Puppy & New Dog House-Training/Potty Training/Housebreaking 101

A common source of frustration for the puppy or newly-adopted dog owner, let’s simplify potty-training! Potty training, house-training, the traditional term “housebreaking…” It’s all the same thing, isn’t it? It means teaching new puppy (or dog) – we’ll call him Bellhop for the purposes of this article – to eliminate in some places, and not to eliminate in others.
As a general rule of thumb, you can assess that your puppy can probably “hold it” for the number of months old he is, divided by two. (So a two month old puppy can probably only hold it for about an hour.) Individual puppies deviate from this norm, and smaller puppies have to go more frequently than large. (I think that’s why the Littles get the undeserved bad rap when it comes to house-training.) An exception to this general rule is during the night; you need not be up every hour on the hour.

During Bellhop’s waking hours, supervision is critical. Freedom should be earned through reliability. Bellhop cannot have that kind of reliability for you when he is this young – under six months. For this reason, you keep him under your watchful eye. He just hasn’t been on the planet long enough to show you months of reliability with much of anything. For this reason, he should not be in one room free while you are in another. There is a lot of “two steps forward, one step back” at this stage. For this reason, you should be minimizing the hiccups by not giving Bellhop more freedom than he can handle. This is because anything – and I do mean anything – practiced gets easier to do, whether you want it to or not. Peeing on the carpet gets easier; so does peeing outside. Set your pup up for success by supervising – or safely containing B when you can’t watch him.

Supervision & containment suggestions
- Tether Bellhop to your belt with a leash
- Accustom Bellhop to being outside on a tether if your property allows
- Crate train – crate should be large enough for Bellhop to stand up, turn around, and lay down… but not much bigger
- X pens are awesome tools for keeping puppies contained and they are frequently available on yard sale sites or craigslist

If your eyes cannot be on the puppy, then your puppy should be safely contained somehow. This is so you can take control of his bathroom habits, among other things. Safety reasons also abound.

Schedule Bellhop’s feedings. What goes in on schedule comes out on schedule. You can’t predict the output if you don’t know the input! With a teeny bit of tough love, you can get puppy on a feeding schedule in a matter of days. Divide his daily food ration into two or three (possibly even four for very young or small breed puppies – consult your vet if you are unsure). Try to have Bellhop work up a bit of an appetite by first taking him out to potty and giving him some special attention before breakfast. When these things are done, offer him his measured food in a bowl on the floor. Leave it available for 15 – 20 minutes. Whether it is eaten or not at the end of that 20 minutes, pick it up and do not offer again until his next scheduled feeding time.

Do not fret about feeding times being off by an hour or more daily. Adaptability is a good thing and will not cause physical harm, baring a pre-existing medical condition. Just remember that the more consistently you feed, the more consistently Bellhop poops and pees.

The type of food your dog eats has a lot to do with how much he goes to the bathroom. Kibble with lots of filler – soy, corn, various other grains, artificial colors and flavors – means more waste. The protein content of your individual pup’s food is something you may want to research or speak to a pro about. (For example, certain dogs and puppies do not do well with very high protein diets and will poop many more times a day than if they were on a lower protein food.)

***For Poop-Eaters*** There could be a health reason your dog is snacking on his or other dogs’ dumps. His diet could be low in vitamins or certain minerals. Consider upgrading Bellhop’s kibble and.or consult your vet. You can also try one of these home remedies: adding a little raw pumpkin or pineapple to his food – tastes good on the way in, not so much on the way out is the theory. Gain a really good “leave it” command as quick as you can and administer as soon as Bellhop has gone to the bathroom. To do this, yes – you’ll have to be outside with him (or inside with an e collar remote), which brings me to…

Walk B outside on a leash as opposed to just opening the door and letting him out to potty. Here’s why: walking him out on a leash will ensure that you will be there to offer than extra reinforcement – verbal praise and maybe even a cookie you have brought out with you. Part of the “positive reinforcement” of eliminating (going pee or poo) is the physical relief that comes with the go! No treat or verbal praise necessary for reinforcement of the behavior to occur. THAT’S why it’s so important to SUPERVISE, SUPERVISE, SUPERVISE and.or CONTAIN, CONTAIN, CONTAIN while you are achieving house-training success! Because… everything practiced gets easier to do!

When you walk Bellhop outside, do not do circles and circles around the yard. Designate the Potty Spot and on your schedule – we will finetune that in just a paragraph – bring Bellhop outside to the Potty Spot and be a post. That means do not move. Hold the leash and twist with your puppy, but keep your feet in the same imaginary little box. Be very boring and quiet and do not give Bellhop anything interesting to pay attention to on your part. When Bellhop finally squats, give calm encouragement and assign your “potty word.” A “potty word” is a simple cue that you can use to teach B to eliminate on cue. Useful for traveling and any other time you bring Bellhop off your property. As he’s letting it go at the Potty Spot, quietly say “gooooood boy.. gooooood hurry-ups” – or whatever other term you want to use. (I say “Concentrate.” Gets a laugh.)

You can count on puppy having to go outside any time he:
- Wakes up (nighttime or nap)
- Eats or drinks
- During times of high activity (visitors, family affairs) or excitement (greeting kids)
- Divide the number of months old puppy is by two – works up to 12 months. This is about how long he can hold it, all other things being equal. ***NOTE*** In case common sense does not slap you across the face, this is not scientific and every puppy is an individual. There also may be size or breed factors to consider.

