According to: www.simplidogs.com

House training a dog can be a daunting prospect at first, but with a consistent approach and a good understanding of the best methods for house training a dog, any dog can learn what is expected of them.

What is the Best Method of House Training a Dog?

In most situations, crate training your puppy or dog is the best method. Using a crate for house training a dog works on the principle that dogs do not like to use the restroom in the area that they sleep in. Generally speaking, this is quite true.

Either a wire or a plastic crate is perfectly fine for house training a dog, but the size must be relative to your dog. A dog should have just enough room to stand up, turn around, sit up, and lie down in. Any more room than that and the dog can use the restroom in one end and lie down in the other.

Food, water, and toys should never be left with a puppy or young dog in the crate. Food and water will increase the dog’s need to go the bathroom. Toys can be destroyed and ingested. Instead, appropriate chew toys, like a peanut butter or cheese stuffed Kong toy, should be used in the place of regular toys for entertainment.

Sometimes house training a dog might need to utilize additional methods. Puppy pee pads are not a very good option in house training a dog. They encourage the dog to go the bathroom indoors on a disposable pad. Many people find their pee pad puppies have a hard time adjusting to going outside, and they also cannot distinguish their pad from other items left lying on the floor.

If you feel you do need an option besides the crate, the indoor/outdoor artificial grass potty is the best. It simulates the look of grass and is very easy to keep clean and hygienic -The Pet Loo.

The Pet Loo works well for those in apartments or where getting to the outdoor grass make take longer than a puppy can wait. Also, many puppies obtained from pet stores can be very difficult to house train since they are used to sleeping, eating, and playing all in the same area that they use the restroom.

How to Begin House Training a Dog?

House training a dog is all about patience and consistency. You cannot expect your dog to alert you. Instead, you need to set up a very consistent potty schedule which can be maintained.

When house training a dog, you need to remember that puppies must be walked A LOT, and older or recently adopted dogs that are not housetrained will need to be treated exactly like a new puppy in the beginning.

Here is the basic program for house training a dog:

Dogs should be crated at night time, when you are gone, and when they cannot be fully supervised. When the dog is with you, you must supervise it! Close doors or baby-gate off any other area you are not in.

Always walk the dog immediately upon coming out of the crate, first thing in the morning, or upon coming home.

When house training a new dog, be sure to walk the dog within 15-20 minutes of eating a meal, eating a lot of treats, and drinking a lot of water. Other times to be careful about: walk after the dog has had a big playtime session or has just woken up from a nap.

With puppies, a good rule of thumb is just to take them for a potty break every 30 or so minutes. As the puppy ages, you can go a little further in between.

House training a dog is all about watching the dog’s body language. He will give signals he has to go such as whining, restlessness, pacing, coming near you, walking by the door, or simply disappearing. Pay attention to your puppy.

If your dog has an accident in the house, it’s your fault. House training a dog takes patience and a lot of supervision.

Never, ever get angry at the dog for having an accident. Do not rub his nose in it or anything else. He doesn’t know why you are mad! Instead, quietly clean up the accident fully with enzyme based pet cleaners to fully remove all odors.

Lastly, when house training a dog, you want to give the dog a command. When taking your dog outside, be sure to tell him ‘Good Potty’ or something similar so that he associates the word Potty with the action.

If using a system like The Pet Loo, you would need to ‘walk’ your dog over to it on a frequent basis. You might even want to spray the grass with an artificial attractant that encourages your dog to use the restroom there.

House training a dog is not that difficult; it’s just time consuming and requires a lot of patience. You need to make sure you have the ability to walk the dog throughout the day or have dog walkers come. If you are unsure you have the time for properly house training a dog or puppy, please consider an already house trained dog available for adoption.

Article Written by: www.simplidogs.com

http://www.simplidogs.com/the-ultimate-house-training-guide/

This interview is with Tobi Skovron of Pup-Pee Solutions. They are a manufacturer and distributor of indoor pet waste management products that are innovative, convenient, and green!  Enjoy the interview below:

K9 Cuisine: What is your story-how did you get into this business?

