners will clip their dog's hair to help keep it simple.  Often Silky Terrier owners tie the hair up above the dog's eyes.

Training:

The Silky Terrier is intelligent and is a quick learner because he aims to please his master.  Socialization is vitally important to this breed.

Dog Behavior Drives

The instincts that make dogs act in the way they do are Behavior Drives.  Good training will manipulate each dog's drives to get the desired results.  Most anything a dog does can to attributed to one of these behavior drives.  Always consider your dog's behavior drives in training.

Sociability Drive.

This drive refers to a dog's natural friendliness and desire for companionship with other dogs and humans.  A dog's sociability drive falls into one of the following categories:
1)  Overly Social
2)  Neutral
3)  Unsociable
As I have noted many times throughout this blog, properly socializing your dog is vitally important to raising a well-balanced, well-behaved pet.  Depending on your dog's natural sociability drive, you can may have to take extra time and care in socialization exercises.  Dog's should always seem relaxed during socialization and allowed to move forward at their own pace.

Food Drive.
This drive refers to a dog's willingness to take food in exchange for performing a known behavior.  A dog with a high food drive is generally easier to train.  Positive reinforcement training uses food lures and food rewards.




Prey Drive.

This drive is defined as a dog's eagerness to chase small animals or objects, or to play tug of war.  Dogs with a high prey drive may be offered a toy as a reward during training instead of food.  When training using a dog's high prey drive, use his favorite toy only during training sessions and then put it away where the dog cannot get to it.  This will keep the favorite toy's value very high for training.

Play Drive.
This is a dog's desire to play with people or other dogs.  Although this drive can be used in training, it is generally too distracting to use as a regular reward.

Defense Drive.
This is a dog's desire to protect himself, his owner, or his territory.  This drive will often surface when using harsh training methods, and typically will manifest as aggression.  You must always be aware of your body posture and movement when dealing with a dog with a high defense drive.  The best training option for a dog with a high defense drive is an operant conditioning program.

Temperament

Temperament in dogs refers to the way a dog reacts to stimuli or situations.  It is how a dog thinks, behaves, and reacts to things.  A dog's reaction to stimuli or situations can include:  curiosity, fear, aggression, etc.  Research indicates that dogs (like humans) tend to have a general personality type.  Although breed can play a role in a dog's overall temperament, it is mainly based on each individual dog.  These natural traits of the dog can be weakened or strengthened through life experiences.  Raising your dog in a positive environment while giving him positive experiences, will help shape a good overall disposition in your dog.

There are seven general dog personality traits:


1)  Shy, fearful, timid
2)  Stubborn, dominant
3)  Nervous, anxious
4)  Hyper, excitable
5)  Calm, low-energy
6)  Aggressive, combative
7)  Moldable, responsive, eager

When looking to add a new dog to your family, keep the above information in mind.  Although every dog deserves a loving home, choosing a dog with a good natural disposition or temperament will help you get the fun-loving family pet you've always hoped for.