If your puppy pees in his crate:
- Make sure you are not leaving him in there for longer than he can physically hold it – besides being cruel, this causes desensitization and bad habits to form that are potentially difficult to repair later
- Rule out medical issues by having a full exam by a good vet. Do not make assumptions. (Urinary tract infections can occur in either sex and may manifest as house-training issues when the issue is in fact medical.)
- Try taking out absorbent surfaces from the crate – yes, this may mean Bellhop’s in a naked crate. This is a reality due to safety concerns for puppies & dogs who shred & swallow bedding as well.
- Some puppies have ingrained poor potty manners because of the environment in which they were housed or raised. If you have the rare puppy who pees.poos in his crate and lays in it and seems to think nothing of it, here is what I suggest (as I had to do with one of my personal dogs – a certain red American pit bull terrier named Spark Plug who was taken from his litter too soon, which can affect house-training): get an X pen and make it small enough to fit Bellhop’s crate in it with a little space left over. Put his bed in the crate or even better, a shirt that smells like family, and open the door of the crate inside the X pen. Have the crate open onto a small section of puppy pads (or litter box, something suitable for bathroom material). You are giving Puppy two options: Poop where you lay ***OR*** Poop NOT where you lay. In this way, you can develop the habit of keeping his bed clean – a natural inclination of which he may have been robbed in his previous environment. It is not Bellhop’s fault – you can be sure of that.

Remember that if you are adopting an older dog that comes house-trained, he may well have been house-trained – to that house and that routine. You will likely have to guide him through these new rules in this new place. Consider yourself his coach.
On that note, if Bellhop is only having accidents in one room or area of the house, cordon off that area. He should not be allowed in there whatsoever at this stage unless supervised by you. Take him into the forbidden rooms and PRACTICE TRAINING. Do a little sit, down, sit or play with toys with him. Bring him room to room and show him that they are all part of the den and not meant to be used as his personal bathroom.

If at any time – since you’re supervising Puppy all the time now, riiiiiiight??? – you catch Bellhop in the act – lifting a leg or bending over to drop a deuce – make a crazy loud sound. Act like you momentarily lost your mind to interrupt him, then scoop him up or rush him to the nearest exit. Hopefully he finishes when you have air-lifted him to his Potty Spot outside. If so, reward, remembering the reward does not have to be food all the time.

You may choose to teach Bellhop to ring a bell to tell you he has to go out! How brilliant. Here are the steps:
1) Purchase bells and hang on the inside door knob of the door(s) you would like to use primarily for “outs” – as we affectionately call them in the boarding kennel
2) Each time you are about to bring Bellhop out to BM (Bowel Movement) or pee, see if you can get him to make the bells ring. (I used a dab of peanut butter or cheese wiz to elicit this behavior. You could also teach and utilize the “touch” cue here.)
3) Bell rings, door magically opens! Immediately. And out you go to the Potty Spot. Big party when he completes the sequence!
4) Your dog can absolutely learn to ring the bell to get your attention. As B becomes more proficient in communicating to you that he needs to “go out,” try to just take him out when he’s “serious” – which you will be able to distinguish by his furious whacking the bell and running back ‘n forth between you and the door. He could certainly pick up on the fact that you jump every time he rings the bell. Some dogs have their bells taken away from them once they are house-trained for this reason! EH-HEM, Spark Plug…

If you have a lot of family members responsible for the care of the dog, make a chart with Bellhop’s feeding and going out times. (A white board with check boxes works well.) Miscommunication between family members never bodes well for Bellhop’s house-training…

You may consider leaving Bellhop a frozen water bowl or some ice cubes overnight instead of a big bowl of water. Water bottles (like big versions of the kind given to Guinea pigs) are also available for crates and.or X pens and can save a lot of mess and wet bedding – get B to try one by putting a dab of coconut oil on the nozzle.

More frequent smaller meals are generally better than infrequent large ones.

Many dogs need to work up an appetite before they want to eat. Do not worry about feeding breakfast at a certain time if your dog is of this variety. Simply feed him post-exercise. It will make perfect primal sense to him.

Did you know?
- There is a device called a Pee Post that can be very effective for teaching dogs where to go outside – especially leg-lifting males or marking females
- For truly difficult males, there is something called a Belly Band that deters some dogs from trying to pee while wearing it. There exists a diaper similar for females.
- There are many medical conditions for which abnormal elimination is a symptom – always get a clean bill of health from your vet and do not be afraid to get second opinions
- Litter boxes can be reasonably clean & effective Potty Spots for small dogs left alone longer than they can physically hold it
- Many people have success clicker training their puppies and adult dogs to go potty outside! Pick a clicker up at any pet supply store and load it. Load the clicker means 1 click = 1 treat. Your pup will soon associate the click sound with a treat. Now you can use the clicker as a non-emotional sound to mark the instant your pup has done something to earn himself a treat, i.e. click when he finishes his pee outside, and deliver the treat! Wah-lah! You are clicker training house-training manners.

For the most “stubborn” cases:
- Take dog from crate to outside multiple times throughout the day and heavily reinforce only the going to the bathroom outside. Crate. Potty Spot. Crate. Potty Spot. That’s it for your whole weekend until B’s getting the message. Also probably a good time to seek out a professional.
In short, the responsibility of teaching Bellhop house-training manners falls on his people. We have this gorgeous canine counterpart we have adopted to live in a civilized human society. Sometimes we take for granted their willingness to learn & roll along with all of our daily expectations. Remember to be patient and importantly, be sincere in your praise.

Thank you for reading, and visit the rest of hexdogs.com to learn more about the author.

Cassie-Leigh Stock, ABCDT CTDI AKC-CGC CDT HEX-BDT

Sometimes when I drive by a puppy hanging with its owner, I imagine myself yelling out the window or  getting out to shake them & implore SIGN UP FOR PUPPY CLASSES RIGHT NOW!!! THE EARLIER THE BETTER!!! DON'T WAIT!!! IT CAN LITERALLY CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!! (I really believe it can!)

Give me a chance - take a seat in my class, and let me give you all the tools that nearly a decade of professional K9 experience has given me. Sometimes, the smallest detail or the simplest phrase becomes pivotal in the course of you & your puppy's lives. (For example, one such revelation came to me very early on when I heard another trainer say "you have to pay attention to the (K9's) MINDSET, not just his behavior."  AHH HA!! My light bulb went off! Learning about tethering & marker training were game changers for me as well.)

