Plex was an eight-week-old tricolor Beagle puppy, his face masked in brown with a perfect saddle on his back. He was kept in a big outdoor pen all of his short life, so house and housebreaking was not in his routine.
He was brought home in a kennel cab, which he do not like and howled all the way home. He was taken outside to his poop area and enjoyed the grass. After a few minutes he was brought inside and immediately urinated on the carpet. Scolded, he was again brought outside. It was obvious that he had no idea what he was supposed to do.
He was taken outside every fifteen minutes and finally he urinated outside. He was given a treat. Yes, he really liked to eat and the treat got his attention. The second time he relieved himself outside he got another treat. When brought into the house, he sat by the door and was taken out. He went directly to the grass and looked up for his treat without doing his business. He did not get rewarded just brought back inside. Fifteen minutes later, he was brought out to the grass, defecated and got a treat.
With only a few accidents, Plex got the message. He was housebroken in less than two days and never had another mishap.
For those older dogs it takes more patients. It is important for the owner to know what treat gets the dogs attention, some, like Plex, it is food, others a toy. Whatever the treat it is important to be consistent in the basic method. Reward when the job is done, no reward when it is not and a mild scolding and taken to the business area within seconds and the dog will get the idea.
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About the author:
Merrill Baum is a certified animal acupressure therapist, a former breeder of Great Danes, a former horse midwife, a pet care specialist in farm and pet services, a volunteer rehabilitator at the Wisconsin Humane Society, wildlife department, an e...
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