Moxie – Housebreaking Case Study

Compared to an issue like aggression, housebreaking isn’t such a big deal. Still, when you look at the big picture, it IS one of the most frustrating behavioral problems many dog owners face, especially when it applies to an adult dog. We can manage and forgive puppies, who are still learning basic obedience and self-control. It’s very similar to children – as babies, they start off with diapers and then as toddlers, they progress to using the toilet. With dogs, they may use pee pads and get away with some occasional accidents as pups, but eventually they learn to “do their business” outside rather than all over your carpet!

Housebreaking can be a result of many things. Especially with severe cases, I always consult the owner to make sure that their dog’s veterinarian checked them out for any potential medical issues causing the frequent accidents. Some dogs with a history of messes don’t have any bladder problems, but have a diverse list of behavior issues such as fear, separation anxiety, territorial aggression, etc. Take Moxie for instance – a sweet three-year-old Boxer mix whose owners called me for help, mainly to combat her housebreaking problems.

Upon meeting Moxie and her family in Midtown, there seemed to be other issues afoot. She did not have an aggressive or territorial bone in her, but Moxie seemed to exhibit some separation anxiety. Her owners said she was very shy and did not socialize much, except with her Puggle sibling, Maggie. When Moxie and I first met, she showed some fear and apprehension toward me. After getting to know each other more, I soon learned that Moxie was a very sweet girl but she seemed to be on edge, which was most likely a factor contributing to her housebreaking issues. Moxie’s owners were very concerned about her anxiety and housebreaking, especially because they were soon moving to a new house in Smyrna, and they wanted Moxie to be relaxed (and also didn’t want to throw away new living room furniture!).

One of the first things we all addressed regarding Moxie’s issue was establishing a schedule for her. Not only would this help her understand when “potty time” was, but it would make things more predictable and comfortable for her. Working with their own busy schedules, Moxie’s owners would set the home up so Moxie could inevitably succeed, and they also made sure to give her a consistent, feasible timetable that she could follow.

With the same environmental planning, we would also work on building Moxie’s self-confidence to help eliminate her separation anxiety. Moxie’s owners would continue to shower her with affection and reward when applicable, but Moxie would also be engaging in more exercise, both physical and mental. It is a gradual process that takes a lot of work and patience, but with the training, we would slowly give Moxie more time on her own, or only with her sibling, Maggie. Consequently, she soon realized that it was not the end of the world, and that it was okay to have some “me time” away from the parents!

We are still doing work with Moxie, but her owners are happy to report that so far, her major behavioral issues are gone. Everyone is happy in the new home and there have been no accidents! The housebreaking is finished, and Moxie has received compliments from other people about her new social demeanor and confidence. Moxie’s owners can leave her and enter another room without hearing her wail out of anxiety and fear. We are all going to meet again soon to work more on Moxie’s recall and response to commands, but with all the anxiety and frustration squared away now, I am optimistic that Moxie will be able to concentrate and perform better now!

If you have a dog with a housebreaking issue please give me a call today at 800.649.7297!