I have (nearly - July will be) ten years worth of ways to successfully combat things like puppy nipping, address unwanted jumping, getting puppies to love their crates, travel tips, little things you didn't know about grooming, hugely important info on maturity, socialization, fear periods... I also have the distinct privilege of managing the boarding kennel at busy Acorn Animal Hospital in Franklin; HEX makes me a better technician, and working in the kennel makes me a better trainer. Vastly different perspectives and tons of valuable information between the fields!! Let me share those with you, And your puppy. And your family. EVERYONE can come to class!! It is going to be like one great big puppy PARTY every Sunday for six weeks.

A puppy party with a purpose.

I do not think I could be more excited to teach this course, and I am looking for those enthusiastic puppies - and more importantly, enthusiastic OWNERS! - who like the sound of all this and are ready to take the plunge! I am guaranteeing to myself this will be a puppy class unlike any other in my career. Pulling out all the stops. You or a friend got a puppy 6 months or under, sign up now for my Sunday, April 23rd Puppy Power Class at 11a! It is my goal to make you psyched that you did,

Puppies age 6 months or under. Must be up to date on vaccines. No assessment required. Class is six weeks, cost is $180. Make-ups available for schedule conflicts. So many surprises in store. Register & hold your seat with payment on hexdogs.com. There are a million puppy classes out there, but I am inviting you to make this investment with HEX. We will rise to the occasion. A great puppy class can be HUGE in developing your puppy into the best dog he'll ever be.  I promise you that and so much more.

***Special thanks to all of those wicked cute photo contributors and especially Erin Mathieu for much of the photography you see here***

10) (See 9!) Don't coddle your puppy. If puppy gets fearful of something, try your best to be a source of peace and confidence and help puppy get through it. Puppies go through fear periods during their development during which you might find even the cockiest puppy shows fear of an object or person they previously did not react to. We like the "Check it Out" game, during which you toss treats toward the "scary" thing while saying "Check it out" & encouraging puppy to get the treats. Keep your cool the whole time. Sounds simple, right?

11) Schedule feedings.

12) Crate train. (See this great article on crates: http://www.hexdogs.com/dog-blog/give-me-my-damn-crate-back.)

13) Provide plenty of physical & mental exercise! Mental exercise opportunities aplenty, and go for short walks, play in the yard, take a class, etc. "A tired dog is a happy dog." Safety first; check with your vet as needed.

14) Take tons of pictures.

15) Research vaccines & the timing of spay/neuter. There is a lot of information out there regarding these topics and the traditional practices may not be in the best interest of your dog. (Vaccinate against DHLPP? Spay at 6 months?) Look into it yourself - you are responsible for that information - and draw your own conclusions. Challenge following information blind.

16) Give your pup plenty of time with you one-on-one (if you have other pack members, human OR canine!), and let him (or her!) be himself under your watchful eye. Play games, and fight the urge to be over-bearing! Create the stable, thoughtful, balanced BFF you wished for when you committed to a puppy. Be proactive in this pursuit!

17) If you have multiple dogs, make sure you aren't dissing the existing pack... Spend one-on-one time with EVERYONE. Change up who goes for "arideinthecarboy!" Having trouble integrating a pack? See this account of my personal experience: http://www.hexdogs.com/dog-blog/ask-me-about-my-pack-it-wasnt-always-easy 

Some of these things certainly matter more than others, and there simply isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to puppy-raising, so think of this list as a jumping off point to initiate some research in the interest of becoming a more educated puppy raiser... and future dog owner.

See also Leadership Without Confrontation.

Thanks for reading!  Visit the rest of the site at www.hexdogs.com and email hexdogs@gmail.com with any questions, comments or suggestions.  Happy training!

P.S.  We are welcoming guest blogs at this time, so feel free to reach out with submissions, as well.

Firstly...

HEX is not a rescue. We donate and discount training. We network dogs. We fund-raise & collect supplies.  We are NOT a rescue.  BUT...

Our rescue partners are really in need of foster parents - individuals willing to open their homes & their hearts to a temporary foster dog.  While HEX is indeed NOT a rescue, we coordinate, network & work together WITH rescue to provide training, behavior modification, lifetime support & on-going resources for dogs IN rescue, and our allies need your help.  The biggest thing HEX needs to be able to help more - to be able to SAVE more - are K9 foster parents.

Why put yourself through the potential difficulties, the strains, the commitment, the inconvenience of a foster dog?  The answer I will give to that is not fur-mommy speak. I am not saying any of this is easy.  Or fast.  Or convenient.  But it is the only chance some of these dogs have at a life... at life in general.  Why foster? 

Because you can save a dog.  Simple.  And dogs, to me, are worth saving, because they are such a beautiful, integral part of Mother Nature.  They are a glimpse into the purity of honesty and sensational balance that is at the root of all human goals.  They are forever living in the present; living in the moment & taking in & reacting to whatever is at hand.  They don't worry about the future or regret the past.  They are fast to forgive.  They devote all of their energies into every moment with abandon.  THAT is something we can all aspire to. 

I am so very grateful & fortunate to share my life and home every day with four personal dogs.  They ground me, make me laugh, teach me and inspire serenity as well as excitement in my life... To me, they are the bridge between us & the rest of the animal world; the gift of a link to Mother Nature in our everyday lives; truly man's best friend... and THAT is SO valuable.

THAT is why I spend so much time, money & energy doing what I can to save just one.  At times, it can feel like we aren't making a difference - that we aren't putting enough of a dent in the problem - but to one dog, one time, you can change the world.

HEX may not be a rescue, but we are a happy, driven "middle man."  It would mean the absolute WORLD to me to receive a daily message from someone wanting TO help - be that donating funds or items, looking to hook up with a rescue organization, sponsoring training, helping us network, fostering, etc. - instead of a daily message looking FOR help. 

