Reward your Cairn Terrier when it eliminates outdoors.
The American Kennel Club acknowledges that Cairn Terriers are intelligent and quick to catch on to new things, but may try to test their owners' patience. They're quick-to-learn dogs that thrive on activity and excitement. These traits make it easy for even novice dog owners to housebreak a cairn terrier. Housebreaking Cairn Terriers is as much about training yourself to recognize the dog's needs and instincts as it is about training to this tenacious and persistent breed of dog. By understanding canine behavior and exercising patience, you can train your Cairn Terrier to eliminate in an outdoor location.
Instructions
1. Control and monitor what goes in to know when it must come out. Adult dogs need to urinate several times a day and usually defecate 15 to 20 minutes after eating. Younger dogs need to perform these actions more frequently -- as many as six times a day. Dogs usually need to go outside immediately upon waking, right before bed and one to three times throughout the day.
2. Create and maintain a routine. Feed your Cairn Terrier at the same times every day. Walk your dog at the same times every day. Bring your Cairn Terrier to the same spots in your yard to urinate and defecate. Your dog will anticipate going to the bathroom outdoors in the spots it is accustomed to.
3. Keep your cairn terrier in sight at all times. Learn the cues that lead up to urination and defecation. Whining, circling and pacing are all indicative of a need to go. If you cannot keep an eye on your dog at all times, invest in a crate. A dog views a crate as its safe spot or den and is loathe to soil it.
4. Teach your Cairn Terrier a vocal cue to signal bathroom breaks. Prompt your dog to bark by giving a signal phrase such as "out" or "potty." When the dog barks, leash it up and take it out to its pre-determined bathroom spot.
5. Reward your Cairn Terrier for successfully eliminating outside. Offer praise or a treat for urinating and defecating in the proper location.
6. Avoid punishing your Cairn Terrier for accidents unless you catch the dog in the act. Punishing the dog after the fact does no good -- the dog does not understand why it is being scolded. If you catch your Cairn Terrier in the act, a firm "no" is usually appropriate. Leash the dog up and take it outside immediately to finish.
7. Clean up accidents promptly and thoroughly. Dogs associate with scent. If any trace of odor remains, even if it is undetectable by a human nose, your Cairn Terrier will be more inclined to eliminate there in the future. Use an enzyme spray to break down the bacteria that cause odors and stains.
8. Remain consistent in your habits, actions, signal phrases, praises and reprimands. Consistency allows your Cairn Terrier to learn a solid, concrete set of rules concerning where it is and isn't okay to go to the bathroom.
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