THE DOG OWNER'S BOOK OF POOP AND PEE!!
Keep it Simple Stupid Dog Training
Mike Deathe - CPDT-KA
Copyright © 2011 Mike Deathe CPDT-KA
No book on training can ever cover every dog, their behavior, or pretend to know the motivation of those dogs. That being said, this book is a guide for understanding the hows and whys of dog potty training. It does not pretend to offer a silver bullet or magic pill to make potty training suddenly work. As with any of my works, it is only the first step in learning to speak dog as a second language (DASL!) The second step is your work with your dog, and the third step should always be with a professional trainer if problems persist. Expecting anything else is silly!
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior consent of the publisher.
The Publisher makes no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any commercial damages.
2013-02-27
Dedication
This book is written for all those who have pulled their hair out wondering why Fido won’t just “GO” where he is supposed to. I hope you can, with the help of this book, better learn to speak DASL (dog as a second language) and get your potty puzzle under control!!!
Acknowledgments
First, I want to thank my wife Kate for her unending help in writing, editing and putting up with me through the process of writing this book. Also, thanks go out to Dr. Ian Dunbar who has, through his work with dogs, helped me find my own voice. I know I will forget someone, but let me extend thanks to Kim for making me realize I could train dogs; to Jenn for giving me the chance to teach someone else how to train dogs; to Pat for believing in me and helping me achieve my goal of my own training center; and finally to all those others, dog and human, who have helped me grow, learn and follow the idea of KEEPING IT SIMPLE STUPID!!!!
Thank You
Mike
Preface
We're all Muttz at Heart!
In 2008 while working as a dog trainer, I started a business, Muttz “R” Us.com, an on-line T-shirt, and unique dog-training product company with a simple motto; Adopt a Pet & Save a Life! The basic idea was to sell funny T-Shirts that poked fun at purebred dogs in order to draw attention to the importance of adopting and not buying dogs. I had seen over time just how many dogs (and cats) were being euthanized each and every year for no other reason than they could not find a home.
Soon after that, I started volunteering for the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City and it became apparent that just finding homes for these animals was not enough! Why was it that seemingly every day people were surrendering and giving up on their beloved family pets? The answer quickly became obvious…PROBLEM BEHAVIORS!
I had been writing articles for a local pet magazine as well as for my own pet blog when the idea came to me; why not write concise and affordable books and eBooks for every day pet owners, to address all the reasons I had heard for giving up on their furry four-legged best friends? I did not want to write a book of instruction, because as we all know, very few of us ever consistently follow them! But what if I wrote a book about understanding the difference in the ways humans and dogs relate to each other? And with that knowledge and a few helpful tips, have you and Fido actually working together as opposed to against one another…
Introduction
Trainer Mike & His Muttz!
The Keep it Simple Stupid Dog Owner’s Book of Poop and Pee is just that…an easy to read and even easier to understand guide to getting Fido to “go” at the right time, in the right place, without ruining your carpet and without pulling your hair out in the process. Don’t get me wrong, this is not one of those “potty train your dog in three easy steps” books; because I know (and deep down so do you) that this is a process over time, not a quick fix. There is no magic spell, silver bullet or Jedi mind trick to make it happen any faster. Rather, I hope to teach you the right way to solve this bathroom riddle, using common sense and humor. I’ll cover some tried and true ways to learn to speak “dog” in the hopes of helping to make this process easier. In the end, my goal is to save a few dogs from being deposited on the front steps of the local shelter. If I can do that with you…I have done my job! I hope you enjoy this book. It was fun to write; and to a guy who never thought he could string together two coherent thoughts…this is a real accomplishment!
Mike
P.S. as far as that “two coherent thoughts” line…if it wasn’t for my wonderful wife Kate and her unbelievable editing…let’s just say you and I both owe her a thank you.
What is Potty Training ?
So what is Potty Training…well I suppose it depends on your perspective. For you the reader, it probably means “I want my dog to quit peeing and pooping all over the house”. Many dog trainers believe it comes down to “what you are going to tolerate”. I guess if you want my view, it is simply getting Fido to understand there is no difference between his home and yours. Now, before you start worrying about whether you wasted money on this book, take a deep breath and remember, dogs are very clean animals, unless we teach them otherwise :( They do not like to live in or near filth. So why would your dear, loving and adorable pet leave these little surprises all over your home? Because you have either inadvertently taught him to or it could be because you have never bothered to take the time to show him just exactly where the toilet is!
Think about it, if you have house guests and they ask where the bathroom is, what do you do? Exactly. You tell them it’s down the hallway, first door on the right. You might even warn them if it’s dirty (you know, those darn kids!) or maybe even instruct them to jiggle the handle to make sure the flapper seals! In comparison, let’s look at a common method for teaching dogs…
1. Here is the door,
2. Toss dog outside said door,
3. Shut door cause it’s cold,
4. Lose track of time, watch TV for 10 minutes,
5. Oh crap, forgot the dog, rush to let Fido in,
6. Fido proceeds to have an accident within 2-3 minutes,
7. Cuss out the dog,
8. Beat dog with newspaper,
9. Rub dog’s nose in mess,
10. Finally, have a “serious” talk with Fido about his lack of manners, where you want him to go and how disappointed you are in him!
Oh yeah, and you probably repeat this process at least 4 or 5 times a day :) Does any of this sound familiar? Now keep in mind that dogs are animals that have no concept of the English Language, or for that matter, why on earth it is wrong to pee on this comfy, absorbent and soft stuff you keep calling carpet.
Simply put, “potty training” is nothing more than teaching Fido that your entire house is also his/her home, and the same rules apply for both. In the wild, dogs are den animals! They actually like small, secure locations where they can curl up and feel safe! In addition to this aspect