There is new evidence everyday that points to the soothing effects of pet ownership. Many studies have shown that you can actually lower your blood pressure simply by petting a cat or dog. If you have kids a dog or cat can help them learn responsibility and help them learn to care about the needs of others as well as their own. But if your adult dog makes frequent messes in the house that can create an enormous amount of stress. How can you stop their bad habits? Is house training an adult dog possible?
There are a few things about dogs that are important to remember. For one thing, dogs are very clean by nature. They are den animals and don’t like to soil their den. They will try very hard to not relieve themselves near their bed, food or water. Dogs are also very intelligent. Most of them can be easily trained. They really do love you and want to please you. It’s just a matter of finding the right way to ‘communicate’ with your best friend so house training an adult dog can be frustration and confusion free.
House training an adult dog may not even be about a lack of training. If you have an un- neutered or un- spayed dog the urinating in the house could be more an element of marking their territory than lack of training. This is especially likely if you have a male dog, more than one dog in the household and your dog isn’t neutered.
Obviously the first thing you should try is to get your dog spayed or neutered. This will very likely take care of the problem right away since neutered and spayed dogs are less interested in marketing their territory. This may be all the house training you need.
If the dog has been marking it’s territory for a fairly long time getting them ‘fixed’ may not help right away. The marking behavior may have become more of a habit and it might take a little more effort to get them to break that habit.
Clean the spots they have marked with a non ammonia solution. Ammonia smells like pee and might encourage them to re-mark the spot. Once the spot has been cleaned put their food bowl there. This will make that area seem like their den and they will be unwilling to soil it.
This should stop the territory marking habit fairly quickly. If you want more tips on house training an adult dog you should get a copy of ‘The Ultimate House Training Guide’. Written by a dog trainer with the assistance of veterinarians this guide can make house training an adult dog much easier.
You and your dog share a very wonderful and unique bond. Don’t let bad habits ruin the time you spend together. House training an adult dog is easy if you have the right tools and know what to do and what not to do.
