BehavioRx Case of the Month
for January 1997

A Classic Winter Puppy Housetraining Problem

This is a real shorty, but it typifies one of the many mistakes people make when housetraining puppies during cold or rainy weather. I felt we should feature this case, since it may save a lot of grief for Christmas puppy-people.

The clients had been following our BehavioRx program for Housetraining for three weeks. (Yes, I know there's no such word as Housetraining in the dictionary, but there will be some day.) The puppy was a 10 week old female Golden Retriever. (Yes, I know it isn't politically or journalistically correct to capitalize "retriever," but if people capitalize car models like Sportster, Roadrunner, Pacer., etc., I think it's about time we start doing the same for our dogs.) Now, back to the case. When the rains hit the Pacific Northwest in November, they phoned our HelpLine to complain that the pup had been doing great, but then started "pooping" and "peeing" in the house. It turns out they had started waiting at the back door after sending "Goldie" out to her toilet place, which is about 20 feet from the door. When she finished her duties they praised gleefully and petted her when she got back into the house. This, in spite of the instructions, which require the owner to accompany the dog to the toilet place for six weeks, stand quietly, then point and look at the fecal matter or urine spot while praising, "Good toilet."

You've probably guessed already why the dog started not performing in the rain or on wet grass.

Of course... she associated the praise with where she should be going. This error can cause problems even in fair weather, but rotten weather is a prime condition for it to thrive. The solution, which works well in most cases, is to get an umbrella and a pair of rubber overshoes, keep them by the back door, and accompany the dog once again, using the umbrella to keep both parties dry during the toilet trip. Eureka! The owners called back in three days to say the messes in the house had stopped, even though they didn't really enjoy the trip into the elements themselves. The moral.: when all else fails, follow instructions.

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December 1996
November 1996
October 1996

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