Housebreaking Problems With Your Dog? Try These Easy Remedies!

by Diane Burket                                                                    


Armand Cabrera and I rescue animals—so we’ve had a lot of experience with dogs that are not housebroken.  If you’ve ruled out health issues and the possibility that your pet is marking….then here are some housebreaking methods that have worked for us.                

 The next time there’s a poop incident in your house—don’t scold your dog.  Pick up the poop with a paper towel, take it outside with your pup and put it on the ground where you want your pup to poop. Then praise your pup profusely and give him/her a treat.  It has worked every time for our pups.  

Also, we find that pier pressure can work.  Bring another dog into the house that is housebroken. Have them both go outside to do their business.  
 When you first get a dog, be sure to take him/her outside every 1/2 hour.  Emotions and fear might be pretty high and can result in accidents.  Generally speaking, a puppy can control his bladder one hour for every month of age.  Personally, I’d rather take a dog outside more often than have a cleanup to deal with in the house.  

If you work outside of your home, you’ll need to hire a dog walker.  Period.  Doesn’t matter how old your dog is—if you’re gone more than 6 hours, (less for a puppy), you should have a dog walker.  Other folks will tell you differently.  But think about it—how long do you go before taking a pee?  Are you alone all day without interaction with people…not allowed to use the bathroom?  Not a good life.  Having a pet is a big responsibility that too many people do not take seriously.  Lots of sad dogs out there.

Block off areas of the house that are targets for accidents.  No doors in that room?  Use flattened boxes or house screens.  Baby gates or pet gates work.


Pick up the water bowl about 3 hours before you go to bed.  Once your dog gets accustomed to NOT peeing in the house, you can leave the water down 24/7.

If your dog wakes you in the middle of the night, take him out quickly, then come in and go back to bed.  Don’t get him too excited and don’t play with him.

Reprimanding your dog usually doesn’t work….so try positive methods of discipline. Always reward him when he does his business outside.

Training your dog to use puppy pads or newspapers will only prolong his housebreaking training.  It’s best to spend the time in the beginning so you won’t have to worry about it forever.

Cats peeing in the corner?  Clean thoroughly and place a water bowl there.  They usually won’t pee where they drink.

When all else fails…we use this great carpet cleaner.  Very small and easy to use.  It’s a lifesaver!   Amazon usually has the best price for it.

Fat Cats—Tips For Getting Them Slim & Trim!

by Diane Burket



A fat cat is an unhealthy and unhappy cat. You might think it’s cute to be pudgy….but it’s not healthy. Fat cats aren’t able to jump, run and play like they should and may be at risk for many diseases.
You’ll rarely see a wild cat that is fat.  They’re very active and have to hunt for their food.
Indoor cats can get bored and eat too much.  
Perhaps you’re “spoiling” them with too many treats and too much food.

So….what to do if you’ve got an overweight cat?

  • Feed your cat(s) the recommended amount of nutritionally complete food.    ..depending upon their age and activity level
  • Feed 2 – 3 times per day at approximately the same time each day
  • I don’t recommend dry food for many reasons.  Read my post about this.  However, if dry food must be left out for thin, active cats—elevate it.  Keep it on a desk or shelf so the fat cats can’t get to it while the thin cats can.
  • Limit treats to less than 5% of their daily food intake (We keep regular dry food in the treat bag for the beggers in our house.  They think they’re getting treats…but it’s just food)
  • Milk is for cows—not cats.  Milk can cause diarrhea or vomiting.  Don’t feed it to your cats
  • If you’re still feeding your cats dry food, add a little water to it.  It’s filling and will keep your cat from dehydrating from dry food.
  • Schedule some play time with your cat(s) every day.  Use laser pointers,
    Da Bird Feather toys, etc.

  • Be sure to have plenty of stimulating cat trees, scratching posts and toys to keep them active

  • Keep plenty of water bowls around the house.  That will encourage your cats to drink more and he/she will feel more full.

  • My cats and dogs love water fountains.
    The movement of the water encourages them to drink.
    There are many styles from which to choose.

    Here’s a great article about how to help your cat lose weight:
    http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-tips-to-help-your-fat-cat-lose-weight.html