Ho use soiling

House soiling doesn't do your client's floor or patience any favors, which is why it's a major contributor to pet relinquishment. CVC speaker and behavior expert E'lise Christensen, DVM, DACVB, says this is partly due to unrealistic client expectations. For example, clients often underestimate how often dogs need bathroom breaks, Dr. Christensen says. She once had a client complain about a dog that kept eliminating on the porch where it was kept. When Dr. Christensen asked how often the dog was taken out, the client replied that he took the dog out once a day. "How often do you go to the bathroom?" she asked. "Your dog needs to go out at least that many times." So when a client complains about house soiling, don't assume that the pet has been given an appropriate number of opportunities to eliminate outdoors, says Dr. Christensen. They may not recognize their pet's natural needs.