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By Root 381 0

housetrained also might need to go out fifteen times a day. The more predictable you are about taking out your dog when he needs it, the more likely he is to “hold it” until you let him outside. Every time you give your dog the chance to go outside when he needs to, he is reinforced by being able to honor his instinct to be clean. Every time you fail to get your dog out in time and he goes in the house, you have damaged your dog’s instinct to go outside and he is reinforced for going in the house by the relief he feels. Remember the definition of reinforcement? Reinforcement increases behavior. Thus, every time you get your dog or puppy outside in time, you increase the behavior or going outside. Every time you fail to get him out in time you increase the behavior of soiling in the house. Eventually, you will not need to go out so many times a day, but with puppies or remedial dogs you need to take them out often until the behavior of going to the bathroom outside is a strong one.

Time of Day. The second antecedent that you should look for is a certain time of day. For instance, say this is your usual ABC:

A. Owner leaves for work at 8 AM and returns at 6 PM to let dog out.

B. Dog goes outside.

C. Dog is reinforced by being able to go outside and keep his den clean.

Your adult dog will probably not have any trouble holding it for those ten hours. However, if one day you changed your ABC to this:

A. Owner stays home until 2 PM, lets dog out, and then does not return until 10 PM.

B. Dog gets the urge around 6 PM and by 9 PM cannot hold it any longer and goes in the house.

C. Dog is reinforced for going in the house because he got relief from extreme discomfort.

Your dog will have a great deal of difficulty holding it, even though it is for the same length of time. Try this, instead:

A. Owner stays home until 2 PM, lets dog out, and then does not return until 10 PM.

B. Neighbor comes in to walk the dog at 6 PM, his usual time to relieve himself.

C. Dog is reinforced by relieving himself outside.

Pay attention to any patterns—if your dog is consistently having accidents at the same time each day, make sure he gets taken out just before that time.

Activities. If your dog has done any of the following:

1. Woken up from a nap

2. Eaten dinner

3. Drank water

4. Played

5. Had something very exciting happen to him

It is a safe bet that you need to take him outside. Pay attention and take note of how long after these activities you dog needs to relieve himself, and make sure you take him out before that length of time has elapsed. Withhold food and water for a few hours before bedtime so that he has a better chance of making it through the night. Make it easy for him!

Doggy Signs. This is where you get to pretend that you are a scientist in the bush, studying the habits of the wily and elusive “Dogus Familyus.” Devote some time to observing your dog and you will see that he always gives you a “tell” when he is about to go. If your dog is one of the ones that goes to the door and scratches or barks, this part should be easy. However, it is not always that clear. Young puppies or dogs without a good history of being let out when they asked will sometimes go to the door without barking or otherwise indicating that they need to go out. They might stand there for a while, waiting for you to notice them. Just as likely, they will make a quick pass at the door and, seeing it closed, will go off in a corner and relieve themselves.

Dogs will often sniff before they go, but sometimes they may just barely peck their head to the ground. They may walk differently, or abruptly cease whatever activity they were doing and start walking pointedly towards a corner, they may circle or any other number of things. Your mission is to observe your dog and learn his signs, then run to get him out the door as soon as you see one.

If you pay attention to these four things—how often your dog needs to go, what time of day he needs to go, what activities predict that he will need to go, and what subtle signs he gives before he goes, you will