| How to Get Your Dog to Pee on Command Posted: 03 Mar 2018 04:00 PM PST If you are running late or it's wet and cold outside, you want your dog to hurry when it goes to the bathroom. However, most dogs simply want to go in their own sweet time. If you have a dog that is slow to go to the bathroom, there are certain things that you can do to encourage it to do its business more quickly. You need to begin with some basic preparation, set a reliable schedule for taking the dog out, teach the dog your command for going to the bathroom, and then reinforce good behavior. EditSetting Up for Success - Choose a trigger word or phrase to use. When teaching a dog a command you need to come up with a verbal trigger. This should be a word or sound that indicates to the dog what you would like it to do. For going to the bathroom, you can use a phrase like "go pee," "go potty," "do your business," or anything else that you can count on using reliably. You could also just make up a specific sound that the dog will associate with going to the bathroom.[1]
- If you want to teach your dog to both urinate and defecate on command, you will need different trigger words for each body process.
- Establish a designated potty spot. When training your dog to urinate on command, it's a good idea to pick a spot in the yard where you will always have the dog go to the bathroom. When you take your dog there it will be yet another signal to the dog that it is time to go pee.[2]
- You can pick any space you like, but in general dogs like to go to the bathroom on grass. Just pick a corner of your yard or a section of grass in front of your home that suits your needs.
- Determine the times when your dog naturally needs to go to the bathroom. In order to make training easier, you want to take your dog out when it actually has to go to the bathroom. A dog may need to go at a variety of different times, such as:[3]
- First thing in the morning
- Right after eating
- After it has been up a couple of hours
- Right after playing
- After drinking water
- Before bedtime
EditTaking Your Dog Out - Take your dog outside on a set schedule. Part of training your dog to go to the bathroom on command is communicating with it that it is time to go to the bathroom. When you take your dog out at the same time every day, it begins to learn when it needs to go to the bathroom.[4]
- Set your schedule around when your dog naturally has to go to the bathroom. For instance, if your dog usually goes to the bathroom easily after it eats, always take it out after it eats.
- Wait for your dog to pee. This can be the hard part of training your dog to pee on command, because you have to spend a lot of time waiting around for your dog to go to the bathroom. However, waiting for your dog to go to the bathroom is important. It is the only time that you can communicate that your trigger word is associated with going to the bathroom.[5]
- Pay no attention to the dog while waiting. If you give your dog attention, it is less likely to go to the bathroom quickly.
- Say the trigger word. As your dog is in the middle of going to the bathroom, say your chosen trigger word. Say it in a positive, excited tone, so that your dog knows it's a good thing.[6]
- Saying your phrase while the dog it actively peeing will connect the phrase to the action.
- Provide a marker when the dog is done urinating. Once the dog has finished its business you should say a word or phrase that marks the end of the action. This can be as simple as "good boy" or "good dog." By marking the end of the action you are signaling to the dog that it has completed what you wanted it to do.
- If you have used clicker training to train your dog in the past, you can provide a marker click to show that the dog has done what you wanted it to do. This will increase the speed at which your dog understands your directions.
EditReinforcing Good Behavior - Give your dog lots of praise once it goes to the bathroom. Pat or scratch your dog in its favorite spot and maybe give it a treat. This will show the dog that you are happy with its behavior.[7]
- Giving praise and a treat will create motivation to repeat the actions that lead to these positive rewards.
- Be sure that you don't go right back into the house after your dog has peed when first training your dog. Part of the dog's reward will be the time it gets to spend with you playing and exploring outside.
- Adjust the timing of your trigger word. After a couple of weeks of saying your trigger word as the dog urinates, change the timing of it to just before your dog starts going. It is key that your dog has internalized the connection between the word and it going to the bathroom, so be sure to wait a few weeks.[8]
- However, wait until your dog has finished going to the bathroom to provide the marker, like before. This simply signals that the action is finished.
- Begin requiring a quicker response to your trigger word. Once your dog has begun to respond to you using the trigger word before peeing, only treat when it pees right away. Requiring that it pees right away in order to get a treat or praise is key to making sure the dog can eventually pee on command.[9]
- If your dog doesn't pee right away, revert back in the training and make sure the dog has the fundamentals before continuing on.
