Pet Care: Potty-training a dog requires schedule, not scolding
First in a series.
Q: I have a 3-year-old Chihuahua named Kiki whom I seem to be unable to potty train. I have repeatedly tried the most commonly suggested technique of sticking the dog鈥檚 nose in it, scolding her and putting her outside. Yet she still does not understand and has daily accidents in the house. At her age, is it a lost cause?
Dr. Nichol: It鈥檚 frustrating to live with a dog who defiles your home. It can make you mad as @#%&! But the methods you鈥檝e tried so far could never succeed. Repeated reprimands have caused Kiki anxiety, making it harder for her to learn. As a last resort, we鈥檒l apply modern learning theory to help your confused Chihuahua find the restroom.
Kiki鈥檚 natural inclination, like all creatures of her ilk, is not to soil her living area. It鈥檚 been hard for her because, like most pets, she鈥檚 stuck inside a building 鈥� your house. Unless you have a dog door, she has to hold her urine until you remember to put her out. Your timing may be way off. Little Kiki hasn鈥檛 a clue.
Dogs are our best friends. They belong in our homes but they鈥檇 be better suited to sharing a cave with us, off the grid, on 100 acres of national forest. Like their free-living cousins, they鈥檇 have the natural choices that are wired into their canine brains. Kiki could slip out to 鈥渟ee a man about a horse,鈥� whenever necessary, and then happily rejoin you in your pristine earthen hovel. Sounds idyllic, doesn鈥檛 it?
Part of Kiki鈥檚 dilemma is that she鈥檚 developed the habit of returning to the same indoor spot when nature calls. She doesn鈥檛 know what else to do. Punishment wouldn鈥檛 help even if you busted her in the act every single time because, well, urinating is normal. The poor dog has no idea what you want from her.
Set the kid up for success by giving her a schedule. Just as soon as you bounce out of bed and use your bathroom, jump into your clothes and lead your fine pupster outside on-leash to the designated dog latrine in your yard.
Next week: What does a leash-walk have to do with housetraining?
鈥� For help with behavior problems, you can sign up for a Zoom group conference at drjeffnichol.com.
Dr. Jeff Nichol is a residency-trained veterinary behaviorist in Albuquerque. He provides consultations by Zoom group and individually/in-person. Sign up for his weekly blog or post questions (drjeffnichol.com) or mail to 4000 Montgomery NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87109.
