How to Housebreak Your Dog in 7 Days (Revised) [Paperback]

Shirlee Kalstone (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 3, 2004

For almost twenty years, dog owners have turned to this compact guide for sensible, step-by-step advice how to housebreak their beloved pets--in just one week! Now revised and updated, pet expert Shirlee Kalstone's foolproof method for housebreaking your dog is available with a fresh new look and up-to-date information.

Whether your dog is a puppy or getting on in years, whether your goal is to housebreak, paper train, or litter train, this practical, easy-to-follow plan will help you transform your pet into a dependable member of the household--in a way that works with both his innate behavioral instincts and your individual lifestyle. You'll never again have to worry about your dog acting out, feeling anxious or depressed--or ruining your brand-new rug--as you discover:

* The simple secret of successful housebreaking--understanding your dog as a den dweller

* Step-by-step programs tailored to both apartment dwellers and home owners, as well as to people who go to work, versus those who are home all day

* Schedules for training puppies and (re)training adult dogs

* How to identify your dog's natural behavioral rhythms--and use them to your advantage

* How to cope with housebreaking lapses, marking territory, separation anxiety, and health problems

* The power of praise and positive reinforcement, not punishment

Including sample schedules and timetables, and a list of related resources and websites, here is the essential, proven advice that will make training a pleasure, for both you and your dog.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Shirlee Kalstone, an internationally recognized expert on pets for over twenty years, has published 8 books on pet care. A trainer, groomer, and humane society worker, she has also professionally bred and shown both dogs and cats.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Bantam; Rev Sub edition (August 3, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553382896
• ISBN-13: 978-0553382891
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.2 x 7.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (157 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,366 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Pets & Animal Care > Dogs > Training

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

359 of 361 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple and Successful June 4, 2000

By Bruce Boatner

Format:Paperback

This approach worked for our puppy (a Lab) as well. It's based on a few simple ideas, one of which is the puppy's idea of its "den", which it will scrupulously avoid soiling. It's you, the owner, who needs to understand what constitutes the puppy's notion of its den and use that to your advantage.

Dogs, like most people, are creatures of habit, so that can be used too. Set up a watering schedule that will contribute to success. Also don't try to housebreak a puppy before it's old enough to have adequate bladder control. Still, you can make it to that point without too many accidents. The book details all this.

Finally, remember Pavlov's dog. Dogs respond directly - they don't understand abstract thoughts. Start by repeating a word like "potty" over and over quietly while your puppy is relieving herself, then praise her. This will associate the word with the feeling of relief. DON'T USE THE WORD ABSTRACTLY like asking "do you want to go out and potty?" when you're in the house! (You can say "do you want to go outside?"). After "programming" your puppy about 100 times, she will pee on command when she hears the word. This will really pay off later when you're travelling, etc. The important thing is to understand that dogs take everything literally and directly and really only understand a few key words, your tone of voice, and your body language.

Try to think like a dog - it will change your whole view of the world!

227 of 233 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This is ALL you need to housetrain your pup or dog!! August 30, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

If you can make it through the first 24 hours, freedom from an unhousetrained dog will be yours! It REALLY DOES WORK! I had a dog that was a 1.5 year old, I mistakingly paper trained her first and she never stopped doing what she was taught- going inside on the paper! NOT A GOOD IDEA! A family friend recommended this book and within about twenty four hours she was house trained!!! Most people would have said that I would always have a problem with her, NO way! Two years later, she's remains PERFECTLY HOUSETRAINED! In addition to this amaziing success story, I recently loaned the book to someone who was having trouble house training her new puppy; within a few days- no problem at all! Buy it, it really is well worth the money!

124 of 127 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Taking the Heartbreak out of Housebreaking! January 24, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This book offers concise, yet thorough instruction and information on the best method to housebreak your pooch. Kalstone even includes information on paper-training, though she makes it clear that this is not the best method, and should not be considered as an intermediate step if one expects a dog to use the bathroom exclusively outside at any point in its life.

The thing I like most about the little book, aside from the completely reasonable price (truly one of the best deals for your dollar in the world of dog-training books), is that she includes several sample feeding/exercise/elimination schedules that a person can tailor to one's own schedule. She also strongly advises and gives solid training information about crate-training, which when done properly, is one of the most humane and best gifts a human could possibly bestow upon a canine companion.

If you're having a problem with "accidents" in the house, *this* is the book you've been looking for! And what a bargain! :)