- Keep up with consistent training. If you keep up training and consistency you can increase the speed and reliability of your dog's response to your directions. You can eventually phase out the treat, but keep giving your dog physical praise when it follows your command.
- Avoid giving punishment. Do not use punishment at a training tool or as a response to poor performance. Punishment creates fear, not trust. It will make the dog suspicious of you instead of creating a relationship built on trust and understanding.[10]
- There is a difference between withholding a treat or praise and punishing your dog. Punishment, in the form of yelling, harsh words, or physical assault, will only make your dog hesitant to go to the bathroom at all. Withholding treats will make the dog want to do better.
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| How to Lower Debt Payments Posted: 03 Mar 2018 08:00 AM PST If you are having trouble keeping up with your debt payments, there are steps you can take. By finding ways to lower your interest rate, consolidating your debts, and reducing your balance overall you can lower the amount you pay each month. You might also opt to work with a credit counselor. Ultimately, the best way to lower your payments is to slowly-but-surely get out of debt. Hopefully, by obtaining lower monthly payments, this can happen more easily. EditLowering Your Interest Rates - Call your credit card companies and ask if they can lower your interest rates. In some cases, obtaining a lower interest rate is as easy as calling your credit card company and asking for one. Be sure to make your monthly payments steadily and consistently for 6 months to 1 year before requesting a lower interest rate.[1]
- You might say, "Since I have been consistent with my payments for 8 months now, I was wondering if you'd be able to offer a better rate."
- Apply for a different card at a lower rate. If you are approved, see if your credit card company can match that rate.
- Keep asking! You credit card company might not agree the first time you ask.
- Transfer your credit card balance to a lower interest card. Seek out a new credit card that can accept a transfer from an existing credit card (sometimes called a balance transfer credit card).[2] For best results:
- Look for 0% or low APR rates. This will usually be an introductory rate, but it will allow you to pay off some of your debt without interest.
- Look for the longest introductory rate period you can find.
- Make sure you know what the rate is after the introductory period ends.
- Consider student loan consolidation if you have multiple student loan payments. Call each of your student loan providers to figure out the exact amount you owe, the interest rate you are charged, and your minimum monthly payment. Once you've compiled this info, contact a consolidation loan provider to find out if you qualify for a better loan.[3]
- If you have federal student loans, contact the Department of Education.
- If you have private loans, you might contact Chase, NextStudent, Student Loan Network, or Wells Fargo.
EditLowering Your Balance Overall - Reduce your credit spending. You will not be able to reduce your payments if you continue to accumulate more debt. Figure out a budget you can stick to, and avoid using credit credit cards, taking out loans, or taking on any other form of debt.[4]
- Take some time to track your spending habits, so you can see where your money is going.
- Try hard to to stick to your budget and avoid living beyond your means.
- Limit how often you eat at restaurants. Prepare meals ahead of time and bring your own lunch.
- Limit superfluous expenditures. Consider cancelling streaming services or moving to a lower data plan on your phone.
- Avoid making any large purchases until you can successfully reduce your debt.
- Work out a long-term repayment plan. Contact each of your credit card companies and/or loan providers and ask if you can work out a new repayment plan. Doing this may help you avoid late fees and default, while lowering your monthly payment.[5]
- You might say, "I am no longer able to make these payments successfully. I would like to create a new repayment plan, so that I don't fall behind."
- Many creditors offer special plans for individuals experiencing economic hardship.
- Sometimes these plans will require you to close your account.
- Make larger payments now. Although it may seem counterintuitive, paying more now will allow you to have lower payments later. If it all possible, try paying more than the minimum amount due.[6]
- Use the "waterfall method" of debt repayment. The best way to lower your monthly payments is to reduce what you owe overall. One method for getting out of debt involves prioritizing your highest interest debt. To do this, figure out which of your debts holds the highest interest rate. Pay only the minimum monthly amount on all of your other debts, and put as much money as you can toward your highest interest debt, until it is paid off.[7]
- Once your highest-interest debt is paid off, move on to the debt with the next highest interest rate.