Don't get me wrong: I WANT those in need to reach out; I WANT to provide assistance in the interest of preserving my favorite creature on the planet; I WANT to be the one to step in at the last minute.  I do not begrudge those that reach out FOR help.  It would just be monumental - a shift of the axis in the world I live in - if I even got half that number of messages from people looking to PROVIDE help; by whatever means.

Dogs are "waiting in the wings" right now, in desperate need of experienced fosters to provide a temporary home & continue training.

In closing, the #1 way that collectively we can make a difference in saving more lives RIGHT NOW is fostering.  I am trying to persuade you to consider it.  I promise to personally provide on-going support to you and your foster dog.  This could be a GREAT way to immerse yourself - to more or lesser degree - in dog training & behavior modification, an extremely fascinating and lively craft on its own; an art you will fall passionately in love with.

Please contact me direct - email me, TEXT, call - look, here's my personal cell: 774.292.0089 // hexdogs@gmail.com - if you'd like to help.  We really need ya.  Thank you for reading and please don't ever think you can't make a difference.  Shoot me a message and I'll gladly help you get started.

Cassie & the HEX Team 
www.hexdogs.com

​Oh, could it be that easy??  Five magic actions you could take every day to improve Bentley’s state of mind, behavior, manners...  Well, this article doesn’t guarantee a perfect little soldier after administering these simple tactics daily, but here are five non-intrusive little things you can do throughout your day that – when engaged in with consistency & a positive, calm state of mind –are guaranteed to improve things in your ever-evolving relationship with your canine companion.  Let’s get started…

​A “release word” is just a short cue – generally a word – to tell your dog when a particular request or command has been completed.  The easiest example goes something like this: you’re teaching Puppy a simple SIT.  You hold the treat back over his head, and indeed, Puppy sits.  You feed him the treat, and then say “break!”  (Or “free,” “at ease,” “relax,” “all done,” etc.  Take your pick, preferably not “OK” because we say it SO much in American conversation.)  What you are essentially telling him with his release word is that he is “off duty” now for the moment; the release word in this instance has nothing to do with letting go of a toy or some similar item. 

Every time you ask your dog to SIT, have him hold it – butt on floor - until you issue his release word.  Same thing for DOWNS, STANDS…  I use a release word every time I ask my dogs to do something.  Whatever cue I asked for means they are to remain in that cue until they are released.  To add this to your routine, begin by releasing your dog from his SITS/DOWNS right away.  If she gets up prematurely, simply put her back in the same position/location, and release her once she is settled.  Ask for eye contact before issuing the release word.

Adding a release word to your day-to-day routines teaches several concepts: patience, manners, respect, focus and impulse control.  Take this simple action, use it consistently, and watch your dog become calmer.

​Why is this a big deal?  Aside from the fact that providing around the clock food goes completely against nature for our beloved canis familiaris, there are several behavioral/psychological reasons not to “free-feed.”

Benevolent leadership is largely about control of the resources, and if you are leaving food down all day long, you aren’t demonstrating any control over that resource.  This can mess with your dog’s perception of the hierarchy of the household and can also contribute to behavioral problems in some dogs.  On top of that, you diminish his food drive by minimizing food’s value – how would you feel about that delicious turkey dinner if it sat in plain sight day after day, week after week?  Not so exciting now, is it?  You can effectively create a picky dog by doing this.

Especially when involved in training programs, it is obviously helpful to have a food-motivated dog.  Increase his food drive by scheduling his meals.  Food bowl goes down.  Ten minutes go by.  Eaten or not, pick it up and put it away.  Try again next meal time.  Your dog will quickly begin eating on a schedule if you stick to your guns.  This will also be a great way to give yourself an earlier heads up with potential medical issues.  If all of a sudden Fido isn’t eating his usual meal, keep an eye out for other symptoms.  A trip to the vet may be in order.  You’d have no idea if he was skipping meals if the food sits out all the time.

​Here’s what I mean by that: instead of just asking your dog to SIT every time she wants something – that treat, her breakfast, to go outside, etc. – change it up by asking for a different command here ‘n there!  Does your dog have some moves?  Examples may include SIT, DOWN, PAW, TOUCH, ROLL OVER, WATCH ME, SPIN.  When you are about to go for your walk, for example, instead of always having her simply SIT at the door and wait, ask for a DOWN instead.  Then a TOUCH.  Change it up to keep your pup’s mind sharp and the focus on you strong.

There is a BIG difference between having a dog who is routine-trained and having a dog who is sharp on his cues.  Routine-trained is when you have a dog who automatically sits for his breakfast, but doesn’t necessarily sit when cued at other times.  Just because a dog performs a daily action in your routine does not mean he “knows” it.  Change it up!  Change up the locations where you usually ask for a certain cue, train in different parts of the house, train for it on your walks, in your yard, on the sidewalk.

Soon, you’ll have a dog who isn’t just routine-trained but understands that your cues mean the same thing regardless of where you are or what is going on.  This kind of training takes time but is well worth the effort, and you will increase your dog’s attentiveness to you, as well as strengthen his focus and your bond.  Be patient, and have fun getting creative!

​I know, I know.  This one sounds simple... and obvious.  But do you have any idea how many of us are guilty of skipping this step?  The thing is, there can always be an excuse not to go!  Your back hurts.  It’s raining.  Long day at the office.  We could go on and on about excuses for so long that we could have been on that walk and back by the end of it! 

If you are not already in the habit of this, I promise you – commit yourself to a walk with the dog every day – even if it’s only for ten minutes to start! – and you will see a marked difference in your dog’s general response to you.  From Bella’s perspective, the walk equals exercise, interesting sights & sounds, and most important of all, ADVENTURE!  When you are the provider of this exciting stimuli, your dog will positively associate you with the event, and you’ll be surprised how much more attentive she’ll soon be.

If you are trying to socialize the dog to a certain member of the household – frequently, dogs have issues with large men with big voices – have this person (safely!) be the provider of the all-important walk, all of or half of the time.  If the dog depends on this person for the ultimate in enjoyment, it tends to cultivate that bonded relationship much quicker!