Tobi: In 2003, I relocated 1,000 km south of my home town Sydney Australia to be with my girlfriend Simone who was studying at the time.  A few months after relocating I bought Simone a Cockapoo called Subii.

Living in an apartment with a dog we constantly faced issues with her needing to go to the toilet at inconvenient times. Any accidents on the balcony would rot the wooden surface. Every time we were out of the apartment we’d worry about the carpets!

We decided there must be a better way. We needed a permanent, hygienic solution and realized that that many others were in the same position.

After a couple of years working with industrial designers, dye makers, injection moulding specialists, veterinarians, obedience professionals, animal behaviourists & patent lawyers The Pet Loo was born.

K9 Cuisine: What is the secret to your success with the your business-how have you gotten to where you are today?

Tobi: Passion, strategy and sheer drive!

Some say I’m cursed with ambition, I think in reality I’m the type of person that is prepared to roll the dice and take a chance (calculated of course) in pursuit of what I’m passionate about.

This “business” is not about making money… it’s all about both Simone and I having an appreciation for our pets and the lifestyle that we lead first and foremost. This ultimately has driven us to want every person around the world to be a pet owner!

We always take care of our customers, export partners and retailers first - without these relationships our business would never have gotten off the ground.

Money has never been a focus we both view it as a bonus to what we do.

K9 Cuisine: What makes you different?

Tobi: I’m the type of person that likes to lead the pack, rather than follow!

I like to think inside the square, as everyone thinks “outside the square”. I have tremendous drive and energy but also recognize where I’m at as a professional and surround myself with successors that have been there and done that before my time, asking the questions to improve my skills.

I’m prepared to roll up my sleeves and work hard and make it happen by chasing it down rather than just waiting for things to come to me.

K9 Cuisine: What is it about dogs that you love?

I have grown up with pets, but it was Simone, who is a qualified social worker with “Animal Assisted Therapy” training, who helped me gain an understanding of the benefits of animal companionship.

Her guidance and passion helped me change career paths. My dogs come to the office with me every day and most recently I relocated from Australia to Los Angeles and they made the move with me!

My dogs are not something I have, but rather the lifestyle I lead.

K9 Cuisine: What is the neatest part about your work?

Tobi: I’m doing what I love!

K9 Cuisine: Where do you see the pet product industry going?

Tobi: Like every other industry at the moment it is changing. Many independent retailers are being acquired by major chains.  I also  think we’ll see continued growth in the “green” product sector.

K9 Cuisine: How do you fit into that-what are your future plans?

Tobi: Creating green products is what we do. Pup-Pee Solutions is an environmentally-friendly company focused making products that are safe for people, pets and the planet. From The Pet Loo to our No Range cleaning solutions - all of our products are chemical free, biodegradable and environmentally friendly. We plan to stay in the Pet Waste Management sector of the pet industry.

K9 Cuisine: How can people find out more about you and the your business?

Tobi:
Our Website: www.thepetloo.com.
Our Blog: www.thepetloo.com/blog.
Twitter: www.twitter.com/PetLoo.

K9  Cuisine: Tell us a little about you!

Tobi: There is a video interview with me here, feel free to click here to watch it!

Thank you so much!

Tobi Skovron of Pup-Pee Solutions

Stern Endorses Pet Loo

NEW YORK—Mark Stern, founder of United Pet Group (UPG), has left retirement to sanction the Pet Loo. The Pet Loo, a unique dog toilet from Australia, is a “back yard in a box” that fits inside homes, so animals can relieve themselves when owners can’t be there.

Stern, who has been retired for three years, will join Pet Loo inventor Tobi Skovron, CEO of Pup-Pee Solutions.
Until 2005, Stern headed UPG, which established brands like Nature’s Miracle, Dingo, 8 in 1, Marineland and Perfecto. Stern will now be working to help bring the Pet Loo to America.

