BehavioRx Case of the Month
for March 2005

Housetraining the Overfed Puppy

Sandra, John and their 7 and 8 year-old daughters consulted us about their 11 week-old, intact, female Golden Retriever, "Tara" with a housetraining problem. She
was being fed three times a day, but was having 5 bowel movements a day, two of them usually in the house at night or in the early morning. Some of the stools tended to be "ropey."

Tara was fed in the kitchen, then taken to the back yard, where she dutifully did both duties. She was then praised and taken back into the house and given a small
puppy cookie.

At first Tara slept in the girls' bedroom, but was moved to the laundry room due to her "accidents." The problem continued in the laundry room.

Tara had been fed a commercial dry puppy kibble diet and seemed to enjoy it. The veterinarian said she was healthy.

The only other significant behavior complaint was that Tara was "hyper." During our consultations the family was quick to appreciate that Tara's diet was high
in carbohydrate, but comparatively low in protein. When they understood that dogs, like humans, convert carbohydrate into sugar, they understood one of the reasons that Tara might be "hyper," since carbohydrates are a speedy source of energy. They switched the puppy to a high-protein diet. Within 4 days, during which the new diet was phased in, they saw Tara's behavior calming down dramatically. Also, her bowel movements became regular; three times a day following her meals. The feeding plan was based on the BehavioRx Instructions brochure.

In order to get Tara back into the girls' bedroom at night, they instituted the BehavioRx "Obedience training - A Primer" Instructions, which is a totally positive,
no-goodies Leadership program using movement, and the Learn-To-Earn praise and petting procedures. Within 3 weeks Tara had apparently decided that the tidbits were no longer forthcoming and she ceased her jumping/nipping nuisance behavior. They also decided to use the Bio-Sonic Beanbag Training System to teach her to Come, Sit, Stay, Heel, Lie Down and Go (to her bed) on command. Tara was also taught not to dash through doors or jump on people, which John and Sandra said the girls were amazed to accomplish to quickly.

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