What is “place,” you might say…  In short, PLACE stands for “Marley, go to that specific target, sit/lay down on it, & don’t get up until I release you” (with his release word or another known cue).  (See blog entitled “What the Hell’s ‘Place” & How Do You Teach It?” for full instructions on teaching this cue!)

Instead of asking your dog simply to sit for his daily meal(s), ask him to PLACE.  (Dogs get adept at this cue very quickly when it has to do with chow time!)  Take it a step further by moving his place around as he’s getting the concept.  Don’t just leave the mat at the door or in the corner.  Move it around and teach him to go to it before breakfast, no matter where it is!  Re-locate the mat just a little bit at a time once he’s laid the foundation, and use a leash & treats as necessary to reinforce as you improve.  Teaching your dog to target a specific spot when asked has huge benefits in your day-to-day life: you can PLACE him when company comes over & he needs to calm down; you can PLACE him when you and your family are sitting down to dinner; you can PLACE him at the campsite when you’re all around the fire together…

By giving your dog a safe place to target and chill out when asked, you are not only exhibiting control & leadership, you are keeping his mind attentive while providing access to relaxation.  Many dogs get confused when the “place” is moved or you ask him to “place” on a new object.  It is healthy for him to learn to work through confusion and potential frustration – usually when it comes to having to WAIT there! – and the same goes for YOU, handler!  Never be afraid to take a few steps back in your foundation work – meaning, when the going gets tough in training, go back to an easier step!  Re-solidify that piece, then move forward.

​Save your airtight jars with lids – think pickles, relish, jelly – stab a few holes through the lid, fill with dog treats, and strategically place one in each room of the house… YEP, each room!  This makes it exceptionally easy to throw in a few seconds of training time throughout your day, in short bursts, when it’s most effective!  You’ll always have a reward at the ready when your dog successfully completes a request.  This is an EASY way to sneak some training into your day without setting aside special time, and can vastly improve house manners as well!

Hopefully, this article has given you some food for thought!  I’d be happy to hear your tips & tricks as well, so please leave them in the comments.  Seek out a qualified professional dog trainer for guidance in your individual situation.  There are no quick-fixes (damn!) and there are no guarantees in the wide world of dogs!  Tip the scales in your favor by following these 5 Simple Things You Can Do to Improve Your Dog’s Behavior, and catch what we at HEX affectionately call… the Dog Training Bug!

Thanks for reading!  Visit the rest of the site at www.hexdogs.com and email hexdogs@gmail.com with any questions, comments or suggestions.  Happy training!

P.S.  We are welcoming guest blogs at this time, so feel free to reach out with submissions, as well.

I have two dogs named Brody and Buster.  Brody has got to be closest to me.  He is extremely nice, playful, and he loves aerobics.  Brody is a three-year-old Puggle.
​
When we first got Brody, it was basically love at first sight.  When the Animal control officer brought him out of his enclosure, all he wanted to do was play.  We knew it was the perfect dog for us. We adopted Brody for $5.00 and walked away with him on a short purple leash with flowers on it. 

​He was difficult on the car ride home, during which he was nipping my elbows for some reason and whimpering.  When we arrived home, he became a little aggressive and would run around the house as fast as he could like a madman!  It took a lot of time and effort to have him realize we weren’t bad people and that we would not hurt him.  We taught him the basic commands and crate trained him with the help of a professional dog trainer.  He still continuously liked to chew on our stuff - such as the remote control, all of my toys and the garbage.

Brody is nice to have around because he is our “protector of the house.”  He always lets us know when someone is coming onto our property by barking as loud as he can.  Unfortunately, he is a bad guard dog because as soon as the person approaches him he greets them with kisses. 
​
Brody is extremely playful… Sometimes he’s a bit too playful!  He’s always ready for a good game of tug-of-war, or to wrestle with other dogs.  He’s a good dog to play with if you’re new with dogs because he won’t get overly playful with you - such as trying to nip or bark at you.  Even though we don’t go that much anymore, Brody used to love going to the dog park and meeting new dogs.  It was adorable watching Brody make new friends and having such a great time with them.  Because of Brody, my mom and I have made life-long friends.

Brody likes aerobics!  In the summer and fall, I set up jumps in our backyard and I jump them with Brody. We can jump at least two-and-a-half to three feet high!  Brody and I also go for pretty intense runs.  I run cross country while Brody trots right by my side, since he is such a fast runner.

Brody also likes to be naughty. 
​
He is very food-motivated.  If we do not weigh down the top of the trash can he will try to eat the leftover food inside it.  He has also learned to open the fridge and take food out of it!  If we don’t push in our chairs after meals, he will climb up onto the table and smile at us as we yell at him to get down.  Sometimes he smiles so hard he sneezes!  Brody likes to play keep-away.  He will find my toys or something that does not belong to him and run and hide under the table where we can’t reach him.  He also tries to dig holes in the couch, it seems.  (He has never been successful but still gives it a try every now and again!)

​So many people love Brody.  Most of my friends have nicknames for him: Bro-toosh-ka, Bro-tis-ery, Bro-Bro.  He used to get loose when we lived at our condo before we moved, and sometimes he would get out without us even knowing!  We had neighbors a few houses down that would call us saying that Brody was loose.  (When we moved, they said that they missed him a lot.)
Brody was badly abused as a puppy.  The only things we know for sure are that he was hit and strangled with a choke collar, causing him to suffer from tracheal damage and a cherry eye.  Animal control rescued Brody and brought him to the local shelter.
Brody can sometimes be a very smart dog, but is stubborn at times. These are the very reasons Brody the Puggle is my favorite dog.

As you can see, Brody had a rough beginning to life, but we are making sure that his story ends happily ever after.  He has many activities that he loves.  He is just one big ball of energy that loves to run and play.  I am glad that I have a dog that is able to keep up with me! 

Happy Anniversary, HEX!

