Pet Health

Tips and tricks for pet potty training: Dalmatian

The Dalmatian became famous as a model for a Disney movie. Even before that, the Dalmatian was widely loved in Europe as a companion dog for horse carriages because of its elegant appearance and beautiful spotted pattern. As long as they are properly potty trained and given plenty of exercise, Dalmatian puppies grow up to be fun and lively family dogs.

Factors that affect Dalmatians' defecating problems:

The habits of Dalmatians To begin with, dogs do not have the habit of defecating in a fixed place, so it is quite natural for them to defecate wherever they want. They also have a territorial marking instinct, so if you don't do proper dog potty training activities with your Dalmatian, he will probably poop and pee all over the place. To get your Dalmatian into the habit of using the indoor toilet, let's start potty training him right away.

First, secure a dedicated space for your Dalmatian with a crate. Dogs have a habit of distinguishing between their sleeping and toileting areas, so if they have their own sleeping area, they will want to defecate away from it.

If they do not have their own exclusive space indoors, they may think the entire room is their territory and may not want to defecate indoors. Although Dalmatians are cheerful and friendly, they are easily agitated and can be sensitive and alert to the slightest thing. Having a calm place to stay within the house will help ease their guardedness and make them feel more relaxed.

Problem with the toilet A toilet with inadequate environment will be a failure-prone toilet for Dalmatians. Make sure that the toilet is placed in a quiet and comfortable place, the space is not too small, and the toilet is kept clean. An adult Dalmatian can reach a height of around 60 cm and a weight of around 30 kg, making it an active breed with strong, toned muscles. As they grow, they will become stronger and more energetic. The Dalmatian needs a large toilet space because a small toilet is a major cause of failure.
Coprophagy Eating faeces is usually seen in puppies, but in some cases, it continues into adulthood. It is not particularly abnormal behaviour for dogs, but it is not pleasant for owners. There are many possible reasons for this, so let's find out the cause and take action.

First of all, make sure to clean up the poo immediately after defecating. When your Dalmatian poops in the toilet, reward and praise him immediately to get his attention. In the meantime, collect it quickly and avoid giving him the opportunity to eat.

The following are some of the possible causes of coprophagy.

A. Parasites If your dog has parasites in his body, he may eat faeces to supplement his nutrition taken away by the parasites. If the faeces-eating continues for a long time, we recommend that you visit a vet for a check-up.

B. Indigestion If the function of the stomach and intestines is impaired, the dog cannot get enough nutrition, and the food is excreted undigested. In many cases, the odour remains, which can easily lead to faeces-eating behaviour. Avoid foods that have a strong odour and switch to easily digestible foods. Another option is to use supplements that help the gastrointestinal function.

C. To get attention If the owner overreacts when he finds his dog eating its own faeces, the Dalmatian may mistakenly learn that he is getting attention. The Dalmatian, having a cheerful and aggressive personality, seeks out interaction with their owners. They may be eating and defecating to draw attention to themselves. To avoid misunderstanding your Dalmatian, do not make a fuss if you witness him eating.

D. Boredom Since Dalmatians love to be with their families, they are not good at being left alone. It is quite possible that they will eat faeces to relieve their boredom. When you leave your Dalmatian at home, make sure you have some educational toys with them that keeps them distracted for a long time. In the old days, Dalmatians were used as companions for horse carriages, running with the horses for long periods of time. If they have too much energy, their energy will be used for mischief such as eating faeces. It may be a good idea to take your Dalmatian for a walk and give it a good workout before you leave the house, .

Dalmatian: How long does it take to potty train?

After a couple of weeks of proper training, you will gradually see an increase in the success rate in using the toilet. Puppies and adult dogs excrete at a different rate, so the pace at which they learn to use the toilet will vary. Puppies that excrete more frequently will have more opportunities to learn to use the toilet, while adult dogs that are more patient will excrete less frequently and will inevitably have fewer opportunities to learn.

They are a breed that can actively work with their owners, but of course, they have their strengths and weaknesses. They can also be stubborn and take a long time to potty train, so remember to adjust to your dog's pace and take your time.

Potty training tips for your Dalmatian

If defecating outside has become a habit for your dog, you will have to take him out for a walk to defecate even on days when the weather is bad, such as typhoons, or when he is not feeling well. As the dog gets older and its legs and feet get weaker, or its physical functions decline, the burden on the owner increases. Your dog's health may also be affected by having to endure defecation. Even if your dog defecates in the garden or on the balcony, it would be preferable if he can use both indoor and outdoor toilet.

The indoor toilet habit will help reduce the burden in the future. Ideally, a large dog like a Dalmatian should be able to defecate both indoors and outdoors, in case you are unable to go out for a walk or when they get old and need special care.

Choose a location that is quiet and calm. A noisy environment with a lot of people coming in and out of the room and easy to hear noises outside is not a good place for your pet to go potty. Set up a cage or circle in a quiet corner of the room or near a wall, and place a potty tray, potty mat, and crate inside it.

Dalmatians are known to be bright and active, but they are also be curious and tend to lack concentration. To avoid stimulating the Dalmatian's mischievous spirit, keep the area around the toilet tidy and set up an environment where he can concentrate on defecating. The size of the toilet should be one to two times larger than your Dalmatian's body. Before defecating, Dalmatians sometimes turn their bodies around to position themselves on the toilet.

How to potty train

Prepare a bed

Toilet training is based on the Dalmatian's natural habit of not wanting to defecate where they sleep. Therefore, if Dalmatians do not know where they sleep, the training will not work. Before you start potty training, house your Dalmatian in a kennel or crate and provide him with his own sleeping area. Dalmatians do not like to be alone and prefer to have deep, heartfelt interactions. It will be easier for him to settle down if he can see his family. A Dalmatian that knows where to sleeps and understands that it has a safe place to relax will not be stressed out unnecessarily by indoor and outdoor stimuli. Sleeping in the toilet, which is common in puppies, is also thought to be caused by a lack of awareness of where they sleep and where they defecate.

Be aware of signs of defecation During potty training, watch your dog carefully so that you don't miss any gestures before defecating. Lead your dog to the toilet at the right time, such as when you see the gesture or after eating. It is recommended to write down the time of pee and poop so that you can understand the interval and pattern of defecation.

How to avoid sleeping or playing in toilet

Sleeping and/or playing in the toilet, which are common among puppies, are said to be caused by the Dalmatian's misconception of its toilet and bed.

Reconsider the indoor environment. Prepare a bed (house) where your Dalmatian can relax, and place it away from the toilet. Put some toys in there. By doing so, make them understand that there is a place indoors besides the toilet where he can relax and enjoy himself. If he can correctly recognize his bed, it would be easier for him to distinguish it from his toilet.

Look for toys that will capture your Dalmatian's attention, such as educational toys that will keep him occupied for a long time by exercising his mind, or a Kong that he can chew on and get lost in. Dalmatians are curious, so they will respond sensitively to new toys and be happy to play with them.