You might have landed here because of your difficulty with getting your dog housebroken. I am here to give you free tips and advice on this very subject. Why?

Housebreaking is in the top 3 number one reasons for dogs being surrendered. People generally think that there will not be any work or very little work when it comes to housebreaking.
I am here to tell you, it is one of the many reasons I get phone calls. It's not always easy and mostly is human error. 
 Here is what you need to know to housebreak successfully.

1. Crate
Yes, you must use a crate. Most dogs do not relieve themselves in a crate. Crate should only be big enough where the dog can turn around and lay on its side. No bedding in crate until dog is housebroken. No free roam until dog is showing success, then its small amounts of free roam earned.
2. Feeding schedule
Whether you are feeding once, twice, three times a day, do not leave food down. Offer food for 10 minutes then pick up. If you know when it's going in, you will know when it's coming out. Dog should have a bowel movement within 10-20 minutes of eating. If your dog did not eat, try again at next meal. Dogs are not meant to eat all of the time and will skip meals sometimes. This is not a big deal. It only becomes a big deal if they go multiple days, beyond 4 or 5 days without eating and they are showing signs of distress or any other problems. Call your vet if you are concerned.
3. Walk dog to same door and walk dog outside to same spot. Yes, walk your dog outside and make sure they go potty. Once they start to potty, repeat "good potty" or whatever you want their potty word to be. If your dog does not go within 5 minutes, you walk them back in the house, into their crate. You wait 15-20 minutes and try again until they go.
4. Dog must be supervised 100% of time when not housebroken. Whether you crate or tether the dog to you, you must watch them.
5. Be consistent in their schedule of food and water. Do not leave water down all day. You offer with meals and three-four more times for 20 minutes at a time. Water should be picked up 2 hours before bedtime.
6. Do not punish your dog for going in house. If no one was watching them, that's your fault. Clean it up with Nature's Miracle.

Now, every now and then there can be medical issues. UTI's are fairly common in dogs. A simple urine culture to your vet should tell you of any problems. That should always be considered but always consult with a certified trainer to help you.

Lisa Quintero C.D.T.

One of the most common misconceptions about dogs are is that they are fun loving and easy. I can tell you from personal experience and training hundreds of dogs each year, they are far from easy!
I get a ton of frustrated calls. People at their wits end with their puppy. Those calls are my favorite. It's comparable to people explaining what their kid did that wasn't so smart. They're kids, they do dumb things. My answer is, they are dogs, they do dog things! You choose to have children, just like you chose to have a dog. Now, let me explain why this journey is going to be hard.
Puppies are extremely exhausting. If you have a sick friend or elderly person that needs companionship, do not "gift" them with a puppy. This idea of good intention will go horribly wrong. Trust me, puppies need a ton of guidance and work.
Dogs can surprise you. You pick up what you thought was the perfect pet from your local shelter, can turn into a disaster once that dog warms up to you, your family and new surroundings. Suddenly, you arrive home to a destroyed recliner. Oh and the dog will not crate. The dog discovered its own voice virtually overnight.
I get these calls and emails daily folks, no joke.
Well, if dogs are so hard, why are you so discouraging against getting one?
I am not at all discouraging, I am letting you know that you will have your work cut out for you. Be prepared to consult a trainer, be prepared to work and invest into creating a great relationship with your friend. If you are not prepared, get a fish.
The beauty of dogs is, they are worth working with. Look at it like a life lesson, you must grow and improve your education, health and fitness. You must work on your relationships with people...you must work with your dog. It will be the best decision you have made.

​Lisa Quintero CDT

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You might have come here expecting something completely different than what you are going to read about. I am not going to talk about human relationships here, we all have those....some are good, some not so much BUT let me tell you, it works the same in the dog world.
We form relationships with our dog the moment we bring them home. Some we bring home are just a young puppy. Some are coming to stay with you as a foster situation. Some you might adopt at 10 years old. How you start the relationship, begins at home.
When communicating with dogs, we use all kinds of techniques. When we want them to feel comfortable, we give them food, affection and allowances. How we communicate with these very same things will often make or break a good dog. Let me give you some human examples to help you relate.

Your teenage son just passed his drivers exam and asks for the keys to your brand- new car. Do you give him the keys or do you hesitate?

You're talking to a man or woman on-line you never met in person. For your first meeting, do you meet at your home? 

When a salesman comes to your home, do you invite him in, give him a home cooked meal and talk about your most intimate life experiences? 

All these examples are geared towards trust and relationships. When someone brings a dog they do not have a relationship with, into their home for the first time, our first natural mistake is, "What's mine is yours now" mindset. Not that it is meant with bad intentions at all, but you allow a species to access everything in your home, with no regard to how they will treat all that space, furniture and other beings in the house. Then, when something does happen because of the lack of supervision, we make excuses for the incident. 

"They are just a puppy"
OR
"They are a rescue, they have been abused"

No.
You've just given them the keys to the brand-new car and they have no experience driving! 

You cannot expect a dog to just "know". They know nothing of your expectations because you haven't created a history with them. You do not have trust yet.

This is how I treat every dog that comes through my door. I do not greet them, I do not pet them, I do not know that dog and what previous experiences it has, if any at all. I respect that dog's boundaries until I know them well enough to take a step forward. Think about how you meet strangers. You don't open up with your life history, hug them immediately and let them stay at your house. Yet, when it comes to dogs, strange dogs, many people do just that.

This and this alone can be the most leading issue into dog behavior problems. I see it all the time. What we allow, is what we get. Until we get some communication and respect from both human to dog and dog to human relationship.

If you need more information on how to help get a better relationship with your dog contact me or another dog professional in your area.

​Lisa Quintero CDT

Hello and welcome to my new blog! Yes, it's the thing to do now so I am jumping on board the dog blog train!
I have been training dogs full time for over 5 years now. I train or help train a few hundred dogs a year professionally. I counted one time, I was shocked myself!
I have tons to say on many different subjects that pertain to a dogs behavior and owner wants and needs. We are here to help guide you through some of the most common problematic behavior and give you food for thought on interesting topics in the dog world. 
What are you struggling with? Often, owners say, I have tried everything!! My answer to that is, have you tried a professional yet?
I am going to give you a ton of basic information here from a real person that trains dogs daily as a professional. A lot of people that write about dog training, AREN'T TRAINING DOGS EVERYDAY. It's insane!! Just the other day I seen a dog treat bakery write about dog training. What? Why would they do that? So, maybe they can tell you to use food training so you can buy more treats?? True Story!!
So, seeing how I am a newbie at writing on the big wide webs, I want to touch on what you want me to write about. Thoughts, suggestions and ideas welcome!!

​Lisa Quintero CDT