The arrival of a puppy always brings a lot in the house gioia e divertissement but also some problems. Obviously we are talking in this article about difficulties due simply to being a puppy, and not about real behavioral problems.
What is the biggest difficulty for the new owner?
One of the needs that most interest the owners in the first weeks of living together is Inseparare to newcomers where to do their needs. It must be said that it is normal that a puppy up to 4 months / 4 and a half months can do it where it happens, precisely because, not yet having a voluntary control of the sphincters, when he feels the need he will do it ... a bit like it happens to young children which in order to overcome this drawback have in fact a diaper.
What should be done to solve this problem and teach our puppy "where is the bathroom?"
First take advantage of the most probable moments during which the puppy will need to urinate, that is just woke up, after he has played or got upset after he got eat o drunk. We take him out of the house and go to luoghi where we want the puppy to do it (garden, flower bed, etc. etc.). We don't start playing with him or going around like a simple walk, because the puppy will get distracted by the game or in the patrol / exploration, and he won't think about urinating. But we stay still in the place we have selected without distracting the dog, and we wait for him, after having scoured, doing nothing else, to relax and do the needs. At this point it gratifichere with the game or with a nice walk. It is important not to return home immediately, otherwise the dog will understand that doing the needs means stop-exit and when he will be able to control himself, he will avoid doing so, in order to be able to spend more time out for a walk, with the result that he will urinate as soon as he returns home. .
At the same time, how do we manage homemade needs?
Important is do not punish the dog because the result will not be to stop doing them in that place, but to do them secretly (if there is no proof I will not be punished) and fear the owner with the worsening of the relationship. The dog understands that he will be punished not because he "made" the needs, but because "there are" the needs. If we find a nice surprise at home, we have to pretend nothing is like it is all normal, also keeping one peaceful mood. Later, we normally move the puppy away from the crime scene and without him being able to see, we clean. Cleaning must be done with neutral detergents and non-enzymatic or ammonia-based (simulates the dog's urine smell and so the dog thinks he is in the right place to do it again).
Later we can also use a splash of alcohol to eliminate the last residues. The reason why the absence of the dog during these operations would be preferable is due to the fact that often the puppy comes to participate in cleaning, starting to play with the objects that we are using to clean, so that he could begin to do the needs at home as an engagement and then play with us. To avoid old methods that were used, such as putting the dog's face in the urine scolding him, or indicating the place where he did it scolding him, because you only get more attention from the dog towards the place he used as a bathroom , and a reaction of fear or fear towards the human companion because he does not understand the reasons for the threatening behavior he is having towards him.
As for the use of the sleeper, I recommend using it only at night, perhaps even limiting the space available to the puppy, to make sure that the nightly need is done without too much damage, but during the day we must teach our new friend to get rid of her having the patience to wait the weeks it takes for him learn. The continuous use of the sleeper can teach the dog that needs can also be made at home and that a soft and horizontal surface such as the sleeper is a bathroom (rugs, sofas, beds….).
How long will it take for the puppy to start looking out?
Il time what will take depends on many factors: our commitment, dog experience, coexistence with other adult dogs who have already learned, not least how the puppy was kept in the weeks preceding the adoption. In fact, if the puppy has been kept separate from the mother and in a fence inside a room, he will have already learned to do it on the floor, not having had the opportunity to go out, and therefore it will take more time and patience to teach him the new places to go to urinate. Remember, however, that it is normal for a puppy up to 4-5 months can still do it at home.
Obviously my advice is to ask for help from a veterinarian expert in behavior in case of difficulty, as well as to know how to help the dog and the whole family system to better live their relationship.
Dr. Luca Calderisi
Veterinary Physician expert in Behavioral Medicine
Photo: Steve Leggat