EditFinding and Working with a Debt Counselor - Look for a credit counselor. You might find credit counselors by contacting your credit union, local housing authority, military base, or university.[8] You can also ask for suggestions from family or friends.
- Ask for a description of services before signing up with a counselor.
- Discuss debt consolidation. Talk to your counselor about ways you can consolidate your debt. This process involves totaling up the sum of your debts and taking out a loan to pay all of them off at once. By doing this, you will only have 1 monthly payment.[9]
- You might try to get a personal loan from a credit union or bank.
- You might roll your debts onto a credit card using a balance transfer.
- You might try to get a secured loan, such as a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC).
- Ask about debt management plans. Through your credit counselor, you may be able to enroll in a debt management plan. A debt management plan means that you pay your credit counselor 1 monthly fee, and they distribute that money to the various creditors you owe. In a debt management plan, your counselor will negotiate with your creditors to get the best interest rate possible.[10]
- It can take multiple years to complete a debt management plan. During this time, you must make regular monthly payments.
- If you miss payments, your creditors can choose to discontinue the plan.
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| How to Get Kool Aid out of Hair Posted: 03 Mar 2018 12:00 AM PST Kool-Aid can be a safe, cheap option for experimenting with hair color, creating bright highlights, or dip-dyeing your tips. It can also be a pain to fade or rinse out of your hair. Depending on how often you wash your hair, the color should fade on its own within 2-3 weeks, but if you want to remove it before then, there are 2 techniques that can speed up the process. Baking soda is the main ingredient that will help strip the color more quickly, whether dissolved into hot water for a soaking solution, or mixed with shampoo to form a paste.[1] EditSoaking with Hot Water and Baking Soda - Boil a pot of water and pour it into a container or small tub. Fill the pot with enough water to dunk your hair into. Heat it on the stove until it's boiling, then remove it from the heat. Pour the hot water into a glass bowl, plastic tub, or container large enough to hold it.[2]
- Dyed tips will probably only need around 4 cups of water, while larger sections of hair may require more.
- This technique works best with dip-dyed or grown-out hair, rather than hair with color close to the roots.
- Be extra cautious when working with hot water. Avoid sloshing or splashing the water to prevent burns.
- Stir in of baking powder until it's dissolved. Use a measuring spoon to measure out the baking powder and stir it into the hot water until the 2 ingredients combine completely. The mixture may fizz when you do this, which is completely normal, so don't be alarmed![3]
- Soak your Kool-Aid-dyed hair in the water for 30 seconds. Place the dyed sections of your hair into the water. In seconds, you should start to see the color coming off of the hair. By the end of the 30 seconds, the water should be the color of the Kool-Aid, and your hair should be faded back to its natural color.[4]
- This method is extremely drying for your hair, so make sure you only soak for 30 seconds or less.
- Dump the water and wash your hair in the shower. Pour the baking soda water into the sink and immediately rinse the sink out. Wash your hair in the shower with shampoo and warm water. After the shower, you should be able to tell that the Kool-Aid has significantly faded.
- Use a moisturizing shampoo because baking soda is drying.
- Use a deep conditioning treatment to restore your hair's moisture. This method is very drying and strips your hair of its natural moisture. Always work a conditioning product into your hair afterwards, such as a deep conditioner or a conditioning mask. Let the product soak in for 15-30 minutes, then rinse it out completely with cool water to seal the cuticle.[5]
- Repeat the next day if the first round didn't remove all of the color. Lighter hair colors tend to hold onto dye, especially vivid colors like Kool-Aid. Your hair may need a second round to completely remove all of the Kool-Aid dye, so repeat the same process the next day and make sure to moisturize well after each soak.
EditMaking a Paste with Shampoo and Baking Soda - Mix equal parts baking soda and shampoo together to form a paste. In a plastic or glass bowl, stir together baking soda and shampoo in a 1:1 ratio. To ensure you make enough to cover your dyed hair, measure out the amount of shampoo you would normally use in the shower and then add the same amount of baking soda.[6]
- Anti-dandruff shampoo is said to work best because of its high pH, which fades hair dye. However, you can also use a clarifying shampoo instead.[7]
- Take the paste into the shower and wet your hair. Using the paste in the shower will make it easier to apply without worrying about making a mess. Set the paste aside while you soak your hair with warm water.