For more information, visit www.thepetloo.com

Written by: www.groomingbusiness.com

Pet Pro Profile:
Simone Skovron, The Pet Loo

How many times have you taken the dog out for bathroom break–and worried they wouldn't make it out in time? Necessity was the mother of invention when it came to The Pet Loo, first developed in Australia by Simone Skovron who invented the handy "backyard in a box." Today Simone and her husband Tobi Skovron are the co-founders of Pup-Pee Solutions, a company that's expanded globally and product-wise as well, now offering enzyme cleaners. We caught up with Simone to learn more about the couple's fast-growing business.

Can you tell us about your background, especially your experience with pets?

I am a qualified social worker with a special interest in, and appreciation for, Animal Assisted Therapy. I strongly believe in the benefits of animal companionship both on a physical and emotional level. While I’ve spent the better part of the last few years working as a social worker in an aged care facility, over the years I’ve accumulated experience working with domestic animals both in the capacity as a vet nurse, animal assisted therapist (I studied this) and in pet retail.

How did you come to invent The Pet Loo?

The Pet Loo was invented out of pure need. As an apartment dwellers with dogs, I became frustrated with having to toilet my dogs at inconvenient times, worry they wouldn’t be able to hold on if I was late getting home, and pray they make it down the flights of stairs in time. I found myself saying that I needed “a backyard in a box” for my balcony and my husband decided we should go ahead and create it.

What tips do you have for pet parents who want to train their dog to use the Pet Loo?

The beauty of the Pet Loo is that is replicates the outdoors so if a dog is grass trained, they actually will require very little or no training. If training a puppy, it’s matter of applying simple toilet training principles and if a dog is needed some encouragement there are way to do so which is usually specific to the dog’s situation.  Detailed information on training pets to use the Pet Loo can be found on our website www.thepetloo.com
 

Pup-Pee Soutions has expanded its product offerings to include enzyme products for pet stains and smells. Can you tell us about these and how they work? What makes them different from traditional pet stain removers?

Although The Pet Loo is our flagship product, more recently we have responded to consumer need to develop a chemical free, biodegradable range of cleaning products called the “NO Range.” The funky packaging on all the bottles explain their individual purpose, ranging from odor removers, to stain removers and cleaning products specifically for pet areas. Our products don’t mask the problems, they get to the root of the problem and that’s why they are proving to be so effective.

What else would you like the readers of DogTipper.com to know about your work?

As a company, Pup-Pee Solutions is motivated by the want to break down the barriers to pet ownership. More often than not, people will opt out of owning a pet or surrender a pet as a result of a toileting issue. As a Pet Waste Management company, we seek to solve these problems so that more people can enjoy the privilege that comes with owning a pet!

For More Information:

• Website: www.thepetloo.com
• Email: usa@thepetloo.com | info@thepetloo.com
• BLOG: www.thepetloo.com/blog
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/PetLoo

From: Sofie M

Date: June 30, 2009 10:03:59 AM EDT

To: "The Pet Loo (New York)"

Subject: Pet Loo follow up 

HI Nicole,

I purchased a pet loo for one of my customers…I wasn't sure if the product was going to work, so I bought it myself as a "gift" to her.

Now I feel comfortable selling it to my customers.

She got it Saturday, and here is some of her feedback:

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
 

Hi Sofie.   

Sookie is loving The Pet Loo,  What is funny is that I haven't had to do any real training with her on it.   

For example:

 This am while I was getting ready for work, I didn't take her out on the leash, I just opened up the patio door.  She went 1 & 2.   

After she gets used to it, I will get her a doggie door.  

I am really excited so now when I walk her, I can focus on walking rather then "go potty" mode.   Also, I think this will do wonders for her tummy and apartment lifestyle.  It looks like they are coming out with another design that has a larger disposal bin.  I did purchase a replacement grass and the cleaner through the website.  Thanks again!   

