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Ask Pilar; Sep 7, 2020

Welcome to our “Ask Pilar” series! 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 six-month-old puppy. Sometimes, I let him sleep on my bed with me. However, when he is alone on my bed, he ends up peeing on it. What should I do? 

Puppies at all ages are still learning to control the urge to pee. Your permission to let him sleep on the bed makes him feel like part of the family. The bed is dry and therefore seems like a good place for him to relieve himself and mark his territory. You need to be very careful that he does not do this and make a habit of it. Puppies should be monitored at all times. Teach him to go to a specific area to pee. Do not give him access to your bed without permission. There is nothing wrong with letting your pup sleep with you if you prefer that. This reinforces your bond, but your pup needs to understand that the bed is yours. When you are not at home, leave the puppy in a room with only his bed, toys, food and water. Always remember that a puppy has to pee every four hours so, to educate him well on potty training, you should take him out on the street or to a specific area. Never forget to reward your dog when he does it in the right place. It helps reinforce good behavior.

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2. How do you train a Dogo Argentino? This dog is known for its strong character and I would like to change that. Also, when should I introduce the use of a muzzle, and at what age could I sterilize my dog?

This type of strong breed has been used to hunt bears and cougars. Dogo Argentinos need to be trained at a young age to not bark at other dogs or pull on their leash, and to respect the family. Despite the controversy, this breed is not more dangerous than any other well-trained animal. We have to recognize that they have great strength but so too do German Shepherds and Dobermans, for example. To have a well-behaved, balanced dog at home, education is always key. Do lots of exercise-related activities with your dog. He/she needs to learn to refocus the energy on something productive. Everything must be won as a prize and everything must come from the owners. Avoid games that stimulate the predator-prey instinct. 

The muzzle should not be associated with punishment. When you install the muzzle, put a piece of his/her favorite treat inside as a reward. Give praise and calming words when putting the muzzle on. In the beginning, he/she needs to wear the muzzle for only five minutes. Monitor it in case he/she decided to try to take it off. Newer forget to give praise. You can play with him/her while the muzzle is on so that he/she feels comfortable with it. Increase the time it’s left on until he/she becomes used to it. When you take it off, offer a treat as a reward. The sooner he/she learns to wear the muzzle with ease, the better. Make sure the size is correct and change it as he/she grows. Remember: never go out to the park or in areas outside your home without a muzzle. It is not recommended to leave the muzzle on for more than one hour at a time. If it stays for a longer period, it can cause injury. 

It is advisable to neuter Dogo Argentinos when they are eight months old. Consult your nearest veterinarian for additional information about neutering. 

3. I have adopted a one-year-old Spanish Podenco and when I bring her to the park, she barks and jumps around all the dogs. What should I do?

The Spanish Podenco is a breed raised to hunt rabbits. They are tenacious and courageous dogs. They were selected for barking at and chasing their prey for many hours, day or night; they have a lot of energy. Because of this, they are chosen for search and rescue operations. So, when she sees other dogs, her instincts take over. To her it’s just fun and games; it’s what this breed is selected for. As owners, we need to learn to redirect this energy. We must teach her scent games to search for objects. Take her for a long run and hide toys so she can find them and bring them back to you. Stimulate her curiosity through tracking games. We can even play hide and seek and have her look for us by smell. We can start this kind of game at home. We must exercise and stimulate her sense of smell. 

The long daily walks associated with games can help calm her energy before taking your dog to the park. We have to take into account that a one-year-old dog is a teenager. She is still growing up, and changes in behavior are still taking place. At this age, you should have developed good leadership, being clear and firm with your instructions. Use the same instructions and never change them to avoid confusion. Podencos will try to challenge you by disobeying an order to understand where her place is in the animal pack. Always maintain your calm to create positive, relaxed energy. It is also advisable that you take your dog for a walk with a friend’s dog who is around the same age, and is calm and quiet. 

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