Ask A Los Angeles Expert: Tips For House Training Your Dog

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House training your dog takes patience, commitment and more than often creative tactics. Endorsing the most positive dog training, Jeffrey Brian Liebowitz is dedicated to the health and well-being of both dog and pet parent. Founded on the basis of a spiritual and holistic approach, Karma Dog Training is Jeffrey Brian's baby. Private and group dog training programs are available, along with daycare, boarding and training, pet sitting and walking. He gives dog owners some tips on how to perfectly train their pooch.

Jeffrey Brian, who believes in creative solutions to house train both dog and pet parent, is an excellent resource when it comes teaching your dog where to do his business. As an experienced dog parent himself, he knows that it takes responsibility, commitment and unconditional love to house train your dog. He doesn't believe in locked crating, but his trainer "secrets" and tips to house training make it easy to teach pet parent and dog.

Show Commitment As A Dog Parent

Coming from the perspective that all interactions with your dog be based on trust and mutual respect, Liebowitz first and foremost stresses the importance of committing to your dog's house training. "This isn't a one to two week process. I recommend two months at the very least," he said. He recommends that the dog parent be willing to enforce a structured schedule for bathroom times, i.e. morning dog walks are crucial, and should be as long as possible for the parent to implement training. Just like infants, dogs welcome routine. Liebowitz's philosophy always comes back to treating your dog with unconditional love and respect.

Identify Where, When And How You Want Your Dog To Do Its Business

"House training a dog is never about the dog but 100 percent about the dog parent," said Liebowitz. Having a dog in the family means you have to give the dog access to go to the bathroom. Outside is the most natural place. Does that mean access on walks? In the backyard? If you give your pet opportunities to do its business, both dog and parent will feel successful in the relationship. Every family and situation is different — apartment living, long work days regardless, it takes compromise for success. Doggy doors are convenient; teaching your dog to use them is a process, but all in all the education is easy. Long work days may require dog walkers or doggy day care. If you need to leave your dog for a few hours at a time, create an aesthetically pleasing gated off area for them to avoid any bathroom mishaps around the house. The kitchen area often has good energy for the dog. Have a doggy bed and crate, open doors always, toys, bones and soothing music. This is all in harmony with the frequency of well-being.

Paying Your Dog

Everything has a value. "Teaching your dog to use a bathroom outside is simple. It takes bribing," said Liebowitz. Laying your dog something that they believe is high in value breeds success. Naturally, dogs love treats. Jeffrey Brian asks clients to conduct a sniff test with their dogs. Place four to five treats on the floor and see which one the dog chooses first — this is the one with the highest value. Pay your dog with this treat the split second after they do their business. Yes, you have to go outside with them. Withhold that particular treat and only use it when they go to the bathroom. Here, behavior and association to the bathroom outside is being created. Of course verbal praise is highly recommended.

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No Crating For Training

Dogs are emotional creatures and one of the most important things dog parents should be aware of is that crating your animal without freedom to come and go as they please creates anxiety and insecurity.  A crate is valuable when a dog can voluntarily walk in or out. The negativity of crating garners a hierarchy that instills mistrust, unnecessary reprimanding and the discomfort of failure for both dog and pet parent. The last thing you ever want is to lock your dog in a crate and the dog soils the crate. This is not different that a human pooping or peeing in their pants. Historically dogs have lived in dens and caves, and dens and caves do not have gates.

Regression And Marking

There are two main reasons your dog will regress. "I ask the dog parent 'has anything changed to the family's daily life and/or structure? And Is there anything physically wrong with the animal?'" said Liebowtiz. This gives the pet parent a lot of information on how to handle indoor bathroom accidents. If something is physically wrong, like a bladder infection, Jeffrey Brian recommends seeing a holistic veterinarian, and suggests giving your dog high-quality organic food and filtered water. Everything the dog ingests, just like people, affects the body's metabolism and organs. "I like to give my dogs Hot House cucumbers, carrots, bananas and apples," he said.
 
One of the most common reasons a dog will mark is because of insecurity. "I find that the marking issue comes about when a new person enters the family dynamic. I see new romantic relationships among clients, and the dog marks by peeing around the house and bedroom. How would you like it if your dog showed up in your bed with a new human?" he said.

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