You’re the best doggie trainer EVER!

 

Wilson & Associates is an Independent MFG Representative Firm, which has been serving the Pet & Animal Health Industries since 1993.  Their combined team of nine Sales Associates are strategically located throughout the Western United States and cover: 

• California,
• Arizona,
• Nevada,
• New Mexico,
• Colorado,
• Utah,
• Montana,
• Wyoming,
• Idaho,
• Washington,
• Oregon,
• Alaska  
• Hawaii

Wilson and Associates have over 180 years of combined "Industry" experience in Retail, which is something Pup-Pee’s CEO Tobi Skovron is very excited about. 

“To have a firm like Wilson and Associates as part of our team is very exciting for our young and innovative company. The wealth of experience and a great opportunity to learn from the best in the west is a journey I’m very excited to go on” said Skovron. 

“Wilson & Associates represent some of the Top MFG's in the pet industry and so we are proud to be amongst that group" Skovron added.

 For direct contact with Wilson & Associates for any of the above territories please use the following email westusa@thepetloo.com

Alternatively contact head office in New York on:

+1 646-383-8886 | usa@thepetloo.com

In an article by Jennifer Baliko (Guide to Racks, Shelving and Display Cases) she states that “there's more to racking up sales than a successful product; you also have to find a way to create orderly and attractive retail displays that draw browsers to your shelves.”

And that’s exactly what we have helped many of our retail partners create in their stores with our Pet Loo Display Rack. 

“Displays are the perfect way to present your merchandise to customers.[1]” 

“Your inventory is critical and your space and location are important, but don't underestimate the importance of the image and the feel you project to your customers through your store fixtures.[2]” 

By having a Pet Loo Display Rack in your store you are helping to create an identity for The Pet Loo and allowing customers to interact with the Loo and associated product lines.

Have you ever noticed how people will say “I’m just looking” before shop assistant even have the chance to ask? Customers aren't always eager to talk to store employees but they are quite happy to browse if the products are easily accessible - they can then come back for assistance if they are interested. And what better way for a customer to really get to know a product then have one out on display?  

So why not contact your area Representative or our Head Office to get a Pet Loo Display Rack for your store today?[3]

[3] Display racks involve a minimum order of stock. Contact your Representative or Pup-Pee Solutions Head Office for more details.

By: Brendan Floyd 

When you gotta go….you gotta go – and your dog doesn’t know how much you paid for that Persian rug. If your pet is doing its outside business inside, Pup Pee Solutions has the answer with The Pet Loo.  This “backyard in a box” will forever eliminate those early morning bathroom runs, inclement weather walks, and the apprehension over leaving your pet alone for too long.

The Pet Loo features durable synthetic grass atop a platform and a hygienic urine drainage system designed for easy maintenance. No longer will your canine need to rely on you for its dirty deeds, which means peace of mind and a cleaner house.

Tobi Skovron and his wife Simone developed The Pet Loo after purchasing a dog in 2003. Living in an apartment, Tobi & Simone immediately became aware of the difficulties of having a pet and no yard, thus inspiring the creation of the prototype Pet Loo. After three years of developing and fine tuning, the invention hit the market in 2006.

In just three years the product has exploded, enjoying success in 73 countries and earning a devoted following from those who otherwise could not own a dog. “Pets and people’s lifestyles are often impractical. The Pet Loo is a solution rather than just a product,” Tobi remarks. “Our success is genuine and the retailers who have got on board have made a lot of money.” Tobi implores all retailers to “have a go and take a chance,” citing that too much stagnancy can be very detrimental in a slow market.

While several imitators have cropped up, none come close to Pup Pee Solutions. They aggressively preserve their patent protection and intellectual property, ensuring the consumer gets only the best quality product at a reasonable cost.

