3 Common Dog Training Problems

Dealing with dog training problems as an apartment dweller is compounded by the small living space and neighbors literally on the other side of the wall. Tackling the problematic behaviors head-on is essential to living a happy, productive life in a small space with a pet.

1. Housetraining

The most common of dog training problems is being unable to housetrain a dog effectively. Many dogs have occasional accidents; however, frequent accidents are usually indicative of improper training.

• Solution 1: In order to housetrain a dog, you must do your part to provide your dog with a regular schedule. You can’t leave a dog alone in your apartment all day and expect it not to relieve itself. Take your dog out at regular intervals throughout the day; come home during a lunch break if possible.
• Solution 2: Try and catch the dog’s telltale signs. When you witness your dog or puppy sniffing the ground and pacing back and forth, immediately take him outside.
• Solution 3: Praise and don’t punish. Dogs can’t make long-term connections, so if you come back to your apartment and find a puddle of urine, yelling at your dog will only make your dog afraid of you. If you catch your dog in the act, shout, “No!” once and take him outside immediately. Praise your dog anytime he successfully relieves himself outside.

2. Crate Training

Because apartments are small and bored dogs can go to the bathroom and chew or scratch furnishings to take out their frustrations, crate training is another essential training step, but it also frequently presents dog training problems. Dogs that aren’t happy in crates whine, relieve themselves in the crate and become depressed.

• Solution 1: Make sure the crate is large enough. Your dog should be able to stand up and turn completely around. Get a larger crate than currently necessary if your puppy is still growing.
• Solution 2: Expose the dog to the crate in small doses. Proper crate training, like all training, means introducing your dog to the crate in stages. Don’t lock him away all day when you’re not home and at night as well. Start by locking him away for a few hours and increase the amount of time each day.
• Solution 3: Choose night or day crating. Even dogs used to crates won’t have happy lives spent nearly entirely inside crates. Either crate the dog at night when you’re asleep or during the day when you’re away, but not both.

3. Barking

A dog that won’t stop barking is another one of those dog training problems that is worse in an apartment because neighbors can complain to the landlord and you might have to give up your dog.

• Solution: Don’t completely eliminate barking. Barking is a natural behavior, so train your dog to bark on command away from the apartment, like when out on a walk. Praise your dog when he barks on command and state only one command-such as “Stop barking!”-when he barks inappropriately.

Although you are likely to encounter dog training problems when introducing a canine friend to apartment life, don’t let yourself get discouraged. Continue working with your dog and try new training problem solutions.