If you have or have had a dog, you will know that the first months are an odyssey as far as the needs are concerned. Teaching him to do it outside, setting out times, giving him rewards… they are suddenly cut short when, after two weeks, he goes back to relieve himself inside the house.
First reaction: scold him. It’s okay, we’ve all done it. Take a deep breath. But, as our ethologist veterinarian Pablo Hernández tells us, scolding the dog, in this case, is counterproductive . To avoid reaching this point, we can follow some simple steps in the education of the puppy that will help him to establish his particular “toilet”. And above all, don’t blame him if you’ve been slow to get him out or ignored his “warning” signs.
First, it is important to use positive reinforcement instead of punishment; that is, reward him with a cookie or a stick (always something healthy!) when he does his business in the place we have designated (for example, if we have a garden) or on the street. The animal will associate the award with the act and will know that it has done the right thing.
It is also important to establish a few hours of going out to the street and be constant . For example, it is a good idea to take him out after his meal hours, as it usually coincides with when they have to relieve himself. If they are still very young, one option is to put a toilet tray or a soaker on them (or the old-fashioned: newspaper) to get them used to doing it in a certain place, before going outside.
And patience: at the beginning we will have to take them out very often if we want them to get used to it. Above all, we must try not to lose our cool. Many experts indicate that until a month or two pass without doing anything indoors, the dog is not fully trained in this regard. The most effective thing is to ignore it: you will know that you have done something wrong.
Another essential element is cleanliness : we must thoroughly clean the area where the dog has relieved himself so that he does not detect his smell again and does not believe that this is the place where he should do it again.
In the case of bringing an adult dog home, you will have to be very patient. Let’s not forget that you must get used to your new home and that at first you will be out of place . If it is something abnormal that happens suddenly, we can consult with the vet to rule out that he has any disease. But, in cases of adopted dogs, affection, understanding and patience are the keys.