- Work the paste into your wet hair until it lathers. Scoop some paste into your hand and start working into the hair where the dye starts. Use your fingers to work the paste down toward the tips, adding in more paste as needed, until you've covered the entire dyed section of hair.[8] You don't need to apply the paste to your natural hair, just the Kool-Aid sections.
- If your color starts at the roots, make sure to start working the paste in at the roots and work all the way down to the tips of your hair.
- If only your tips are dyed, start applying the paste an inch or two above the dyed section to make sure you don't miss any of the color.
- Unlike the hot water and baking soda method above, this method is safer to use on the scalp.
- Let the mixture sit for 2-3 minutes. Set a timer or have someone else set a timer for you so you don't accidentally leave the paste into for too long. Stay in the shower while you wait, and either turn off the water or keep your hair away from the water.
- Rinse the paste out with hot water. Once the time is up, rinse the paste out in the shower. Use the hottest water you can tolerate to help draw out the color and keep rinsing until all of the paste has been washed out.[9]
- Apply a deep-conditioning treatment to rehydrate your hair. This method is also drying, so remember to always deep-condition after rinsing out the paste. Work a deep conditioner through your strands, focusing on the tips.[10] Let it soak in for 15-30 minutes, then rinse it out with warm water.[11]
- Be sure to rinse your hair with cool water to seal the cuticles.
- Repeat the process once a day for up to 2-3 days. After 1 round of this treatment, the Kool-Aid color should be significantly faded. However, it may take several repeat washes to completely remove the dye. Use the paste once a day for several days, deep-conditioning after each wash to replenish and re-hydrate your hair.[12]
EditReplenishing Your Hair's Moisture - Use a deep conditioning treatment after using any color-fading methods. Because any technique that strips color from your hair is drying, you'll likely notice dryness, brittleness, or split ends in your hair afterwards. Deep-conditioning will give your hair an instant infusion of nutrients and restore some of the moisture stripped by the treatments.[13]
- You can either buy a conditioning product or make your own with castor oil.
- Focus the deep conditioner on the ends of your hair, which will likely be the most brittle.[14]
- Use a moisturizing mask once a week to keep your hair hydrated. Your hair will still need extra care and moisture in the weeks following color removal. Once a week, apply a moisturizing hair mask to your whole head and leave it on for the directed amount of time, then gently rinse it out with warm water.
- You can either purchase hair masks or make your own with ingredients like yogurt, honey, and olive oil.[15]
- Avoid hot styling tools until your hair is healthy again. To keep from damaging your hair further, try not to use hot tools like curling irons, straighteners, and blow dryers. Wait until you've been using moisturizing treatments for a few weeks and your hair feels strong and healthy enough to handle heat.
- Shampoo every 2-3 days to let your hair restore its natural oils. Since your hair will be dry and brittle after these color-removing treatments, you'll need to give it a break from shampoo as well. Use a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo to clean your hair once every 2-3 days. In between, your hair will have time to regain its natural sebum, which makes it healthy and shiny.[16]
- If your hair feels extremely brittle, just give it a quick rinse and apply conditioner to the ends.
- Wait 4 weeks before dyeing your hair again. Since Kool-Aid isn't a permanent, chemical-heavy hair dye, you won't need to wait too long before dyeing your hair again. Waiting 4 weeks should give your hair time to strengthen and replenish its moisture, but you may need to wait an extra 1-2 weeks if your hair still feels dry.[17]
EditThings You'll Need EditSoaking with Hot Water and Baking Soda - Pot
- Water
- Baking soda
- Container or plastic tub
- Deep conditioning treatment
EditMaking a Paste with Shampoo and Baking Soda - Anti-dandruff shampoo (or clarifying shampoo)
- Small bowl
- Deep conditioning treatment
EditReplenishing Your Hair's Moisture - Deep conditioning treatments
- Moisturizing hair masks
- Sulfate-free shampoo
- Any technique used to strip dye will likely be very drying, so use them with caution! Don't try these techniques if your hair is already dry and fragile or if you have a sensitive scalp.
- Be extra careful not to scald yourself when rinsing with hot water.
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