This page on Housebreaking Your Dog is part of the Auxiliary Section of
the D.S. Dog Training Workshop, and an element of the Dog Science Network
Housebreaking Your Dog Through Location Training
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A Description of the Necessary Training Techniques
A Word About Your Tone of Voice
If you experiment, you will find that there are some tones of voice that charm and relax your dog, and make him feel happy, while there are others that make him anxious and cause him to feel distressed.
If you have long been in the habit of speaking to your dog in pretty much the same tone of voice all the time, you may be unaware of how much better control you can gain over the animal by making it a point to vary your tone of voice to fit the circumstance, depending on the effect you want to have on your dog.
The Gladdening Voice
The term gladdening voice refers to a tone of voice your dog finds cheerful, warm, and reassuring. To location train with the greatest efficiency, you will need to use your gladdening tone of voice to tell your canine that he is a good dog whenever he does his business on the concrete apron of the pet waste station, or in whatever area it is that you have set aside for that sort of thing.
The Unsettling Voice
The term unsettling voice refers to a tone of voice your dog is sure to find at least somewhat upsetting. To make this intervention work with the greatest ease, you will need to use your unsettling tone of voice to tell your dog no, whenever he does his business any place other than in the designated location.
The Do This - Not That Procedure
The do this - not that procedure is a technique you can use to convey to your dog that he is supposed to eliminate in one location only, and not in any others. Hence the name: do this - not that.
Essentially, this procedure is comprised of two parts. The first part consists of speaking to your dog in your gladdening voice, along with doing other things to make him happy, every time he uses the facility.
The second part consists of using your unsettling voice as you do other things to make your dog feel anxious and somewhat upset, any time he does his business any place other than where you want him to.
Once your dog has gotten in the habit of eliminating only in the designated facility - and there only - it will no longer be necessary for you to dispense rewards and aversives to get him to comply with your wishes.