Housebreaking can be one of the most frustrating parts of having a new puppy. Here are some tips to help you.
Routine
Puppies are easily confused. You must provide a consistent routine. Take him out the same door every time he has to go . Walk him to the same area. Use one word to tell him it s time to go . He ll soon begin to connect the word with the action.
Learn when your puppy will most likely need to go .
First thing in the morning
After a nap
Right after eating or drinking
During or after play times
After being confined
Right before going to bed
Your weekend and weekday routines should be the same. Keep a housebreaking journal so that you can get an overall picture of your puppies bathroom schedule. Everyone in your household needs to follow same the routine. If one person says out when it s time to go outside, and someone else says go potty , your puppy will get confused.
This probably won t destroy your housebreaking attempts. However, it will take longer to housebreak your puppy. Do the same thing at the same time everyday, and he ll quickly learn what is expected of him.
Time To Go
Your puppy will do certain things when he needs to go . Here s what to watch for:
Sniffing and circling
Stops playing or wanders off.
Whining and wiggling when you re holding him
Standing at the door
If you see your puppy doing any of these things, take him outside right away.
Traditional Housebreaking
With traditional housebreaking, your puppy learns to go outside. Let your puppy sleep in a crate or kennel. It feels secure, like a den . Puppies have small bladders. So you ll have to get up early in the morning to take him outside if you choose this method.
You can t and shouldn t leave your puppy in his kennel all day. For daytime, you ll need to buy a play pen, like the ones made by Pet Gear or Jeep. Or you could use a pet gate to confine your puppy in one room when you can t watch him.
Take your puppy out on a leash to his potty spot. Give your cue ( Go potty! ) and wait for him to do something. Praise him, reward him, and wait for him to go again. Puppies don t usually empty themselves right away. If you take him inside now, he ll have an accident in the house. When he goes again, praise him, reward him, and let him off leash to play. If you re taking a walk, wait until he finishes before you continue your walk.
Be generous with your rewards in the beginning. Offer verbal praise, petting, treats and play time whenever your puppy eliminates in the right place. Don t punish him for accidents. If he goes in the house, clean it up with something containing an odor enzyme remover, such as Nature s Miracle . Don t use bleach or harsh chemicals. These can make your puppy very sick.
Other Options
What if you live in an apartment or have no yard? Consider paper training. Follow the same housebreaking routine. But train your puppy to go on a paper instead of outside on the grass. Nature s Miracle makes grass scented puppy pads to help with this type of training.
You can also train your puppy to use a litter box. Check out the Pet Patio Potty by Doggy Solutions or go to your local pet store for ideas.
Training your puppy to go on paper or in a litter box doesn t mean that he ll never learn to go outside. It simply offers you and your puppy another option when traditional housebreaking isn t possible.
Have patience. Be consistent with your training and routine, and your puppy will soon learn where to go .
Geoffrey A. English is the Founder of http://GundogsOnline.com, the internet's premiere online magazine dedicated to hunting dogs. Visit their site if you are looking for hunting dogs for sale. They also offer a wide variety of dog training supplies including dog fences, bark collars, and much more.
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