Pet Training Tips That’ll Keep Your Apartment In Tact
Did you know that according to the American Veterinary Medical Association around 70 million households in the US have dogs? With a number like that it’s safe to assume that we love our dogs very much, in fact, there is even a day, August 26th, that celebrates our special fur babies. National Dog Day celebrates our furry friends of all breeds and mixes. It’s a great excuse to give them a big treat, a new toy, or even an extra-long walk. That is if they haven’t made a mess all over your carpet!
While we do love our furry friends they can be a handful at times. Having accidents, tearing up your brand new couch, and eating your food right off the plate are just a few examples of how your best friend can act out. Despite all these instances, our pets aren’t out to get us. They aren’t doing this stuff as an act of revenge, rather they’re just doing what makes them happy and comfortable. So it’s up to us to show them the correct way to behave, so we can give them that big ol’ treat on the 26th!
Housebreaking Tips Your Carpet Will Thank You For
One of the biggest, and at times the most frustrating, issue you’ll face with your fur baby in your apartment or home is housebreaking them. Housebreaking can take about 4-6 months depending on how old your puppy is.
Generally, puppies can’t hold their bladders for very long and can usually only last for about an hour or so when they are a few months old. Keep a lookout for specific signs like whining, circling, sniffing, and barking to indicate that they have to go to the bathroom.
Once they take care of their business outside, reward them with some treats to reinforce the notion that outside is where they go to the bathroom. However, accidents happen, don’t punish your puppy by sticking their nose in it or smacking them if one happens to occur. These methods only reinforce the idea that you should be feared and not that going inside is wrong. Instead, once the accident happens, take them outside and have them finish up and reward them with a treat if they do. This will help reinforce that they should go to the bathroom outside as well.
Once they have that down your carpets will be saved! And you’ll be onto the next challenge to tackle; keeping your couch intact.
Save Your Furniture And Reward Good Behavior
We want our fur babies to learn good behaviors, that is unless you don’t like your couch and are content with them eating all your food.
Like we stated earlier you need to understand your dog is an animal, they don’t plot for revenge and deliberately undermine you. They just do what makes them feel happy and comfortable, so when they do tear up your couch, it’s not because they hate you, it’s because they’re bored and want something to do. Buy your pet a variety of toys to keep them occupied and play with them regularly, this will teach them that the couch isn’t a toy but their bone or rope is.
Try to also stay away from using socks or old shoes as makeshift toys. It’s not fun when your putting on a pair and your pet tries grabbing them away from you thinking its playtime. It also teaches your pet that everything is a toy, so do your best to avoid this habit.
Never reward bad behavior like whining and begging with any sort of attention, no matter how cute they look or sound. Ignore them, letting them know that this behavior is unacceptable and does not earn the desired attention they seek. It will take some time, but eventually, they’ll learn that this behavior is not allowed.
Finally, when rewarding good behavior, have a few different treats to give them. For example, when they do something minor like come when you call them or sit on command give them a simple treat like a kibble. When they go to the bathroom outside or sit quietly while you eat your food, maybe give them something a little better like a rawhide bone.
In The End, All The Hard Work Is Worth It
Training your pet is hard work, but it’s incredibly rewarding when you get to hang out and play with them on your (not-destroyed) furniture. Make sure to give your pet some love on the 26th, and let them know you really appreciate them being apart of your life.
Make sure to check out the official National Dog Day site and help spread the word so that a wonderful pet can find a home and enjoy the same relationship you have with yours.
Also, be sure to check out our policy regarding pets if you’re a current tenant with a pet or reach out to us if you’re looking for a pet-friendly new apartment or property.