As we have stated previously, Lake Norman Animal Rescues mission is to rescue animals from animal control shelters. The vast majority of animals that end up in animal control for behavior reasons could have been easily remedied with some basic obedience and training. When you adopt/buy a pet you are responsible for that pet for the rest of its life and it is your responsibility to work through any issues that may arise. Just like with children, pets need guidance and discipline. Animals are not bad because they want to be, either they do not know better or have been unknowingly taught the negative behaviors by their owners. We at LNAR want to help in any way we can to ensure that your pet stays with the family they have come to trust and love. Please be advised that we are not professional trainers, we have worked with MANY pets with behavior issues and here are a few suggestions for common behavior problems that have worked for us……

Potty training from the start

It is important to start potty training immediately when you bring your pet home. The habits you enforce from the beginning will stay with your pet.

New Cats/kittens:

Before you bring a new cat in your home you need to decide where you want to keep the litter box. The best places are usually “out of the way” spots like a bathroom or laundry/mud room (Most kitties like privacy when doing their business so keep that in mind when choosing a spot). It is a good idea to also find out what kind of litter the kitty was using (if any) before and use the same type initially. A sudden change in texture, size or smell can turn a cat away from a litter box. Also if you have an enclosed litter box you may want to leave the lid off for the first initial days as that can sometimes frighten new kitties. After you have brought your new cat home place him/her immediately into the litter box and use their paws to scratch the litter. Then leave the cat in the room with the litter box with the door shut for awhile. If it is a young kitten and you have a large house you may want to leave the kitten in the litter box room for a few days when you are not playing/holding/watching them. Just long enough for them to find their way around the home and back to the litter box. After your kitty has used the box (exclusively and no where else) you can use the cover but be sure to put the cat in the box after you have placed the cover on to show it is okay. Also you can change litter at this time if you desire but pay attention to how your cat reacts. Many de-clawed cats to not like certain types of litter so use caution. If your new cat has an accident, clean it immediately using cleaning products that eliminate pet odor to discourage it from happening again in the same place. It also helps if you put something over the area (like aluminum foil which cats dislike). You also may need to keep the cat in the litter box room (when you are not home) more often until they learn.

New Dogs/puppies:

Just like with cats, you need to prepare your home before you bring in your new dog. We recommend a crate with potty training either an adult or puppy. Select a crate that gives your dog enough space to stand and sit comfortably and be able to turn around with ease BUT not large enough that they also have a lot of extra space. If you are getting a puppy select a crate that will fit him as an adult but use a divider to make it fit his size as he grows. Make sure there is something in the bottom of the crate for comfort (bath towels are great) that can also be easily washed if an accident does occur. DO NOT use “puppy training pads” as these are scented and encourage your pet to urinate there. (Unless you want to train your pet to potty inside, never use scented training pads.) Your dogs crate will become his “den” and will be a place of comfort and security. They learn to go there when they want to be “left alone” and we advise parents to tell their children to leave their dog alone when it is in the crate (always leave the crate door open when your dog is loose in the house so they can go in and out as they please). If you had or have a dog already it is VERY important that you make sure there are no old urine stains or smells that would encourage the new pet to eliminate in the same area. A professional rug/carpet cleaning is a good idea using special products made to get rid of old odors.

After you have your home ready and you bring your dog home, introduce him to the crate. Place a few treats inside and allow him to go in on his own to get them then praise him. Let him walk out on his own and repeat the process. After he seems comfortable with the crate close the door and continue to praise. It is good to keep a toy or bone in the crate for entertainment. (Don’t use anything your dog could choke on). Now starts the real potty training…. When you feed your dog, as soon as he finishes, walk him. Give him 10 minutes to potty and if he does not then bring him inside and place him in the crate with the door closed. Leave him in it for 10 more minutes and then walk him again. If he potties this time you can leave him lose in the house. If he still does not, then repeat the process, in the crate 10 more minutes. Soon they will learn that when they “go” outside they can be loose in the house. If your dog does have an accident it is important to not spank him/her. They will translate that as they should not potty in front of you anytime and that will make walking/training them more difficult. Pick up the feces and place it outside so they see that is where it belongs. Actually show your dog and when you come back in place him in his crate. Clean the area thoroughly using pet stain/odor remover. Do not free feed for your dog, feed on a schedule and they will eliminate in a schedule. It is also good to do the same with water until they are completely house trained. Give water the same time as food and offer it frequently during the day. When they drink, take them out. When you are not home, crate your dog until you are 100% sure they are house trained. Do not leave food or water in the crate with them. Walk them as soon as you get home. If you follow these guidelines you will find that your pets will potty train quickly.

Previously potty trained pet eliminating in the house

If your pet was successfully house trained and has suddenly started urinating in the house you first need to rule out health reasons. Many times urinating in the house is a sign of a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) and this needs to be ruled out right away. This is actually a common occurrence in pets and many pets that end up in shelters actually have a UTI and if their owners had taken them to the vet they would known this. Once that is ruled out we can look at other reasons.

Cats:

Once you have ruled out a UTI ask yourself these questions. What have you changed? Have you changed litter or moved the litter box. Have you brought in a new kitty? Did you move? Is the litter box clean? Cats are very “anti change” and they tend to react to change by urinating outside of the litter box. Before you make sudden changes try to prepare your kitty slowly. If you get a new cat give it a different litter box. Many cats do not like to share a litter box and will refuse to use one that has been used by another cat. If you change litter, do it gradually actually mixing litters before you change completely. If you want to change your litter box location, put a new litter box in the new place leaving the old one in the old location until the new one is being used more often. Gradually start leaving the old litter box room door closed from time to time before removing it completely. Beware that many de-clawed cats end up in shelters because the stop using the litter box so think about this before de-clawing and discuss it with your vet. There are special litters that de-clawed cats prefer. If you move into a new home you will need to start the litter box training completely over just as if you brought a new cat home, shutting them up in the room with the box. Also, make sure the litter box is kept clean, cats to NOT like to use a messy litter box.

Dogs: 

Once you have ruled out a UTI you need to go back to basics. Take up the dog’s water and offer when you feed them and a few other times daily. If they drink, then walk them. If you just adopted a new dog then perhaps your other dog is rebelling and/or it is a dominance/alpha issue that needs to be addressed. Also, many potty training issues can be remedied with simply altering (spaying, neutering) your pet if they are in tack. If you have recently moved into a new home the pervious home owners may have had a pet that left his urine scent and he is only covering it with his own. You need to start back with the basics and use your crate consistently, especially when you are not home. Preventing accidents in the beginning avoids them in the future. Consistency and commitment is the key to success!