If your dog suddenly starts having accidents in the home, it’s important to FIRST rule out any underlying medical issue. Please seek the advice of your veterinarian before considering these tips. 
 
Below are the top five reasons a once house trained dog may soil in the house:

1.    They aren’t getting enough access to outdoors. Ask yourself: Have I been taking my pet outdoors  as often as I used to? For adult dogs, every very few hours, or every 2 for young pups (even less for very young puppies) PLUS 10-20 minutes after meal times? (If they are getting enough access to outdoors, your timing may be off or it may be something else). Be sure you provide plenty of opportunities for your dog to succeed in going outdoors if you want them to reverse this new behavior. It’s important to reverse it as soon as possible!

2.     They are stressed or upset. Have there been recent changes to their environment? Pets are very sensitive to change and sometimes we may not realize how much a small change can affect them. Some things may include: Adding a new pet to your home, having a baby, someone moving in or out, starting a new job that requires you to be away for longer periods of time, a rainy or snowy day, etc. These changes can create stress in pets and they may start doing things that are “out of the norm” in response – which can include soiling in the house. They need extra support during these times (see “3” next).​

​Every time we interact with our pets we can come from a place of understanding (love) or from impatience/anger (fear). In return, we instill the same in them. Do you want your dog to stop jumping on people by using force (knee to the chest) or, by teaching them to sit when asked instead? I can tell you that the knee to the chest might work temporarily by stunning or scaring them (although it will confuse the dog) but it may also create a fear of knees, legs, feet and people. In contrast, asking for a sit teaches your dog impulse control and manners. The choices you make in how you train your dog can have long lasting implications so I urge you to choose carefully. My motto is “Reward the good, ignore the bad”. You will get more of what you reward and less of what you don’t want if you ignore it. If it’s something you can’t ignore, teach your dog what to do instead.

​Written by Christine Durrant, Professional Dog Trainer and Pet Care Consultant

Does your dog jump, bark and rush to the door when company arrives at your home? If so, you may consider taking the time to teach your dog a replacement behavior. This means deciding what you’d like them to do instead. The best place to start is to teach your dog to sit, then to stay. That way, you can have them sitting nicely while your guests enter your home. The time you spend training now will last a lifetime.
 
Next, it’s important to determine WHY your dog is reacting. If your dog is simply excited; follow the steps below. If your dog is afraid or nervous, you’re going to want to change their mindset from fear to excitement. Basically, turn the arrival of guests into a party instead of a dread. Remember, it takes time and patience to help your dog change their feelings about people, especially if they have had bad experiences in the past.

Written by Christine Durrant, Professional Dog Trainer and Pet Care Consultant

​Barking is a natural behavior for dogs, for some breeds more than others. However, barking can be quite irritating. Below are some training tips and information that will help you to teach your dog to stop barking. 

It’s important to remember that anytime your dog is doing something that is undesirable, you should offer them a “replacement” behavior. In this article we will be teaching you how to replace your dog’s barking with being quiet.
Equally important is to NEVER use a command (in this case quiet) unless you are sure your dog knows the meaning and will successfully complete the request. This takes time and patience but, I assure you, it’s worth it.