Petco offers potty-training seminar - Saugus Advertiser

Imagine a Christmas gift that has accidents on the carpet, chews up brand new shoes or barks incessantly.

This is exactly what some people get when they get a new puppy.

Thankfully, Petco has designed a free training seminar for new pet owners for precisely this reason. With January being the top month for dog training due to holiday gifts, Petco is launching The National Potty Training Seminar for dogs and puppies, which will take place next month at more than 1,000 Petco stores, including the Saugus franchise at 682 Broadway.

Petco encourages owners to bring their furry friends to the seminar, which will cover the proper way to potty train a dog, as well as provide helpful hints to make a loving bond between owner and pet.

Petco spokeswoman Lisa Knowles gave a sneak peek at what type of advice is in store for attendees.

“The dog trainer will talk about some basic supplies that can help families get started,” Knowles said. “We suggest purchasing a crate, which can be the family’s best friend, as dogs won’t soil where they eat and sleep.”

In addition, owners will learn about how long to keep the pet in the crate at a given time, as well as what type of food to feed dogs and how often to take them for a bathroom break.

Knowles explained animals, like humans, are not perfect and accidents can and do happen. The key is to understand this and to never reprimand the pet after the accident takes place.

The seminar is not only designed for new pet owners, but existing ones as well. Knowles said the most important thing to remember is that things can change, even if the traditional methods for potty training were not effective.

The dog trainer will explore new methods of potty training for these pet owners, and explain how to improve the relationship and bond that they currently hold with their pet.

Knowles noted it is especially challenging for working families who receive pets as gifts, as they often return to work immediately following the holidays.

In this case, it is crucial that the potty training continues — even if that means getting a pet sitter or coming home on your lunch break to take the pet outside, Knowles said.

Knowles added keeping the pet on a regular routine is essential for successful training.

Another important tip is to remain patient and positive with your pet, as the potty training process can take up to 18 months.

Many owners become frustrated and negative after a certain period of time, which can stifle the process and essentially damage the bond you have with your pet. By engaging in positive reinforcement and offering rewards, dogs ultimately learn faster, Knowles said.

While the one-day training is extremely helpful, everything cannot possibly be learned in that short of time, Knowles said. Thus Petco encourages animal lovers to sign up for a six-week training course, which will explore the techniques in a more in-depth manner.

The training seminar will be offered at the Saugus Petco at 1 p.m. on Jan. 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30.

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