SCENE: Auditorium size conference room.
Dog owners are seated throughout the room. Mickey, a Coton du Tulear, is the conference keynote speaker. He stands next to a projector in the front of the room.
MICKEY: Thank you to the POOP (Possessors Of Obstinate Pups) Club of North America for inviting me to speak today. The title of my talk is:
The Three C’s of Housebreaking: Confinement, Consistency, and Companionship.
First, let’s talk about Confinement.
I know, you don’t think it’s fair for your dog to have to spend the day in a crate. But think about it. If you Confine your dog to a small space, he won’t be able to potty where he can’t (and shouldn’t) go.
Plus, if your dog is anything like me, he won’t want to mess up his little den. Hey, that’s where he sleeps! I know that if I can’t get out to go potty somewhere in the house, I’m going to keep my den clean. So guys, get a crate for your dog! You can call it a kennel, a house, a castle, whatever you want to name it – just get one.
Whatever you do, Consistency matters. If you change things all the time, hoping for the one thing that will work, you will just confuse your dog. So be Consistent! I go outside in the morning, after meals, after a nap, and the last thing at night. My owners don’t leave food out, otherwise I would have to go potty all day long. I go to the same place outside to potty every time. If you stick to this plan, your dog will get the hang of it. I did!
My owners hired me for Companionship. I’m happy to hang with them – it’s my job! But since I really don’t want to potty when I’m with them in the house, they keep me on a leash so I won’t disappear briefly into another room and come back with a “who, me?” innocent look on my face. Plus, they can keep an eye on me to see if I give my “gotta go” signals – circling and sniffing, heading towards the door…you catch my drift.
So, remember the Three C’s of Housebreaking, and add a P for Patience.
Thank you for your time and attention.
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