Ask Jean Donaldson

Q: My eight-month-old puppy, Art, will go to the door and scratch to be let out to go to the bathroom but if I take more than 30 seconds to notice and let him out, he'll just pee or poo in front of the door. What do I do? – Janine, Denver, CO

A: Dear Janine, Art is the dog equivalent of a human teenager, so continuing potty accidents are alarming indeed. It sounds like he is unable to defer elimination. This means that he can't tolerate a lag between urge and opportunity. It's most useful to think of it as a deficit of both learning and muscle control, rather than a moral transgression. Dogs think urine and feces are fascinating. To most efficiently train him, you'll need a crate. A crate that is only just big enough to be comfortable but not so big as to allow both a bed and bathroom end will likely prompt Art to hold on while inside. This prevents further accidents, each of which is a rehearsal of the wrong habit. Art can be out of his crate when you know he is "empty" but should be in it for at least the last hour or two before all bathroom breaks in order to stretch him, i.e. force his little sphincters to pump iron. Whenever he comes out of the crate, he will be "full" and so should be hustled outside immediately. It would also help the cause if, every time he eliminates outside, you praise him very warmly and supply a small food treat. If he does not eliminate outside, consider him still "full" and so crate him for another thirty minutes. Then try again. Under no circumstances should a "full" dog be loose in the house. After a few months, you can wean him off the crate. ■

Jean Donaldson is the founder of the San Francisco SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers and author of several books on dog training and behaviour, including Dogs are from Neptune and The Culture Clash.