Does your dog leave special gifts inside your home?

Potty training is frustrating period. When Lady Gaga was a puppy, she pooped and peed everywhere to the point where we had to start using diapers. I read by rubbing a dog’s nose to where they left their grace, would stop this behavior and honestly, it only got worse. Lady Gaga started pooping in places where she would not be seen. This caused a real problem because we found poop that was days old which is both unsanitary and gross at the same time.


I almost gave up on Lady Gaga because I no longer wanted to be yelled at by my father and grandmother for turning their house into a doggy restroom. To resolve this issue, I took Lady Gaga to puppy training classes. I learned that not only did I need to change Lady Gaga’s feeding schedule, but I needed to change my own schedule too.


Everyone has a crazy schedule whether you’re a student, teacher, homemaker, parent, doctor, engineer, or working at a fast food place to make ends meet. The truth is, when owning a pet, cat, dog, rat, hamster, birds, etc, we have to make changes in our lives to be responsible pet owners. Now I’m not saying to become obsessive with our pets, but we need to make time to set a feeding schedule, so they won’t leave nasty presents on our floors. Trust me, this is easier said than done. So this is how I stopped Lady Gaga from pooping inside the house:

1. I only feed her once a day. I feed her in the mornings so she has all day to poop outside and once I bring her in she won’t need to go.
2. She does not have an open bowl of food lying around. Our trainer told us that dogs like routines and they need boundaries in order to properly train them. Or else, our dogs will never learn.
3. When Lady Gaga did poop or pee inside the house, I didn’t yell at her or rub her nose against the spot where she went to the restroom. There were times where I wanted to scream, but I took a deep breath and kept my cool. I would clean her mess and spray Dog Whisperer’s Natural Odor and Stain Remover. I picked this product because it was both made in the USA and is not harmful to pets or humans. If you’re more money conscious, as long as you buy a stain remover that is pet friendly and has natural enzymes it will work. She never pooped in those spots again.
4. I kept a watchful eye on Lady Gaga. She no longer wandered the house alone. If she ran to one room, I made sure my dad or grandma was there to watch her. If I’m alone in the house, she has to be in eyesight of where I am at. This helps to catch our dogs in action.
5. I started learning Lady Gaga’s signals. Whenever she begins to sniff the floor, I know she needs to go. So pay attention to your dog’s behavior.
6. Whoever is the first person to wake up in the morning needs to take the dogs outside to relieve themselves. Remember, adult dogs can hold their gifts for 5-6 hours, whereas, puppies 3-4 hours.Change their diet. Even though it’s more expensive, try to feed your dog holistic food. The food is healthier and your dog will eat less, therefore will poop less.
   

Now if you live in an apartment or don’t have a back yard, here are some ideas to help you.

1. Figure out what works for you best. If you have a busy schedule in the morning, feed your dog in the evening. If you’re busy in the evening, then feed your dog in the morning.
2. As soon as you wake up, take your dog out to relieve themselves.
3. 30 minutes to an hour after feeding your dog, take them out to go to the restroom. Wait about 10-15 minutes because some dogs may be shy to do their business.
4. Take your dog out at least eight times a day to relieve themselves.
5. If you’re using pads to train your dog, put a piece of their poop on the pad so they know what it’s for. Also, buy spray that will attract your dog to go to the restroom on the pad. Now if your dog rips up the pads, don’t get mad, easier said than done, I know. This means your dog is bored. Take him on an extra 15 minute walk, and buy doggy toys. This will keep your dog preoccupied.
   

Always remember to be patient. Right now I am potty training Glinda and just the other day, right in front of me, she pooped inside the house. I wanted to scream and rub her nose on the ground, but like when Lady Gaga had her accident, I took a deep breath and cleaned it up. Like I’ve said, this is easier said than done.



Just remember, as the great Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan says, “Never discipline your dog out of frustration or anger.”


Good Luck! If you have any tips you want to share, please email me at Brokerichkids@gmail.com.