| Heart Trouble In Dogs | 1 |
| Biting Cats | 1 |
| Puppy Toilet Training | 2 |
| Feline Greenies™ now available in NZ | 3 |
| Cat Aids | 4 |
If we never interfered with the toileting habits of a puppy living in our home, simply cleaned up without comment, the puppy's instincts would have him clean in your home by adolescence. However, due to a variety of reasons (usually human interference) many puppies' instincts in regard to toilet training become confused.
The puppy cannot possibly understand that your entire house is the pack's living area and should not be fouled – so do not give him/her full access to your home to allow toileting in inappropriate locations.
Restrict the puppy's access by a combination of any of the following means:
1) Confine to a crate
2) Have the puppy accepting of being placed in a small room such as the laundry or bathroom (where accidents will be easily cleaned up)
3) Conditioning the puppy to be on lead, secured to the leg of a table; or
4) Give the puppy your full and undivided attention.
You will need to take the puppy outside, on lead, to the grassy area where you would like him/her to toilet
every 30 minutes to begin with – if he/she obliges, reward with titbits of a favourite food treat, reserved for this occasion and/or a game.
Our aim is to minimise the number of inappropriate soilings and be able to reward toileting in the appropriate location.
If the puppy does manage to toilet in the wrong location, do not reprimand or show your disapproval in any way. You will not teach the puppy not to toilet in the house, you will simply be teaching him/her not to toilet in your presence – then when you go to the grassy toilet spot, puppy will not want to toilet because it will make you cross!
Furthermore, when you return indoors, the puppy will take the first opportunity to find an appropriate spot (your bedroom or the living room – anywhere away from his/her own sleeping and eating areas) to eliminate, when you're not watching!
Watch for the obvious times that your puppy will need to toilet, such as immediately after a meal or a big drink; upon waking up; after a play session; and any other time in between
Ensure that the puppy is in the correct toilet location at these times.
If your puppy is fed on a regular schedule, you will find that toilet habits will also be performed on a consistent schedule – this will help you in anticipating just when to get the pup to that grassy toilet spot in time!
If, while watching your puppy in your house, you observe the pre-toileting behaviours such as sniffing, circling, etc (it will vary from one puppy to the next), rush the puppy to the backdoor, keeping him/her close to floor level so that they can see where they are being taken and how to get to their correct toilet spot.
Thoroughly clean the areas where the puppy has had accidents. The scent of previous droppings will stimulate a puppy to stop and toilet then and there. Use this fact to your advantage by collecting up any droppings and placing them in the grassy area where you would like the puppy to toilet – he/she will believe that this area is his/her chosen toilet.
Feeding your puppy indoors and locating water bowls indoors will hasten the understanding that these areas are not suitable for toileting.
Pet Talk is a free newsletter produced and edited by the radio vet, Dr Dennis Scott BVSc MACVSc for the benefit of all people concerned with the health and welfare of their pets, or just interested in animals.
This publication is sponsored by providers of quality pet products Ethical Agents Ltd, Greenies and Supercoat as well Radio Pacific, the racing radio station and host of The Animal Show with Dr Denny, 11 am every Friday.
Tune in for free advice. Ring 0800 3093099 on Friday with all your pet’s behavioural or medical problems.
