An essential part of dog care that cannot be overlooked is house training your puppy with knowledge, patience and determination. Puppies must be taught that it’s improper behavior to urinate or defecate in the house.
There are two main points to remember: first, house training must be carried out in a positive manner – in other words, use rewards instead of punishment – second, it should be done consistently with your puppy closely supervised.
House Train a Puppy Using Rewards
The basic process in house training is to take your dog outside the house, both on a regular schedule and whenever he or she shows signs they are about to urinate or defecate. Then, be sure and reward your puppy each time he or she successfully eliminates outside.
The time it will take a puppy to learn to eliminate outside varies with factors such as age, breed and any previous training. Some puppies learn very quickly while others take longer to get the hang of it. Usually, puppies become reliable by the time they’re 8 to 12 months old.
Take all the Necessary Steps In House Training
Step One – Feed your puppy on a consistent schedule. Do not give snacks in between meals.
Step Two – Take your puppy outside on a regular schedule, too. This should be done often, usually after meals and after playtime and naptime. Puppies should also be taken out when they wake in the morning, before they go to sleep and before they are left alone.
Step Three – Keep a close eye on your puppy. You should be aware where he or she is at all times so that you can see if there are any signs they’re about to eliminate. Common signs include circling, sniffing, pacing, whining and attempting to get out of the room. If he or she shows any of these signs, take them outside immediately.
Step Four – Reward your puppy every time they successfully eliminate outside the house. Rewards can be in the form of treats, praise or play.
Step Five – If you catch your puppy eliminating inside the house, startle him or her by clapping sharply twice. Do this to get their attention, not to scare them. Then, quickly take him or her outside where they can finish up. When they’re done, reward them with a small treat. If you find out that your puppy has had an indoor accident, don’t do anything at all. You can only correct the behavior when you catch him or her in the act.
Here are Some Tips for House Training Success
Take your puppy to the same spot outdoors each time. The smell of that spot will stimulate the urge to eliminate.
Minimize odors inside the house by using an enzymatic cleanser on all areas where your puppy has had accidents. It’s important to get rid of odors inside the house, since these will encourage them to return to that same spot over and over whenever they feel the urge to urinate or defecate.
Watch your puppy very closely when you’re visiting other people’s homes. Just because he or she is house trained in your home doesn’t mean they won’t have accidents in other people’s homes. Puppies don’t have the ability to generalize what they have learned just yet.
Rubbing your puppy’s nose in their waste doesn’t work, and neither does scolding or punishing them. The reward system is the most effective form of house training puppies.
House training is often a long and arduous part of dog care, but with patience, determination and the proper knowledge, it can be done successfully, and will be a big relief to the whole household when it is accomplished!
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