How to Clean Dog Urine Stains

Posted by Jeanne on June 16, 2009

Ah those lovable dogs and their cute and clever antics!  Don’t we love the way they play fetch and run and jump and roll around and lick us affectionately and pee all over the carpet and…

Pee all over the carpet?  Well we don’t love that aspect of dog ownership, now do we?

Dogs can be housebroken and trained to let their owners know when they need to go outside and make a little weedle or some other bigger job, but before that happens – and sometimes after as well – the interior of your home becomes Rover’s marked territory.  The stains and smells of Phydeaux’s little mishaps and dishonorable discharges can leave a lasting impression on rugs and carpets, furniture, and other items in your home if they’re not taken care of immediately.

If you’re fortunate enough to catch Duke in the act of relieving himself all over the Persian rug that was a gift from your mother-in-law, take the steps that have to do with the dog’s training and then attend to the poodle puddle right away.  Use a rag or some paper towels to soak up as much of the mess as possible and then clean the area with a mixture of cold or lukewarm (never hot) water and some sort of cleaning agent.  Peroxide works well at removing the chance of a stain as well as the odor, but it should not be used on certain fabrics or dyes.  A dab of dishwashing liquid (the kind you use in the sink, not the dishwasher) mixed with water can do a good job on these fresh marks as well.

For stains that have been allowed to sit for a time you’ll need to take slightly more drastic measures.  Organic cleansers like Spot Shot work best on stains like these and should be chosen over chemicals.  If you do use chemicals, peroxide is your friend once again as it can act as a terrific stain remover.  Again you’ll want to dilute with warm water and apply it to the area.  Some scrubbing will be necessary, but it should be done as gently as possible, depending on the type of fabric.  If we’re talking about carpet, some vigorous scrubbing will probably be okay as the fibers are designed to take a bit of a beating.

If the soiled items are washable fabrics like clothing, towels, or small throw rugs, the stains should come out in the wash.  Put the item in the washer by itself with the regular laundry detergent that you would normally use and some color safe bleach (whites can and should be done with regular chlorine bleach).

The best way to deal with doggie urine stains is to avoid having them happen in the first place, which can be accomplished through careful and meticulous training.  If the occasional whoopsie does happen, don’t lose your head.  Deal with the dog in the appropriate manner and rest easy in the knowledge that, in most cases, pee washes out.

How to Potty Train a New Puppy

Posted by Jeanne on March 17, 2009

Although it doesn’t sound like the most appealing job in the world, housebreaking a new puppy will play an important part in bonding with the newest member of your family.  It will teach you patience and leave you with a better understanding of what your puppy wants once he has learned.  In addition, he will learn acceptable behaviors and exactly what is expected of him to live happily and comfortably in his new home.

It’s important to remember that, just like a small child, a puppy’s attention span is very short.  When you teach a young child not to hit, he likely won’t learn the lesson the first time, but instead, gradually after you’ve shown him repeatedly that it’s not okay.  Similarly, you will have to be consistent with your dog when training him.  Also, when housebreaking your puppy, keep in mind that he is not intentionally being a bad dog; he just has not yet learned what behaviors are acceptable!

Start housebreaking your puppy with a simple feeding schedule.  Give him breakfast, lunch and dinner, just as you would yourself.  By doing this you will be helping him become regular with his bowel movements.  Once he has eaten, wait 20-30 minutes and then take him outside.  Watch how long it takes before he is able to void.  This will give you an idea of how long to wait the next time you take him out.  (Within about a week, you should have his schedule down.)  Try to never let him eat at free will, leaving food in his bowl all day, because it will cause him to have accidents and make housetraining all that much more difficult.

Despite the old rules of training a puppy, you should never hit, rub his nose in his messes, or yell at your puppy.  By doing this, you are telling him it is bad to relieve himself at all!  In addition, most dogs respond negatively to aggressive and mean behavior and it has the opposite effect—they regress in their training rather than advance.  Instead, while housebreaking your puppy take him straight outside when he has an accident.  In addition, don’t forget the praise!  Every time he “goes” where he’s supposed to, praise him lavishly, and soon he will begin to understand exactly what brings praise, and what brings that disappointed face.  During the process, don’t forget that full control of the bladder and bowels won’t happen until 16 weeks of age, so don’t expect too much from your puppy in the beginning.

Also helpful in housebreaking a new puppy is to buy a stain remover/ odor relief spray.  Household cleaners and sprays cannot be smelled by dogs; only those made for animals will work.  When an accident happens, clean the mess and spray immediately.  This will cover the odor left and your puppy will not try to mark his territory there again.

Remember that housebreaking a puppy is a big responsibility that can lead to you and your puppy sharing a special bond.  Giving encouragement and lots of love will make all the time spent worth your while!