Positive Approach Works Best with Housetraining Puppies
Why does housetraining fail? That's the question a lot
of people ask themselves every day, usually while cleaning up after a growing
puppy they ruefully admit is only "partially" housetrained, which
is not really housetrained at all.
If you're struggling with a Christmas puppy who just
doesn't seem to be catching on, take some time to review your battle plan,
with an eye toward avoiding those traps that sabotage your efforts.
First among these traps is using a negative approach
to housetraining. Successful housetraining requires setting up a potty
schedule, limiting your pup's roaming options to areas you can supervise,
showing your pup the area you want him to use, and praising him for going
there. Generations may have followed the old "shove his nose in it
and swat" method, but that doesn't work as well as a positive approach.
You simply must go out with your puppy and praise him for getting it right.
You're not being fair otherwise.
Even with a positive approach, people make mistakes.
Here are a few things to remember:
Understand your puppy's physical limitations. Little puppies have little
storage capability and need to be taken out frequently. Do not expect
growing dogs to be able to "hold it" as long as a healthy adult
dog can. If you must leave your puppy for the day, limit his wandering
to a small area and put down newspapers to make cleanup easier. Don't
punish him for any messes he makes while you're gone. Take him outside,
let him relieve himself and praise. And clean up the mess inside without
comment.
Remember how puppies work. Puppies need to relieve themselves after
they wake up, after they eat or drink, and after playing. Make sure to
take your puppy out then. Do not offer food and water on demand. Instead,
offer them at regular intervals to help predict when your pup will need
a trip outside.
Clean up mistakes thoroughly. What you can't see, a puppy can still
smell -- and smells invite repeat business. Keep commercial products on
hand that use enzyme action to break down the smell. White vinegar also
does a great job of neutralizing the odor of urine. Don't use an ammonia-based
product though: Ammonia smells like one of the components in urine to
a pet.
Limit your puppy's wanderings. You wouldn't let a toddler explore your
entire house without supervision; don't let your puppy, either. Close
doors and use baby gates to keep your pup where your can keep an eye on
him. That way, if you see him start to make a mistake, you can whisk him
outside and praise him for finishing the job where you want him to.
Be patient and consistent. While some dogs seem to housetrain themselves,
others are slower to learn. Just keep working at it.
If you're still struggling after a month or so (and
especially if you're having housetraining problems with a grown dog),
have your veterinarian check to make sure your dog has no health problems,
and then ask for a referral to a behaviorist.
You can also get some excellent advice in two books
-- one old, one new -- on the subject that go a long way toward explaining
why your dog behaves the way he does. The late Job Michael Evans' work
on the subject, "The Evans Guide for Housetraining Your Dog"
(IDG Books Worldwide, $17.95), is a classic that's helped convert many
recalcitrant Rovers. "Housetrain Your Dog Now" (Plume, $12.95),
by Krista Cantrell, is a readable new book that stresses empathy and
positive training.
PETS ON THE WEB
"Time spent cuddling hedgehogs
is not deducted from one's life span!" So announces the Hedgehog
Hollow Web site (http://hedgehoghollow.com/),
a wonderful collection of whimsy and practical advice for fanciers of
these prickly looking little animals. The host of this page is also the
author of the Internet's Hedgehog FAQ (frequently asked questions), and
you'll find links to the multi-part document on the site. You'll also
find links to mailing lists and other hedgehog sites, along with lots
of cute pictures and stories. Hedgehogs are illegal in some states (including
California), but if you live where you can have one and have been wanting
to learn more, this Web site is a great place to start.
THE SCOOP
Hairballs are normal for cats, as
is watching where you walk to avoid the disgusting "gifts" that
always seem to be left on the most expensive rugs in the house. If the
problem is severe, your veterinarian may suggest the use of a mild laxative
to help the hairballs pass through your cat's system.
You should also try combing your cat more frequently
to remove excess hair. And you might try increasing the fiber in your
cat's diet -- adding a little canned pumpkin daily is a great way that
many cats enjoy.
Don't let your cat become a laxative junkie, as daily
use decreases the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Hairball remedies
should not be used more than twice weekly except on the advice of your
veterinarian.
QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK
Q: My sister is allergic to cats
and dogs. But as she has gotten older, that seems to have gone away. (She
visits friends who have two very big dogs, but though they shed hair all
over the floor and couch, she doesn't have any allergic reaction.)
Are there any kinds of cats with fur that won't make
her sneeze? I really want a cat, but not if it's going to make my sister
sick. -- S.F., via e-mail
A: A great many people who can tolerate exposure
to dogs can't manage any time at all with cats before showing allergic
reactions. Allergies to cats are so prevalent and so severe that they've
been suggested as one of the factors in the increase in asthma, especially
since more cats than ever before spend their lives inside.
Your sister may well be able to tolerate dogs for
a certain period of time, but that doesn't mean she'll be able to live
with one. And it certainly doesn't mean she'll be able to tolerate a
cat. Any cat, by the way, because there's no such thing as a cat who
isn't a potential allergy trigger. That's because it's not fur that
causes the problem, but an ingredient in cat saliva that gets deposited
on fur when the animal grooms and that spreads as flakes of skin and
secretions commonly called "dander."
Some people survive well enough with animals and
allergies, but it does require some effort. Some things that help include:
Keeping animals clean. A weekly water bath (no soap needed) for cats
has been shown to reduce levels of dander and may make living with a cat
workable. It's best if a non-allergic member of the family handles the
pet-grooming chores.
Keeping animals out of sleeping areas at all times. While it's hard
to give up the hot-water-bottle pleasures of sleeping with a pet on the
bed, your body needs a break from the stress of fighting off allergens.
Limiting exposures to other allergens. Keeping all your allergies under
control can help your body handle the exposure to a pet.
Most important is to work with an allergist who's
willing to work with you. The one whose advice starts and ends with
"your cat needs a new home" probably isn't the one to choose.
Be aware, however, that that advice may well end up being the only thing
that helps. Some people are just not meant to share their lives with
furry animals.
Q: I'm tired of my cat knocking things
off the shelves! I am a collector and have a lot of glass figurines, a
few of which have been broken. What can I do to protect them from Calypso?
- B.G., via e-mail
A: Practically speaking, you can't keep cats on the
ground. The best you can do is display your treasures in ways that keep
them safe or, at least, safer.
You might consider moving your collection to a single
room and keeping the door closed when you're not around to supervise.
Glass-fronted book cases are another option for keeping collectibles
and cats apart.
Although it's probably best to keep your most valuable
pieces where your cat can't get to them at all, other objects can be
made safer from the wanderings of clumsy cats. Double-sided tape or
Velcro can be used to "lock" objects in place on shelves,
and can be found at any home-supply store. You can also try a product
called Quake Hold, a putty that seals objects to their display surface.
Quake Hold can be hard to find outside of earthquake-prone California,
but your hardware store may be able to order some for you.
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