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February 5th 2021, “Ask Pilar” at www.dogwhispererhq.com

Welcome to our “Ask Pilar” series! Certified Ethologist animal Behaviorist and Professional dog trainer and groomer Pilar Garrido will answer questions you have about your pup. She is only providing a basic overview. For more information, please consult a trainer, behaviorist or groomer in your area, who can directly work with your dogs.

For this round of questions, our readers asked:

1.  I have a Maltese, and last year, she almost died during winter due to hypothermia. My dog is not potty trained and needs to go outside despite the cold weather. This year, there has been a lot of snow in my place, and I am afraid that the same problem could occur. How can I potty train my dog to use a diaper at home only when it is impossible to go out?

Maltese are a very delicate breed of dog and require special attention. Unlike bigger dogs like huskies, German shepherds or Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs — which are accustomed to colder weather — Maltese are not. Their hair only has one layer mantle, and when snow touches their stomach and chest area, there is a strong likelihood that they can develop pneumonia or hypothermia. Therefore, we need to be very attentive with Maltese in cold weather.

Here’s what we can do to potty train your Maltese using diapers at home when she cannot go out due to cold weather:

First, it takes time and patience when potty training your dog at home. Dogs have a habit of peeing away from the house because they want to be far from the odor. The challenge here is teaching your dog to do something new. Try to be patient when teaching your dog new skills.

Since the dog has a routine schedule to go outside and pee, use that same schedule to train the dog in the house by placing a diaper in a specific area and then giving the instruction, ¨go pee.¨ If she does it on the first try, reward her with a treat. Do not be alarmed if she does not do it at first. This is normal and, to her, something unfamiliar. In this case, bring her outside and carry the diaper with you. When outside, you need to make sure that she is on a leash. Place the diaper on the floor (in her favorite spot) and say, “go pee.” When she does, reward her with a tasty treat or pat on the head.

Repeat the process. Be patient and do not give up. After several tries, it should begin to work. Remember, reward and association go together. Continue using positive reinforcement.

2. I have a 12-year-old child, and he is terrified of dogs but is insisting on having one at home. He said he would make an effort to get used to having one in the house, and perhaps he will finally lose his fear of dogs. I would love to bring home a dog, but I am very hesitant to do it. Do you think it is a good idea?

At this time, I do not think it’s a good idea to bring home a puppy or an adult dog, especially when your son is afraid of the animal. A puppy has a lot of energy and likes to play; biting can be part of a game. This activity helps create a strong bonding behavior between the dog and human. The same goes for adult dogs. However, this can be a major challenge for your son, and instead of creating a positive bonding experience, the outcome might be the opposite. It may create trauma with your son and the dog may develop negative experiences, which we do not want to happen.

Here is what we can do to help your son grow his confidence in the hopes that he can one day pick the right dog for him.

1. Try visiting the nearest dog shelter in your area. Once a week is a solid amount, but if that is not possible, once a month is fine. Have your son get a feel for the place to learn to manage his fear of the animal.
2. Volunteer to walk the dogs in the shelter. This is a good confidence builder for your son. Ask the center manager if they can recommend a calm, balanced dog for someone who has never walked a dog before. I am sure they will be happy to help. I would not recommend an energetic dog because it will be difficult to handle and control. During the first week, your son can try walking small dogs and, later on, bigger dogs. It will help him decide which dog is better: big or small.
3. Offer to foster a dog at home. The center manager will suggest a dog that will be a good fit with your son’s energy and personality. Again, it’s a good way to build confidence and give your son some responsibility. He can get a feel for what it’s like to live with a dog without the commitment.

This type of training is a win-win situation. Your son might choose to volunteer instead of having a dog at home, or he might choose to have a small dog instead of a big one at home. After doing what’s listed above, he will be better-prepared to have a dog in the house, if he still feel comfortable with the idea.

3. I recently adopted a one-year-old chihuahua. When I first saw him from a friend’s video, he seemed playful and nice. I fell in love and ended up bringing him home. During a home celebration, I tried dressing him up to take some pictures, and he bit me. He does not even allow me to put a leash on him. I am afraid of getting close to him, and he is also doing the same by avoiding me. I cannot afford to pay a dog trainer at this time. I love him, but I might have to give him away if the problem persists. I need your help, please!

Thank you for bringing up this problem. Bear in mind that a one-year-old puppy is like a teenage boy and will drive us crazy if we do not know how to work with him. We also need to realize the dog will feel sad and lonely when he moves from one house to another. Therefore, we need to do our best to make our home feel like home to the dog. It is normal, during the first night, for the dog to not eat or move from his chosen spot. Putting a warm mat in his favorite spot would make him feel more at home, because he knows it is a secure, comfortable place. 

His behavior may be just temporary, because he is in a new environment. (If not, you need to work with a trainer.) Make sure that there is enough water nearby. After a day or two, he will begin to act more normally and start wandering around. By giving him a warm place to sleep and food to eat, he will learn to develop a bond with us over time. 

Dog food should be given only at a specific time of the day so when we say, “time to eat,” he knows it is his mealtime. Do not bother him when he is eating. Let him finish and retrieve any leftovers when done. Remember, giving your dog compliments and treats is a good motivator. Keep a special treat handy and reward the dog when we see him doing something right, including allowing you to put a leash on him. Be patient with the training because the dog is learning the rules of the house. We can say “no” when he makes a mistake and be firm, but punishment is not recommended. 

Always show calmness and never raise your voice. Whenever you call our dog, you need to stand in a relaxed and non-threatening way to avoid being seen as too intimidating. We can even turn our back to our pup, call his name and display (shake in a bag) his favorite treat. This will pique his interest, and when he comes to you, give him the treat as a reward. He’ll also see that you’re not so scary!

In the end, through patience, you can learn to develop a strong bond with your new dog. You can then start dressing him for cold weather or special occasions if you want, but always do it calmly in a gentle, respectful way. Give a treat as positive reinforcement if he cooperates. If the dog does not like an outfit, do not force it, especially when it is too tight.

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