Sit Happens

Final Brochure

Team Bulls:
Theresa Ladkani
Donald Hoover
Jeremy Berger
Shelby Jones

Professional Writing
140 7th Ave S, St Petersburg, FL 33701
April 22, 2015

Sit
Happ
ens

Potty Training Instructions

Get him on a STRICT feeding schedule. Feed once in the morning, once at night, and be
consistent with the times during the day. Only allow 5 minutes for him to eat per feeding. If there is any
food left in the bowl, lift it up, and withhold all food until the next feeding. It will not take him long to
figure out that he only has a few minutes to eat his food. YOU WILL NOT STARVE YOUR DOG AND THIS IS
NOT CRUEL. Dogs have a gastro-colic digestive tract, which means that within a few minutes after
eating, they must go pee and/or poop. By giving him only a few minutes to eat, you are making sure
that his body is on a correct potty schedule. If you allow him to pick at his food and have several small
bites throughout the day, you are setting him up for failure, as he will need to have several potty breaks
throughout the day. Only feed the recommended portion that is listed on the food bag for his
appropriate age and weight. Higher quality foods can help with potty training because the portion sizes
are almost always smaller. The reason for this is the lack of filler ingredients (corn, wheat, soy, byproducts etc.) and the presence of hearty ingredients like real meats. If he eats less, he will poop and
pee less.
Get him on a STRICT potty schedule. I do not like for my dogs to give signals for when
they have to go to the bathroom. I like to know when my dogs have to go. Take him out ON LEASH
(even if you have a fenced-yard) and make sure you bring a HIGH-VALUED treat with you each time. You
must reward AS SOON as he goes potty OUTSIDE. You may be giving him his treat mid pee or mid poop.
By doing this you are teaching him that going potty in this specific environment is worth it for him. If
you wait to go inside to give him the treat, you are teaching him that going to the cookie jar gets him
treats, NOT going potty outside. You have a 2-4 second window after he goes potty to follow-up with
your treat in order for him to make the correlation. Your schedule should be as follows: AS SOON AS YOU
WAKE UP, take him outside. After he goes potty, feed him. Within 5-10 minutes after feeding him, take
him right back outside (DONT FORGET YOUR TREATS!). If you are working from home, it might be wise
for you to give him 1-2 more potty breaks in the late morning/afternoon. Feed him again in the evening,
and take him out again within 5-10 minutes after he finishes (DONT FORGET YOUR TREATS!). The last
thing you do before you go to bed, is take him out again (DONT FORGET YOUR TREATS!). Wake up and
repeat the next day!
If you are taking him outside, and he is doing everything other than going to the
bathroom for you, this is where you begin to implement crate training. After walking him around for
several minutes outside and getting no results, take him back inside and give him NO LONGER than a 2
minute break in the crate. GOING TO HIS CRATE IS NOT A PUNISHMENT! You should use treats and
encouragement to get him to go in his crate, NEVER force him in it. If you need to, create a trail of
treats to get him to go in the crate. This may take a few short practice sessions prior to being put to
use, but it will be extremely helpful. The purpose of putting him in the crate after failing to get the potty
to happen outside is to ensure that he doesnt sneak off into a corner and pee/poop in your house (as
dogs typically HATE to eliminate in their crates). It is also withholding attention from him, teaching him
that he didnt do what you wanted when you brought him outside. During this 2 minutes, ignore him
entirely (no eye-contact or talking to him). It is VERY important that you do not exceed 2 minutes. As
soon as the TWO MINUTES is up, put the leash back on and take him right back outside (DONT FORGET
YOUR TREATS!). You may need to repeat this 1 or 2 times if he still doesnt potty outside, but you will be
setting him up for success. This will be a VERY temporary exercise if implemented correctly.
Get yourself an ENZYMATIC pet cleaner (Simple Solution, Natures Miracle, Bissel, etc.
Keyword on the bottle; ENZYMATIC) in case YOU slip-up and he has an accident. The enzymes in these
cleaners break down the pheromones in urine and feces, and will prevent him from going back to the
same areas. Household cleaners will get the smell and stain out for you, but not for him. If he has an
accident, remember that it was YOUR FAULT; not his. Do not yell, punish, or rub his nose in it. Simply
ignore the accident and clean it with your cleaner. If you give him attention by
yelling at him, you are teaching him that going potty inside is an attention-getting
mechanism. Even if your intention is to give him negative attention for this action, the dog ONLY sees
your eye-contact and hears your voice, which is ALWAYS rewarding to him. If you can catch him in the
act of peeing or pooping inside, you can make a QUICK & SHARP noise (like one clap of your hands or an
EH!). This may get his attention and stop the process, which will allow you to take him outside so that

he may finish his duties (DONT FORGET YOUR TREATS!). Dont worry about that mess, it will be there
when you get back and your ENZYMATIC cleaner will get out the smell and the stain. If you are unsure
of where he has had previous accidents, a black light will help you find the places where attracting
pheromones remain. Wait until the sun goes down, and turn all the lights off in your house and go
around with a hand-held black light (available at most pet supply stores) and anywhere that you have
missed with your enzymatic cleaner will glow. Once you locate all the glowing areas, spray them with
the enzymatic cleaner to remove the remaining pheromones. Make sure you do not make too big of a
deal if you do catch him. If you yell, run, cry or overwhelm him, you are simply going to make him think
that he should never go potty in front of you again, which will make it difficult for him to be comfortable
peeing and pooping in front of you outside.

TRAINING ENROLLMENT FORM

Parents Information
Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ________________________________________________________________________
Email: ________________________________________________________________________
Dogs Information
Name:_________________________________Breed:__________________________________
Class Level & Start Date:
__________________________________________________________
Age: ________________
Gender: M/N_____
F/S_____
M/U_____
F/U_____
Breifly describe your training goals:
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Vet Information
Hospital:__________________________________________Phone #:_____________________
Vaccines: R________________ B________________ DPP _______________
Things You Will Need
On your first day of class, please bring: a 4-6 ft. NON-retractable leash,
training clicker, soft chewy treats, and proof of vaccines (Rabies,
Bordatella, & DDP required for class). No electronic correction collars
or choke chains permitted in class. If you have any questions regarding
the type of collar/harness you are using for you dog, please call before
your first class.

Assumption of Risk and Hold Harmless Agreement

Parents enrolling dogs in training classes and private lessons must provide proof
of current listed vaccines upon completion of application. By signing this form, I
agree to waive liability of Sit Happens (all owners and employees) for any injury
or damage incurred to me (and my dog, or any of my guests who attend) on the
premises of the training facility and surrounding area. I understand my dog
must be on a leash at all times, and kept at a safe distance from other dogs in
the training facility and surrounding areas (unless approved by a Sit Happens
employee).
Signature of Dogs
Parent:_________________________________________________________
Date:______________________