Housbreaking

Housebreaking Your Puppy


(Or, why paper training doesn’t work, unless your dog can read!)
One of the most frustrating things to deal with when you bring home your new pup is getting it housebroken. The first mistake most of us make is trying to housebreak the pup using paper. Dogs are creatures of habit that will generally use the same area for potty, and paper training teaches the pup to go inside of the house, which is the last place you would like him to go!
The quickest way to housetraining is consistency, a crate, and a tight schedule, that means feeding time and potty time are the same every day. The crate mimics the dog’s natural setting of a den, and it’s a safe place for your pup whenever you can’t watch him. Most dogs will not soil the very place where they sleep and live, so crate training will speed the process of housebreaking. A crate should be just large enough for the pup to stand up and turn around in comfortably, otherwise that will give him the opportunity to soil one side of the crate and not have to sleep in it.
The puppy should only be allowed to relieve itself out of doors. First thing in the morning, take the dog outside. The dog should go fairly quickly after holding it in all night. Bring him in after he’s finished and feed him his first meal, and then bring him outside to go again. If the pup doesn’t go after his meal, put the pup back in the crate and keep bringing him out every 15 minutes or so until he does. And don’t forget to praise him profusely for doing his business outside! This routine should be performed before and after every meal, and soon your pup will learn what is expected of him.
In the evening pick up his water around eight o’clock, and take the pup out for potty at least one more time to empty his bladder, because what goes in must come out, and this will keep him dry during the rest of the night. A good rule of thumb to follow is for every month the dog is old, he should be able to “hold it” for that many hours plus one, i.e., if your pup is 2 months old, he can “hold it” for 3 hours.
During the day, you can let the pup out of his crate for playtime, but only in an area that has been “puppy proofed” where you can watch him closely. If you must go to another area of the house, tether the pup to you with a short leash. This will allow you to get the dog outside if his bottom should drop to the ground in an attempt to go potty. If the pup should do this, give him a firm NO NO NO, and immediately get him outside. And don’t forget the praise when he does go outside, you should act like the dog just gave you a rare gem, have a party!
If the pup should have an accident in the house, remember, it is your fault, and not his! Do not ever attempt to correct the dog by yelling at him after the fact, he won’t connect your angry yelling to the pile or puddle he left on the floor for you! Crate the dog so he can’t see you, and clean up his mess without saying a word. Be sure to use an enzymatic cleaner such as Nature’s Miracle to completely remove any stains or smells of the accident to prevent your pup from using the same place again.
Following these rules, you should have a house trained puppy in no time!
Copyright © 2002 Laura Waddell K9Problemsolvers