Whether you’re a busy traveling professional, or just own a dog that’s indiscriminate over its toilet location, there’s no better alternative.

For complete details visit:

USA: www.thepetloo.com/us

Canada: www.thepetloo.com/ca

Australia: www.thepetloo.com/au

UK: www.thepetloo.com/uk

New Zeland: www.thepetloo.com/nz

Taiwan: www.thepetloo.com/tw

Netherlands: www.thepetloo.com/nl

Germany: www.thepetloo.com/de

Brazil: www.thepetloo.com/br

Japan: www.thepetloo.com/jp

Hong Kong: www.thepetloo.com/hk

Singapore: www.thepetloo.com/sg

Italy: www.thepetloo.com/it

Other: www.thepetloo.com/global

Julianne Dowling | June 9, 2009

Featured: Sydney Morning Herald (Click Here to See the Original Article) 

It was Ben Stiller as Dave the night guard in Night at the Museum 2 who recently demonstrated how a wacky idea can become big business.

But in reality, unusual ideas need a lot of luck and work to hit the jackpot, while inventers need an entrepreneurial flair to turn them into a sustainable business.

Money matters too. Darrell Nicholls, executive officer at the Industry Development Centre, says initial or start-up funding most often comes from friends, family or personal credit lines. 

While there may be limited access to micro-loans or small government grants, these will depend on you being able to demonstrate a commercially viable business case with a clear market opportunity and  a sustainable model to take the product or service to that market, he says.

To protect your idea you may also need to consider patents, which take time and are costly to obtain.  

Rather than market it yourself, you may decide to license the intellectual property to someone else for a royalty payment, Nicholls said. It's a personal decision and revolves around what funding you have and your skills to develop your idea further. State government programs may offer advice on these choices. 

Whatever you choose, to be a success, you will needs lots of hard work and a passion for what you want to achieve. 

Here's our list of the top ten wacky business ideas that have traction:

1. The bedbug barrier

Tony Abrahams was running a private backpacker hostels and managing apartments around St Kilda for years, and found that bed bugs were widespread.  He says once you had them, it was very hard to get rid of them. So he invented a bed bug barrier, which clips onto the legs of the bed and act as a barrier to access with a sticky resin that traps bugs which crawl up into the bed and bite the occupant. Abrahams won his episode on the New Inventors last month for this entry, and is now developing a mould for mass manufacture. bedbugbarrier.com.au 

2. Rent-a-chook

While minding a friend's chickens for a week, I found these girls to be a lot of work despite the daily reward of eggs. Frankly, after feeding them, cleaning their coop, and filling in holes dug up for their great escape, I was happy to hand them back! Well, with rentachook, you can! You pay $100 for two chooks, a coop and feed, and for six weeks, they're yours. Co-founder Dave Ingham, who grew up with hens in the backyard, says chooks are champion little recyclers, and many urban farming families are catching onto the idea but want to try before they buy…this idea began in Germany with rent-a-duck and is becoming quite popular. rentachook.com.au

3. Doggie accessories

This idea is a goldmine. Take www.doggles.com.au which sells eyewear for dogs; some of it is for fun, some is protective, says owner Jill Doyle. Doyle bought the distribution business three years ago, and while she says consumers are price sensitive, pet owners love the practical benefits. 

With goggles, you're stopping dust and dirt getting into the animal's eyes, she explains, as well as getting UV protection.  

Farmers with working dogs are interested in doggie eyewear;  owners with dogs on utes like them for the dust protection; and owners with breeds, such as German Shepherds, which are vulnerable to eye disease relating to UV light, also find them handy. 

If your dog has had eye surgery, then goggles are also helpful. Jill Doyle, who owns a foxy chihuahua cross, says it's a full-time business, but you need a wider range so she has reflective travel vests, eco-friendly bowls made out of recycled plastic bottles, apparel, such as sweatshirts and jumpers ("Elderly people like to put a warm jumper on their dog,"), and monster toys and baby bears all made out of cotton.

