Tips for Apartment Training Your Dog

When I moved in with my boyfriend, one of our biggest concerns was how my dog was going to adjust to living in an apartment. Molly was three at the time and had been raised in home with a spacious back yard for her to run around. Plus, she had someone around at all times to attend to her needs. Molly was house trained, but could she be apartment trained so late in the game?

The first month she had accidents almost every day, which did not make a very good impression on my boyfriend or our white Berber carpeting. She wasn't accustomed to being left alone and holding her bladder all day long. We tried everything from puppy pads to doggie diapers. I even went as far as driving fifteen miles out of my way to my Mom's house every morning and afternoon so that Molly could spend every other day at her old stomping grounds. But, because I already had an hour-long commute to work, the extra travel wore me out after about six months. And, for all my extra driving, she still had accidents on the days she was home.

I decided I had to do some research on training adult dogs if I was going to keep Molly part of our new family. Through a lot of reading about dog training, obedience, and even pet psychology, I realized that it was more confusing to her to have two separate environments with different rules. Finally, I managed to come up with a system that worked for all of us.

Put your dog on a regular schedule and stick to it, this includes weekends as well. Dogs thrive on routine and upsetting their familiarity causes them to feel nervous or uneasy. Feed your dog the same time every day, preferably at night if they're home alone all day. Don't just leave a bowl of food out for them to eat whenever they want. It makes it nearly impossible for them to hold their bladder. Try to walk your dog the same times every day as well. For me, I walked our dog in the morning before work, during my lunch break (after I got a new job closer to home), as soon as I got home in the evening, and right before bedtime. The bedtime walk is especially important because it keeps your dog from getting overly anxious in the morning after not going to the bathroom all night.

If you can't walk your dog in the middle of the day or afford a pet-walking service, try to find someone that lives nearby you can hire to do it. Once I realized I was losing five hours a week worth of pay coming home to walk Molly, I found a neighbor on disability that agreed to take her out for a charge that's considerably less. Plus, Molly gets company during the day as an extra benefit. This really is important. It's difficult for most dogs to go all day long five days a week without using the bathroom. A quick mid-day walk really relieves a lot of stress for both the owner and the pet.

Give your dog an area of the apartment that's can be his or her own personal comfort zone. Since we're both against crate training and Molly is a bit of pampered pooch, I decided to put a sheet over our least expensive couch so she could lie on it during the day. She was already trained not to jump up on our love seat, so she came to see the couch as her bed. Even when we're home, it's her favorite retreat outside the bedroom.

Leave some of your dog's favorite toys in a spot they can get to easily. It keeps them from chewing your possessions when they're bored and gives them an outlet for exercise while they're cooped up during the day.

Make time to play with your dog every day. I know it's difficult when you come home tired and have to do things like make dinner, pay bills, clean, etc., but remember you need to compensate a little for the companionship your dog misses during the day. Greet your dog warmly when you come home and pet them, wrestle with them, play tug of war, or do whatever you two enjoy. They'll love the attention and you'll find it will also cheer you up after a busy day.

If they do have accidents in the house, scrub the area thoroughly with a little laundry detergent and water to remove the scent. Don't just wash it with water and spray air-freshener to cover the smell up. Dogs often go back to spots they already marked, so removing the scent helps remove the temptation. Dogs also instinctively try not to soil their own beds. If your dog has found some little nook or cranny in your apartment they feel comfortable soiling, then try to block off their access to it for a little while. Even if you have to do this a few times to different areas, eventually the dog will learn that going to the bathroom in the house is not acceptable.

If they do have an accident, clearly let them know that you're not happy about it. I've never been a big fan of spanking dogs and rubbing their nose in their mistake. Most dogs already realize they've done something wrong as soon you do. In Molly's case, she ducks her head and runs to "hide" on the couch. Instead of a spanking the dog, very firmly tell them that they're a bad dog and take them outside immediately. After you come back, give them the cold shoulder for a while. Not days mind you, but just an hour or two. When they come up to you for affection, push them away and say "Bad dog!" Believe it or not, the thing dogs want most, besides food, is their owner's love and affection. Once they come to realize that making messes in the apartment makes you unhappy and you'll withdraw your affection, they have more incentive not to break the rules.

It took some time and patience to get Molly used to her new routine, but I'm proud to say that she rarely has accidents in the apartment anymore. Not counting her training and adjustment period, she probably only slips up now once every couple of months - and that's usually only because we broke her routine or something happened while we were out that upset her. I realize no dog is perfect, but when it comes to household accidents Molly is as good as they get. Your dog can be too.