This December marks the four year anniversary of a dream coming true for me.  When I founded HEX (then known as Higher Expectations!), I never imagined the journey it would take me on.  It took a long time, and a lot of trial & error to get the perfect team assembled, and I am so sincerely grateful for every success, and every flop, every person who let me down, and every person who picked me back up.  It’s been a rollercoaster, for sure, and an amazing journey!

I’d like to take this opportunity to lift a glass & cheers my best friend & business partner, Kim Chatha.  HEX took a lot of different avenues before truly getting on the path we were meant to travel, and when you came along in November, 2013, everything changed.  You proved to me that perseverance pays off, and when you lettered your truck, I knew you were really in it for the long haul.  I’ve watched you come such a long way, and really grow your talent, not only as a trainer, but as an advisor… to clients, to colleagues… to me.  I admire your strength, and I love your unapologetic attitude.  Couldn’t be happier we found each other & together, have brought HEX to where it is today.  Happy anniversary, babes!

A cheers to Greg, who has been such an asset to HEX’s training programs, especially where socialization is concerned.  If your dog “doesn’t like men,” this is the guy for the job – because it doesn’t get bigger or badder than our Greg!  I’ve had the privilege of working side-by-side with this guy on multiple occasions, and this is a person to pay attention to.  I’m so proud to have you on the team, Greg, an integral part, and I think you have found your calling as an immensely talented trainer who – like the rest of us – is not afraid to tell it like it is.  Happy anniversary, & I thank you!

​Now, let’s take a look at some of the highlights of the last four years…

Introducing one of HEX's most dedicated canine students & her family, LACEY (proud to say) CGC'd!

"I am so grateful I found HEX dogs!  We got our rescue, Lacey, when she was three months and even though my husband and daughter were ready for it, I had many months of being extremely stressed, unhappy, and just overall had a very hard transition to having a puppy as I had never had one before.  I was afraid, frustrated, and didn't feel we were bonding well.  Right away after emailing Cassie, I knew HEX was the place for us.  I had no idea what we would do but they were willing to work with me who needed so much confidence and to stop crying almost daily and I knew I was ready to do whatever they asked.  

"First time we met Greg, I cried.  I was so frustrated and he said it was "OK" but it had to stop as Lacey was feeding off of it.  Before jumping to frustration and tears, take a deep breath and shoulders down. I thought "of course!" but never had been able to do it.  With our first short meeting, I had a better way to walk Lacey and manage some things that were difficult for me.  Already I felt a bit better.  We took Basic O and it was fabulous!  I needed someone to tell me what they saw, what I was doing right and what needed work.  Our last place always said I was doing it right, and when I look back that wasn't helpful as it didn't help me learn from my mistakes.  I learned in our class with Cassie to take charge, let the dog know I am the one to listen to, not give in, give praise when needed, and not to be afraid or nervous when she did something out of sorts. 

"Basic O ended and we are now in CGC [passed as of this writing -CS] and I'm thrilled.  Our whole house is calmer, I'm calmer, the dog is calmer, we're all happier.  Lacey listens to commands and walks beautifully now on our nightly outings.  She and I have a bond now that I really don't think would have happened had we not stated at HEX.  HEX is committed to helping us and I'm committed to doing my training process, which has made our bond even closer.   If you saw me in August with tears and how close we were to giving her up, you'd be amazed at how it's changed.  I want to cuddle with her, get kisses, see her wiggly butt say "Hi" to me when I come home, and we even took family pictures with her in them.  I can say we now have a family that has a family dog and I admit...I just love her with all my heart."

I am so very proud to call these guys clients, and honestly, HEX Family.  Talk about dedication.  Megan really overcame a lot with this dog who was overwhelming her to developing the most awesome relationship.  They are enrolled in Rocking Dog set to begin this Sunday, and if you had met them in the beginning... lol... this is MAJOR.  Couldn't be more proud of you guys & I know your Pa couldn't either.  

Congratulations to Lacey & family on her recent Canine Good Citizen certification!  I know it meant a lot to many... including me ;)

This article has been adapted from handouts pertinent to HEX's very first Confidence Builder Workshop

The following tips are written to enhance the format of a professional training program.  There are exceptions to every rule, so none of these things should be seen as a “be-all-end-all” solution to a behavior problem.  This is merely a list of suggestions, a clearly written document to tape to your refrigerator for the whole family to see, to help you assert Leadership Without Confrontation, and henceforth bring your dog to a more balanced place.

1)    First of all, teach your dog the basic cues: Sit, Down, Stay, Come, Heel and the under-rated ​Sit at Side (under the guidance of a qualified professional as needed) so you have this basic language of communication.  You should be able to execute each of these without a treat in your hand.

Which brings me to my next point...

3) Remember to be aware of your dog's state of mind.  State of mind is even more important than behavior, meaning: just because I ask my dog to sit, and he sits, does not mean it's time for a "good boy!"  It's not time for a "good boy!" if he is sitting, but staring down a target (like a stranger or an unfamiliar dog) with ill intentions at the same time that he executes the "sit."  In that case, change your dog's state of mind by physically walking him (away from the target briefly in a semi-circle,) redirecting this attention (perhaps a game of "Touch?"), or even something as simple as "Watch Me" if his fixation is mild.

4)    “Anything practiced gets easier to do, whether than behavior is positive or negative.” –CLS  

This applies to humans as well as canines.  If you allow your dog to practice barking out the window, you may not see it right away, but that behavior will INDEED get easier for your canine to perform. The opposite holds true as well: if I require my dog to practice sitting to put his leash on every day, THAT behavior gets easier to do also.  If I have him practice waiting for his treats, waiting to go outside, or to play gently with his siblings, that too will get easier.

Use this principle to your advantage.

5)    Do NOT allow your dog to drag you out the door or pull on leash.  If this is something you have trouble with, time to get a professional involved.  In one short session, this can be fixed.

6)  Do NOT repeat commands.  Do NOT repeat commands.  Do NOT repeat commands.  Do NOT repeat commands.  Do NOT repeat commands.  (Annoying, isn’t it?  Your dog feels the same.)

