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One of the biggest challenges for pet owners is to train them and prevent disasters in the home. Many owners are particularly concerned about their dogs’ hygiene and cleanliness. For this reason, there are basic rules that dogs must follow in order to maintain a peaceful coexistence with their owners. One of the most important of these is urinating and defecating in designated areas. This is to avoid leaving “surprises” in every corner of the house.
Anticipate when your dog will relieve himself:
Healthy animals usually have a certain routine before going to the bathroom. Therefore, the main times when they urinate or poop are usually after eating, after a night’s sleep or after playing.
It is essential that you teach your dog where you want him to go. Take your pet outside on a leash, in the garden, or to another designated “toilet” spot. This should be done at times when your dog is likely to defecate: after eating, sleeping or playing. Ideally, he should be rewarded at the beginning of training when he performs a need in the designated spot.
Reward him for following commands
Positive reinforcement is the reward dogs receive when they follow their owner’s rules. In this sense, pets are more likely to follow commands if they are rewarded every time they relieve themselves in a designated place. Rewards can take the form of treats, food, or petting. In fact, owners should analyze their animals to determine which rewards motivate them the most.
Create a specific place for your dog to relieve himself
Try creating a small space in your yard, garden or where you walk your dog. This way, your pet will quickly tire of sounds, smells or stimuli that might distract him from the goal of defecating or urinating. Also, give your dog plenty of time to relieve himself: six or seven minutes is long enough.
Make an appointment with the vet
If your dog starts having sudden accidents or if you’ve been trying to train him for a long time without success, it’s best to have him examined by a professional. You can contact a vet or an ethologist to see if his behavior is caused by a medical problem.
Do not use violence
Some owners tend to punish their pets when they don’t do what they want. However, it is a bad idea to use strategies such as rubbing the dog’s muzzle in urine or feces. You shouldn’t even hit him, as such techniques will only induce fear in your pet.
How do you teach your dog to relieve himself in the apartment?
Dogs have a natural instinct not to pee or poop where they sleep. In fact, they consider this space their “den”. For this reason, they tend to relieve themselves anywhere in the house. Especially in a place they don’t consider “theirs”. The key is to make them understand that the whole house is their lair.
A common strategy is to use a wire cage, a cardboard box, or covering a corner of the house with newspaper. There may be a few toys or objects in the corner that attract the animal’s attention.
Try to clean up the dog’s urine or feces immediately. This is because your dog can perceive its own smell due to its excellent olfactory ability. And this can make the situation much worse. Especially if it doesn’t do its business where you want it to. If your dog discovers his urine, he will probably relieve himself in the same place.
If you want to read more articles like this, we recommend visiting our Animals category.
