golden retriever puppies for sale

 

Golden Retriever farm

Okay, okay. It’s not “just in.” We should know this, but it seems to surprise a lot of well-meaning folks.

Dogs simply don’t come to us knowing that we don’t want them to eat from the trash can (but it smells so good!) or dash out the front door to sprint down the down the road (but there’s so much to explore! quickly!) or not to stick their noses in Aunt Betty’s crotch (but I can learn everything I need to know about her!).

That’s where dog training comes in.

Dogs evolved over tens of thousands of years to work with us, but it’s up to us to teach them the ropes of our unique human world.

Now THIS just in: A well-mannered dog doesn’t have to impact the planet. Training tools and techniques can be wasteful–we’ll get into why and how in a minute–but we can improve upon the system with a few simple steps.

The end result? A happy, healthy, well-mannered pup without making an eco mess.

Let’s dig into dog training tips that are good for your dog, good for the planet, and good for you!

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Eco-Friendly House Training

House training gets its own section because it’s often cited as a major source of pet-owner frustration AND it can generate a ton of yucky waste in the form of plastic bags, paper towels, harsh chemical cleansers, and more. But there are better ways, and it all starts with a solid training plan.

My dog Cooper was the hardest dog to house train ever. In the history of dogs. Now and forever, amen.

He. was. impossible.

We had a few things working against us, but nothing set us back more than the horrific ice storm that enveloped our entire town in several inches of ice. Temps fell below freezing every day, and an icy mix pelted us for ages. So, getting outside was an ordeal. Cooper simply didn’t want to. At all. Ever. It was cold, slippery, wet, dark, miserable.

So, tip number 1: Get a puppy in summer.

I’m only slightly kidding. Get a puppy when it works for your family, but just know you’ll be out in all weather many times a day for a while.

Here are three ways to make house training your puppy gentler on the planet:

1. Prevent accidents by establishing a routine. I hesitate to say “schedule” because you need to be flexible, but it is sort of like a schedule. Your pup needs to go as soon as he wakes up, after he eats or drinks, after play, after naps, and before bed. That is a LOT of trips outside each day, but it’s worth it. Your dog will learn faster if he’s not making mistakes, and preventing accidents eliminates cleanup, which eliminates resource consumption (cleansers, towels, etc.).
2. Use environmentally-friendly cleaners for dealing with accidents. Because even if you follow the routine above, it’ll happen. You’ll miss a window or your dog will have an extra sip of water or whatever, and suddenly there’s a mess. Clean it up with pet- and planet-safe products like castile soap and vinegar. I’ve seen people mix rubbing alcohol into Dr. Bronner’s but haven’t tried it personally. However, Dr. Bronner’s is my family’s go-to for every type of cleaning under the sun, including our own showers, as well as pet messes. Use towels instead of paper towels where you can, and where you can’t–trust me, some accidents simply can’t–try tree-free paper towels. The ones we use are from Who Gives a Crap, and this link gives you $10 off an order.
3. Reward your pup for good potty behavior! When your dog goes outside, give lots of praise and a small bite of a yummy treat the second he eliminates. Yes, that means keeping treats on you during the process. Positive reinforcement speeds up the process and makes your dog more successful faster! And I don’t think I need to mention but just in case… never scold your dog for an accident. If you need to scold someone, scold yourself. Get him outside in time, many times throughout the day; he can’t do it alone. Clean up the mess and resolve to try again! For carrying treats + pickup bags + house keys + phone, I recently purchased this fanny pack from a company that picks up trash for every product sold.
4. You don’t need to use puppy pads. Lots of trainers recommend them to prevent owner frustration with cleaning messes, but in fact, some research suggests that allowing your dog to eliminate inside the house at all–even on a puppy pad–slows down the house training process. Plus, it’s just a ton of extra waste. Focus on a reliable, regular, frequent outside routine. Reward every potty. Accept that accidents will sometimes happen and move on. That said, years ago I purchased a box of puppy pads and found ones that seemed as gentle on the planet as possible. Why the pads? At the time, we lived in a hurricane zone, and I wanted my dogs to learn to go on the pads in the garage in case we faced a hurricane and couldn’t safely get them outside. These are similar to the ones we bought and they utilize some recycled materials. Not ideal but good in a pinch.

HOWEVER, I think a perfectly valid use of puppy pads is if you have an elderly pup who leaks in his sleep or can’t always make it outside. It’s a kindness you can do for an older dog, and kindness matters most. This isn’t a training issue or a waste issue. It’s a dignity issue for your sweet old dog.

One more quick tip: If you’re planning to crate train or you x-pens (exercise pens), check craigslist, Nextdoor, Goodwill, buy nothing groups on Facebook, and even consignment shops to find gently-used and sometimes even free equipment!