7)  Keep the intensity level inside your home (and outside your home, for that matter) at a 5 out of 10.  Anything above that intensity level should be especially under your control, structured, and begun & completed by you.  (i.e.  tug-o-war.)

See _https://www.facebook.com/pit.bull.trainer/videos/10205830009448596/

8)  ​Remember: your dog needs an outlet for his physical energy.  This means physical exercise, and your big back yard alone does not cut it.  If the dog never leaves the back yard, it’s like living in a fishbowl.  Give him the structured, physically-demanding activities he craves (under the advisement of a trusted veterinarian) and watch his anxious energy dissipate.  (Examples include back-packing, jogging, fetch, Find It – see: http://www.hexdogs.com/blog-this/game-with-your-k9-teach-find-it, trick-training…)

9)  ​Keep your comings & goings soft, quiet & low-key, especially when dealing with behavioral issues.  (This is one of the simplest but most difficult things to ask a pet owner to do, I know.)

10)  ​The greatest mistake that pet owners make in dog rehabilitation, witnessed in my experience, is doing TOO MUCH, TOO SOON.  Giving too much freedom too early gives your dog the opportunity to practice the exact behaviors you don’t approve of, AND “Anything practiced gets easier to do, whether that behavior is positive or negative.”

11)  ​When determining your goals in modifying the behavior of your dog, ask yourself the following question: is this something my dog wants to do… or is this something I want my dog to do?  Does my dog enjoy going to the dog park (to be accosted & mounted by unruly dogs, for example) or do I want to go to the dog park?  Evaluate & modify your goals as needed and challenge yourselves while staying realistic.

12)  Crate-train.  Even if you don’t think you need to.  See Kim Chatha’s article: http://www.hexdogs.com/blog-this/give-me-my-damn-crate-back 

13)  In a few words: dog backpacks!  See my article:  http://www.hexdogs.com/blog-this/whats-the-deal-with-dog-backpacks-2nd-addition-with-new-links-commentary 

14)  Provide at least one new experience per dog per day.  That helps keep your dog on the top of his mental game, alert, attentive, excited for life, and, when done properly, reinforces your relationship as the one he can trust to lead him through new & potentially anxiety-producing circumstances.  If you’re going to get gas, throw the dog in the car.  Dunkin’ Donuts?  Strap him in and bring him along.  Spend two minutes working on a new trick.  Bring him to a different part of the yard than usual and play Find It.  It doesn’t have to be time-consuming; just do something new!

15)  Always, always: #SafetyFirst.  Especially when it comes to safety involving children.  Err on the side of caution.  No harm can come from taking things too slowly... a lot of harm can come from rushing things too quickly.

16)  ​Do NOT allow your dog to put his weight up against you in any way, shape, or form without invitation.  Do NOT allow your dog to lean on you, put paws on you, sit on your feet, nudge your hands, nose their way under your arm, etc.  Yes, you need to ignore these behaviors.  It’s not that these behaviors are unacceptable under ANY  circumstances.  It’s that these behaviors are unacceptable under these circumstances (i.e. circumstances under which you are trying to modify behavior & provide stronger leadership/guidance).  For that reason, if you entertain these behaviors, they should be invited & initiated by you.

17)   If you have a fearful or nervous dog, you MUST learn to be your dog’s advocate in order to have any success beyond a certain point, especially regarding socialization to strangers.  When someone comes up to you and says, “Can I pet your dog?” (or worse, if they don’t even ask & proceed to reach for him), it truly matters not if your dog decides to bite at that particular moment.  If your dog clearly doesn’t want to be petted, than be your dog’s advocate and say “NO.  We are in training.”  You don’t need to apologize.  If your dog can’t trust you to protect him, he will never move beyond a certain point in his progress.

​18)  If your dog makes poor decisions, don't put him in decision-making positions.

19)  "You get what you pet." -KC

A lot of people don't even realize when they are caressing their dogs.  If your dog is displaying stress behaviors (growling, cowering, shaking), now is NOT the time for affection.  I don't necessarily subscribe to the idea that you cannot soothe your canine through touch, HOWEVER, we are all definitely in agreement that during these stressful times, what your dog needs from you is leadership, not coddling.  Your nervous pup could be better soothed with gentle but firm redirection (physically walking in a semi-circle, perhaps) and positive association with stress-inducing stimulus.  

***Please view all of these things as tips to help you along on a well-crafted training/behavior modification program.  Cases involving aggression or anxiety especially should always involve the guidance of a qualified professional, and resolution should not be attempted on your own.

***These are a list of ideas, tips & tricks that can make a massive difference in the life of a dog, but all of these things must be done with consistency and in conjunction with an individual program to see results. Also worth noting, when changing the rules, you may see an increase in the undesirable behavior for a time.  This is because your dog is persisting in something that has always worked!  At this time in particular, YOU must have more persistence and determination than your dog.  Depending on your dog, that, my friends, may be asking a lot!  But you can do it.  It may take days, it may take weeks, it may take months, it could even take years to break through the truly tough stuff, BUT with consistency you WILL see behavior reliably change.

Email hexdogs@gmail.com with any questions or to take your next step in training.  We’re here for those who are 100% committed. 

I’ve been thinking about this article for a long time.  I’ve got a handful of “2nd Additions” & “Half-Finished’s” floating around on my idea list, but what has really been standing out in my mind for a bit is an eccentric & weird topic that just burns life into my soul, with my fingertips scratching at the keyboard when Writers Block just wants to put me to sleep.  It’s called “Seven Unexpected Things That Completely Changed My Life.”

Let’s just get right down to it.  Whether you are a dog trainer or a fashion designer, a real estate agent or a teacher, sometimes you find yourself in a mental funk that you can’t seem to work your way out of.  I have woken up with the thought that “My life is stupid.”  (Oh?  It’s just me then?)  I realize that that is some weird verbiage with which to wake yourself up.  But have you ever been so stuck in your head with yourself - who can be a relentless & shameless self-deprecating b*tch, by the way - that when someone asks you “What do you want to do?”  you honestly don’t have an answer because you truly can’t think of anything you feel like doing at the moment?  

