Originally published here: Puppy House Training
When you welcome a new canine addition into your family, puppy house training is the first thing you need to do. You want to tackle this challenge right away before your puppy learns any negative behavior: it is easier to instill the good habits you want in your puppy than to correct previously learned bad ones. This is harder to do in a grown dog, but housebreaking a new puppy should not be a difficult or protracted experience. You just need some patience and a lot of love for your puppy.
What are the benefits of puppy house training? It allows you to integrate your puppy into your household with minimal problems: less mess in your home, bonding time for you and your pet, and a safe, secure, happy dog. You know it is necessary and good for both of you, but how do you start?
Housebreaking Tips for Puppies
Puppy house training can be difficult for people who have busy work schedules, but it is definitely doable. How long puppy house training takes is dependent upon your dog and your discipline, support, and encouragement. The first thing you need to do is establish a routine for your pet. In this way, puppies are similar to infants. When new parents bring their baby home, they need to work on getting the baby on a regular schedule of sleeping and eating so the baby begins to sleep through the night.
House training your puppy is the same way. You want to get him on a regular routine of “going to the bathroom.” For instance, walk your dog on a regular schedule so he learns when he can relieve himself. Try to be as consistent as possible. For instance, walk him in the morning before you go to work, when you get back, and later in the evening. Your schedule may vary, but work out times when your pet can go. Also, correspond his feeding and watering so he can relieve himself on his walks and not while you are at work.
If you have a yard, you can establish an acceptable area for your puppy to relieve himself. If you do not, you can either use a newspaper lined area or crate training. Crate puppy training, is recommended by trainers because it teaches dogs to control their bladders and bowels. In this area of housebreaking your puppy, supervision plays a big role. If your dog is inside, learn the behaviors he engages in before he goes to the bathroom.
Does he walk around and sniff a certain area? Does he circle the area? If you can figure out his cues, you can guide him outside or to the newspapered area before he goes. As your puppy grows, he will learn how to “ask” to go outside: some dogs go to the door and wait, some fetch their leashes. Either way, that’s a great signal that you are doing a great job with puppy housebreaking.
One of the most important puppy housetraining tips is to not punish your dog unless you catch him in the act. Disciplining him hours later will only confuse him. If you do catch him, try to pick him up and take him outside. Sternly say, “No.” After he goes outside, say, “Good dog.” Don’t carry a grudge – your puppy probably isn’t trying to irritate you. Praise does a lot more good than punishment in both the short and long term.
When you are home, active supervision and praise is best. Try to determine when your dog needs to go out and walk him regularly. When you are in bed or away from home, crate training is an effective, safe, and humane way of housebreaking a puppy. Time, patience, and love are your most important tools.
Click here to learn about the popular SitStayFetch downloadable dog and puppy training course. SitStayFetch will help you solve all of your dog and puppy behavior problems, including house training.
If you are solely interested in housebreaking your puppy, then Sadie Dal’s excellent eBook: How to Housebreak Your Puppy in 7 Days or Less. It comes with everything you need including puppy potty training schedules and some nice bonus materials. At $19.95 it is a great value.
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