Jorge and Manuel are Bichon Frisees, ages 5 and 7, respectively.
Back in the day, they exhibited the usual conglomeration of unwanted behaviors – mostly stealing and hiding cellphones and sunglasses, and launching into fits of ceaseless, random barking. Thankfully, a few sessions with a trainer helped get those issues under control.
The dogs’ potty problem, however, has not resolved. Though days can go by without an incident, more often than not, the boys’ owners come home to puddles on the foyer floor and a pile or two in the dining room.
As anyone with two or more dogs can tell you, it is difficult to assess “blame,” especially when the perpetrators are the same breed, size and relative age. Who did the dirty deed?
Does it matter?
No, it doesn’t. Because in all likelihood, they are both guilty. Most dogs cannot resist adding their own signature to a potty document left by another dog.
Now what?
Its time to go back to basics: the new puppy housebreaking regime:
1. Both dogs must be crated in their own kennels when they cannot be supervised.
2. Supervised means they are attached by leash to a human so they can’t sneak off to eliminate in another room.
3. Dogs go outside on a regular basis – when they first wake up, after meals, after naps, after vigorous play, before bedtime.
4. Owners must bring the dogs to the designated potty place and praise them when they do their business there.
5. Clean the house from top to bottom with an enzyme cleaner.
6. No exceptions to 1-5 above.
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