There have been so many ways to deal with your dog having accidents. Lets face it, they happen. What we all need is a good plan to deal with them when they happen.
The old school trainers would tell you to rub their nose in the mess, shame them, and send them to their crate.
Newer trainers would tell you to ignore the accident if you just found it or interrupt them if they are having one in front of you. Make sure that you keep your cool and remove them to the spot where you want them to relieve themselves - where they, presumably, would finish up and you will praise them lavishly.
The latter is good advice as far as making sure to keep yourself calm. You definitely do not want to make your pup afraid to relieve itself in front of you! That will just open up a whole can of worms you don't want to deal with. But, what if I told you there was a third option? An option you still have if you "find" and old accident!
I call this technique the "Not Right Here!" technique.
First, if you dog has an accident in front of you, I have found that interrupting them has been very ineffective. They usually finish up their business before you see them. So what do you do now? Well, you need to know a little about dog psychology. One thing you probably already know is that a dog does not want to be around it's own mess. When they relieve themselves, they like to do it in, what they think, is a remote place; "I'm not really playing right here, so, this seems like a good place." or "Mom doesn't really go into her closet that often, so that's good, right?"
Of course the last place we find accidents is in these remote, hidden places, and trainers have been telling us for years that we have to deal with this, clean it up good, and remain vigilant with your dog.
While cleaning is vital, you absolutely can bring this to your dog's attention with a clear message of "No!" if you find an old accident.
Here are the steps:
1. Bring them to the accident, on leash, and give them a firm, "No." It is vital that you are not angry, but firm. They need to know your displeasure, but not fear harm.2. Tether them to the spot for 15-20 minutes. Make sure that the tether is not so tight that they are in an awkward position that will get painful after 20 minutes, but the leash also needs to be tight enough that they cannot walk away from their mess. So just enough room to either sit or stand is perfect. Walk away and leave them there while you do other things and don't forget to set a timer!
3. Come back when time is up. Return to your pet, calmly. Untether them from the spot. Take them outside to relieve themselves. If they go, lavishly praise them. If they don't, crate them and take them outside again in an hour.
4. Remember to clean up the mess while they are in the crate. Some great cleaning tips are:
-Get as much of the mess out as possible.
-Soak the spot for 20 minutes in your favorite pet spot cleaner.
- Rinse and repeat (especially if it is carpet)!
You'll find that if you have a dog having frequent accidents, this technique will shorten the time their house training takes, when added with proper kennel training. The Not Right Here! techniques also works with male (or female) dogs who have a bad habit or "Marking" things.
Don't forget to check out our Instagram for a great discussion on the "Not Right Here!" technique. There are also tips on what to do if your dog is too big to be restrained by an ordinary chair. Check it out!
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CNVHLdfJLsz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
