Accidents Happen!! Quick Tips for How to Handle Your Dog’s Indoor Accidents
One of the joys of being a husky parent is dealing with an impromptu cleanup when your pup forgets that their bathroom is outside and not on your newly vacuumed carpet. If you've ever experienced the frustration of finding an unexpected mess at home, you're not alone. When your pup has an accident indoors, it's often unintentional, especially for puppies and newly adopted dogs. Below are some practical tips on how to handle your dog’s accident with patience and care.
Building Strong Habits
Just like humans, dogs aren’t going to be perfect right away when learning to potty train. As a husky parent, you can reinforce good bathroom behavior, but accidents may still occasionally happen. If you catch your dog in the indoor bathroom act, make a noise or sound to get your dog’s attention (without startling them), and immediately take them to the appropriate bathroom spot outside. Let them finish their business and reinforce the correct potty behavior with praise or a training treat. If you missed your dog in the act, correction is generally not the answer. Your dog will not register the unwanted behavior if the accident is discovered after the act. Instead, continue to praise your pup during times that their bathroom behavior is appropriate such as when they are in the yard or on a walk. Reinforcing your dog’s positive behaviors such as going to their designated bathroom spot or telling you when they need to go outside, will give your pup more confidence in their training and help strengthen the bond between you and your furry friend.
2. Husky Health Check
Puppies and young huskies can frequently get into things or have the occasional mystery snack that does not sit well with their stomach. They also have less bladder/bowel control and have not yet fully learned how to signal to you that they need to go outside immediately. Each of our huskies has a different “tell” or signal when they are not feeling well and need to go outside. Since Katara is still young, her signal is still in the works, only giving off a subtle whine that we sometimes dismiss…. leading to a late-night accident and carpet deep cleaning.
If one of our dogs poops in the house, it is almost always because they picked up a bug or ate something they weren’t supposed to. When this happens, I like to give them a spoonful of pureed pumpkin or add The Honest Kitchen’s Perfect Form Digestive Supplement to their food for a few meals to help calm their stomach and combat the loose stools. If your dog is struggling with stomach issues for an extended period, your vet may recommend moving your pup to a limited-ingredient food or changing meals to cooked chicken and rice until the issues have resolved. Be sure to consult with your vet before making any changes to your dog’s general diet and for prolonged stomach illness so that they can appropriately asses your husky’s health.
3. Managing the Mess
Let’s be real, no dog owner likes the clean-up after their pup has had an accident in the house. With three huskies, we’ve built up quite the arsenal of cleaning supplies to tackle the inevitable mishaps along the way. The first product I recommend having in your cleaning cabinet is an odor-eliminating spray. The enzymes within an odor-eliminating spray assist in breaking down the smells left by an accident not only to save your nose but also to prevent your pet from return visits. I’ve used many different odor-eliminating sprays throughout the years and Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator has become my favorite, especially for the tough stains. I also invested in the Hoover ONEPWR Spot and Stain Remover for on-the-go deep carpet cleaning and the cordless Hoover ONEPWR Hand Held Vaccum Cleaner which makes the impromptu cleans a lot easier to manage. When one of our dogs has an accident, I am ready to go with all the gear and cleaner I need to tackle the area. I recommend cleaning up an accident as soon as it is discovered as stains are easier to manage right after the accident occurs and smells linger less if dealt with promptly.
Dealing with dog accidents is an inevitable part of being a husky parent, but with the right approach, you can handle these unwanted events with a little extra patience. Being prepared and proactive can make a significant difference, bringing you some sanity in these unexpected events. By understanding your husky’s needs and responding to their mistake with love and guidance, you'll strengthen the bond between you and your furry friend, making every challenge a shared adventure.
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