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When Rover Won’t Go In The Clover
By Lynn Whittaker
Bow Wow U
For the most part, we enjoy our companionship with our dogs. Their willingness to please, happy tail wags, and zest for life always make our days better. One aspect of our lives together can prove to be frustrating at times, and that is the infamous potty break. This frustration mostly occurs when its time for a walk outside in inclement weather, like rain, or snow. You’ve got your coat on, the dog’s coat, the leash is in place, you open the door and Rover puts on the brakes. Once you get the dog outside, your work continues as you and your dog shuffle up and down the yard, trying to stay dry, warm and looking for the perfect spot to "go". You both want indoors, but the inability of your pet to cooperate by eliminating makes this situation aggravating. How can you solve this growing dilemma?
Why not teach a potty prompt! This is a word or phrase used, when heard by the dog causes him or her to eliminate. The best way to teach this is to use an association between a word and the action of eliminating. It’s nothing more than a command like, "sit", or "come". The key is timing. Use words like "go potty" or "get busy" as your dog starts to sniff and circle, you continue to say this until the dog actually goes to the bathroom. Once he or she does, you want to praise lavishly letting your dog know that this was just what you were looking for. By repeating this process every time you take your dog out your dog will associate the words with the action. Eventually when you say the word, he or she will be reminded of the action and will go much faster.
If you travel with your pets, this is a training tool never to be left home. When you pull off to a rest area, your frustrations of having to wait forever for Rover to find the perfect place can be relieved. Using that potty prompt once your dog has familiarized himself or herself with it, will allow you to take them places where they can eliminate in even the smallest of spaces.
No dog is too old to train, so whether your dog is young or old this technique can be taught to even the most belligerent furry family member. All dogs can learn, but it is important to know what motivates your dog, whether its food, toys, or just praise. It’s also important to understand that all dogs learn at different paces. Some pick up tricks quickly and there are others that may take a while to grasp the techniques. The most important job we have as owners is to make ourselves aware of this, to exercise our patience, and be consistent with our pets. Not only will using techniques like this enhance our relationship with our pets, it will make our lives even more convenient, by keeping us drier and warmer!
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