I’ve felt like that.  

For me, and hopefully for you, this is never a permanent state of being.  We all get down on ourselves sometimes.  When you’re stuck in your own head like that though, that notion is easier remembered than achieved.  The saying goes “We are our own worst enemy,” and MAN, I can relate to that.  Millions of dollars would not fix those problems.  I am admittedly short of millions of dollars, but money, things, items, milestones… They alone have not made me happy.  In fact, they have rather been the bane of my existence.

But this article isn’t about that.  It’s not about how my struggles are worse than yours, or about how yours trump mine, but about how I’ve been inspired by the most unlikely of sources to fight against these odds and truly begin to be comfortable in my own skin.  We all – well, most us of! – deserve that.  The Dirty Thirty was a good year for me.

And so in the spirit of that assertion, allow me to represent the Underdog – but also the Happy Girl.  I ask from you what was asked of me.  That, my friends, is to have an open mind, an open heart, and a maybe just a little bit of crazy.  With that said, behold seven weirdly impactful things that truly gave me a different perspective on life.

As many of you know, I am a business owner, a hiker and a nature enthusiast.  What many of you don’t know if that I am also a lover of fashion.  (A good one?  A bad one?  It matters not for the purpose of this article.)  My Allure Magazine had arrived, and I’d gone cover to cover, from topic to topic, and this particular little article – on posture - bored me, so I skipped over it, again and again.  (I have this weird habit of reading magazines back to front.)  But back and forth, I bypassed this article until it was the last thing in the magazine left for me to read.  I was waiting for someone to finish something while I waited in the car.  When this article was the very last thing in the magazine for me to read, I read it.  And found it life-changing.  I followed the instructions.  I sat up straight (something I still have to put conscious effort into), opened my shoulders, and felt a little light bulb go off.  

I remember when I was a teenager, my mom warned me: “You are a short little thing that people love.  You are going to have to fight against that your whole life.”  And I did learn what she meant.  

I think about this article every day when I double check my posture.  Walk with your head held high, like you have a string holding you up straight.  It’s very empowering.  I think about this every single day.  (And let me tell you, any photo of you will look ten thousand times better!)

Here it is for your reference: http://www.allure.com/beauty-trends/health/2015/how-to-have-better-posture.  

When I was twelve years old, I was a little bit of a lost soul.  I was still broken-hearted because of my parents’ divorce when I was five, and unconvinced that they wouldn’t get back together.  You know how I said I was five feet tall?  My stepfather was 6’7” and I looked up at him like I was King Kong and just threw every ounce of my adolescent strength into detesting him.  He wasn’t my dad, and I let him know it.  Not in my words, but probably in my actions.  I wasn’t his favorite thing in the world, either.  I frustrated him. 

Well, the basketball hoop.  It came into play long ago when I was just a kid because the outlet for all my frustration and confusion and pre-pubescent angst became shooting hoops.  I’d just play and play and play until I couldn’t think about anything but improving my shot.  I’d play “Around the World” like I was going  around the world.  I’d imagine myself there and play like I was Carmen San Diego – (am I dating myself a little bit there?)  I never learned too much how to actually play basketball, but I would shoot hoops with myself until I couldn’t see the court anymore… past dusk.  It would get dark and I’d get called in for dinner. The court was my neighbors’ driveway with a basketball hoop in it.

That basketball hoop gave me a peace of mind and years later, I was given another basketball hoop when I was thirty that served the same purpose.  I recommend it to everyone.  It was an amazing revelation to realize I could still hack it… at least in Around the World vs. Myself.

Kimora Lee Simmons??  WHAT a quote to be seen in an article on a dog  trainer’s blog – I know.  And I actually know very little about Kimora Lee Simmons beyond this quote.  This quote, however, was a game changer for me.  I don’t remember WHEN I heard it or HOW I heard it, but it stuck out in my mind right away and it has ever since.  When I wake up in the morning and get ready – after letting the dogs out, doing dishes, etc. – I ask myself not “What do I want to look like today?” but “What do I want to FEEL like today?”  May sound silly, but I promise you, it isn’t.  Take that extra moment for yourself, and when you are between the flats & the killer red heels, ask yourself, “If I ran into my ex today, what would I want to look like?”  Go with your gut – whatever that is! – and rock it out shamelessly.

Yeah, well.  I was told that for my entire adult life when given good and valid advice from industry people who knew what they were talking about.  I could not be happier that that suggestion has been weighed, measured & found wanting.  I threw that piece of advice straight out the window & so did she (my BFF & business partner, Kim Chatha).  There is no loyalty like ours and annoyingly to others, that has been proven time & time again over the years.  Yes, I said years.  When it comes down to it, do what you know is right in your heart & deal with the consequences later. .. knowing you put all your eggs in that basket & fought for what you believed in.  Failure hasn’t happened to HEX.  Proudly, Kim Chatha is my BFF & HEX’s Co-Owner with a shot gun (just kidding about the shot gun) and we still back each other 150% every day.  It CAN be done, people.  Don’t believe the hype.  Make your own judgment calls. 

Believe it or not, I didn’t learn this ‘til I was thirty.  Much can be accomplished when you accept this fact.  And it’s okay if it still makes you mad as an adult.

To all who have contributed to this article, knowingly & unknowingly, thank you, from the bottom of my weird  little heart - the good, the bad & the ugly.  I could not be more grateful for the way I’ve gotten to the spiritual, professional & psychological place I am today, and although there is a lot more growth to be had, the journey rocks on, and I am looking forward to it.  I am proud to say I am in a good place these days, and that is in large part due to the influence of the above-referenced inspirations. 

My hope is that this article helps another girl who too feels alone in a crowded room.  I feel ya.