| Having a pet dog is one great joy that many | | | | 5. When a good level of consistency is achieved, |
| people share. Dogs make great guards and | | | | let the dog roam around the house and observe it |
| companions to have at home. But being a dog | | | | during the times it is supposed to go potty. If you |
| owner is great responsibility. You have to provide | | | | see the dog whining and sniffing at a certain point, |
| the dog a lot of things, food, shelter, exercise, | | | | bring it immediately back to its potty spot. |
| toys, among many others. One of the most | | | | 6. Use terms for going potty consistently. Do not |
| dreaded responsibilities of a dog owner is potty | | | | confuse the dog by saying different phrases to |
| training. | | | | refer to elimination. Eventually, the dog would learn |
| However, this is not really a difficult ordeal with | | | | the terms as if they were commands to do its |
| the various techniques invented by pet owners in | | | | business in the spot you assigned it to. |
| teaching dogs how to eliminate properly. One | | | | 7. Avoid feeding or letting the dog drink before it |
| great, time-tested technique is paper training. | | | | sleeps. This will help you and the dog avoid |
| Here are some tips for paper training a dog: | | | | accidents during a time when it is difficult to move |
| 1. Spread newspapers over your dog's living | | | | to its potty spot. |
| space. Use old newspapers - you would not want | | | | 8. Always praise the dog when it goes potty on |
| to soil papers you have not even read yet. Watch | | | | the right spot. Have treats available to give the |
| the dog carefully and as soon as you notice it to | | | | dog rewards when it has done the right thing |
| whimper, sniffing the ground and running in circles, | | | | quite well. |
| bring the dog immediately the spot where you | | | | 9. Do not punish the dog extremely, as this would |
| want it to do its business. When the dog goes | | | | only teach it to avoid you. If you would scold do |
| potty in the right newspaper-covered spot, praise | | | | the dog, do it with a light, yet firm and |
| it lavishly, before removing the soiled paper. | | | | commanding tone. |
| 2. Leave a small piece of soiled paper on the right | | | | 10. Keep the dog's sleeping area very clean and |
| spot to potty to guide the dog where the "toilet" | | | | fresh-smelling. Keep it also far away from its |
| area is. | | | | potty spot, but not too far that the dog would |
| 3. When the dog makes accidents, simply wash | | | | not be able to reach it in time to go potty. |
| the area with warm water and rinse with diluted | | | | Potty training a dog is not really a difficult ordeal |
| vinegar to kill the odor the dog has left. | | | | with these tips in mind. With some degree of |
| 4. Soon enough, the dog would get used to the | | | | patience and determination, you could teach your |
| idea of using the newspaper and the spot to go | | | | dog to eliminate at the right place using paper |
| potty. As the dog becomes consistent, gradually | | | | training. Soon enough your dog will learn where to |
| reduce the area of the newspaper, making sure | | | | do it and be the good dog you have always |
| that it still goes to that spot where it is supposed | | | | wanted it to be. |
| to. | | | | |