Pets are children so they get treated in the same way. I haven't got into pet prams yet, that's a niche market for older women, who may have trouble walking, or for arthritic dogs. Doyle says the downturn hasn't really hit the pet industry hard: I wouldn't say we're recession proof, but it's a bit like your child, you don't deny your pet. 

4. Smashing plates for fun

The Venting Place in Tokyo emerged last year where stressed-out Japanese shoppers and businesspeople buy porcelain china plates and cups and smash them up, after donning protective gear.

5. Pet toilet

Developed in Australia by social worker Simone Iglicki-Skovron and featured on New Inventors in 2006, Pet Loos are rapidly becoming a global fad.

Living in an apartment with dogs, Simone realised the need for a portable pet toilet for an emergency or use at night. The idea also has application for elderly dog owners who found it hard to jump up and open doors whenever their pooch wanted out. Pet loos, and its extension for puppies, is now being exported into the US and elsewhere. www.thepetloo.com

6. Biodegradable burial shrouds

The 'bio-pod' or bio-degradable shroud recently appeared on the New Inventors, and should appeal to those wanting an eco-burial because not much separates you from the earth…you're the compost! 

There are five designs, and inventor Kevin Hartley said he's had constant calls and interest. Funeral Director by day, Hartley has been offering shroud burials in Adelaide since January 2008, and has just bought 20 acres of land dedicated to natural burials. 

''We're currently looking for land to site burial grounds in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne and far North Queensland. It's really finding its feet. The cost of a funeral comes down to services,'' he says.

The most elaborate shroud is $1300, which is cheaper than the least expensive coffin. Kevin has been lobbying for crown land for non-profit sites for green burials at the same cost of cremation. 

''Cremation pollutes and uses fossil fuel to destroy an organic body, and is a fairly violent process. It's not nice,'' Hartley says.

As a member of Natural Burial Society, he says choosing your own funeral is a powerfully personal issue.naturalshroudburial.com

7. Green hangers

Green Hangers are recycled cardboard hangers (retailing $5.95 for pack of ten), and Christian Ferrante, one of three founding partners, says that while the concept seems obvious, nobody else made it happen.

Now, the group manufactures in China, runs logistics in Australia, and creates global sales. In Australia, Green Hangers are distributed through Bunnings Warehouse and now Howards Storage with supply into QuikSilver and some hotels and drycleaners.  

''Everyone loves the idea,'' Ferrante says, ''but we still had to drive it, and it's a little more expensive than a wire hanger.  It's living up to our expectations and more,'' he said.

''Our difference is that other models rely on advertising on the hanger while we believe in keeping it simple.'' 

A coat hanger amnesty in September will allow you to dispose of your wire hangers at a drop-off point in Melbourne for recycling!  For details, see greenhanger.com.au

8. Gourmet doggy treats

Hand-made gourmet pet biscuits and cakes were developed by Milly Parker and her chef partner Tony, after a car accident led Milly to find a new source of income. The couple are now in a commercial kitchen and out of their own house, and have sold into several countries, including Harrods in London.happyyappers.com.au

9. Rose petals

Sarah Benjamin and mother Jan Slater developed a business based on rose petals after their family farm's crop of roses failed. Sarah was determined to find a new use which led her to weddings and now, they export and retail the largest colour range in the world. The pair won a finalist award for innovation at the Telstra Businesswoman's awards in 2006 and Sarah says she couldn't be happier. simplyrosepetals.com

10. Genuinely weird stuff

Uncommongoods.com is a funky little online gift store of truly weird stuff (so wrong it's right!), such as recycled necktie wallets, paper made out of elephant pooh or books with titles, such as What's your Poo telling you? Maybe it's for the kids or the big kid in your family but it works! Based in New York since 1999, the store has had been praised for its bizarre and crafty approach. uncommongoods.com

Follow Mysmallbusiness on Twitter