Dogs, Cats, and Other People by Matthew Margolis

Housebreaking is hands-down the No. One problem for dog owners.

Take this recent letter from a reader:

"My Yorkie Randy urinates in my home, and I'm seriously at the point of giving him away. We love him dearly, but I can't have my home ruined. He has a doggy door that he uses, but I keep finding puddles in the house. Help! You are my last resort."

Reads like the TV Guide log line for this week's episode of "Desperate Housebreakers."

What the writer fails to mention is that Randy is 9 years old and never trained. That's 3,285 days' worth of Yorkie urine on the carpet — which, in fact, is the impetus for the cry for help. She's recarpeting the whole house and that's not cheap. "I'm not going to spend all this money on new carpet just to have Randy ruin it."

Readers, take note: Most people will spend thousands on new carpeting and nothing on dog training. Why not put a little something into dog training and save thousands on carpeting?

Housebreaking a dog should not break the bank. It requires a system and consistent adherence to that system. A reasonably intelligent person can housebreak a dog in three to seven days. Here's how:

1) Establish and adhere to a feed-water-walk schedule. This conditions your pup's body to eliminate waste at specific times of the day and night, as determined by you — so stick to the schedule.

2) Use proper confinement. Baby gates and wire crates work well to keep your dog comfortable and confined. Free rein of the house is not allowed during the housebreaking phase. You can't correct a mistake if it's happening in another room. You must catch him in the act.

3) Neutralize odors. If you don't catch your pup in the act, all you can do is clean it up. This is where that effective odor neutralizer comes in. Fact: The average dog can sniff out one part urine to one million parts water.

He will return to that marked spot time and again if you don't neutralize the scent.

4) Provide a proper diet. The right amount and kind of food for your dog will be determined by his age. But an age-appropriate diet is essential in keeping his digestion regular and predictable. This makes life easier for you in the training stage and works in tandem with the feed-water-walk schedule. Your dog eats, he drinks, he goes outside. Repeat as necessary.

5) Correct mistakes and praise successes. When you catch him eliminating inside, say "no," and then immediately take him outside and praise him when you get there, whether or not he goes.

With dogs, praise is the reward and the motivator, and it works — unlike the following highly ineffective what-not-to-dos:

— Rub his nose in his mess.

— Show him his mess and say no until he thinks "No" is his name.

— "Bonk" him on the nose with your hand or a rolled-up newspaper.

— Show him his mess and lock him in a room where he can think about what he's done.

For a more detailed explanation of the five steps to a housebroken dog, or for an age-specific Feed-Water-Walk schedule, check out "When Good Dogs Do Bad Things" at unclematty.com.

Remember:

— Housebreaking means the dog never eliminates in the house. Not even a little bit. Not even once in a while. Not on paper. Not on pads. Never.

— Housebreaking is entirely possible for all dogs, big and small. Dogs with medical conditions or that are on medication can be the exceptions.

And as always, don't get rid of the dog, get rid of the problem!

Woof!

Dog trainer Matthew "Uncle Matty" Margolis is co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and host of the PBS series "WOOF! It's a Dog's Life!" Read all of Uncle Matty's columns at the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com. Send your questions to dearuncle.gazette@unclematty.com or by mail to Uncle Matty at P.O. Box 3300, Diamond Springs, CA 95619.

COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.