Puppy Housebreaking

The 3 Best Ways to House Training a Puppy

There is more than one way to potty training a puppy. A lot will depend on what time you have to watch your puppies activities.

If you are around constantly during the day, then the traditional puppy housebreaking method will suit you best (the reason being, you can constantly supervise your puppy).

No papers or pads should be used when following this method. You will rely solely on your own observations of your dog. If there are no papers or pads available, then your dog will soon learn that outside is the place to do his business.

When you start your puppy housebreaking routine, you should take your puppy outside at all the key times e.g. after waking, feeding and playing. For a puppy who is under 12 weeks old, you should take him out every hour. Puppies over this age should last a little longer.

Go outside with your dog. Allow him 5 minutes to relieve himself. Come back inside after 5 minutes, even if he hasn't gone. If you were sure that he needed to go, just keep him in a restricted area for a while so you can quickly spot the signs and act accordingly.

Puppy housebreaking is just like all other dog training. Praise your puppy when he is relieving himself outside. Tell him he is a 'Good Boy' and add a keyword like toilet. You must say these words when he is actually relieving himself. This will create an association and he will know the request you are making at bedtime and if you go out and have to leave him.

A great puppy housebreaking trick is to use treats. As soon as he has done his business, give him a treat that you have already got in your hand. Do not delay in giving him the treat.

If you see your puppy start to relive himself in the house, shout his name or clap your hands. This should stop him in mid flow, allowing you time to get him to go outside.

Never scold or punish your puppy when housetraining a puppy for an 'accident'. Just clean it up with an non ammonia based cleaner and carry on as before. Puppy housebreaking does need patience and calm at all times for it to be successful.

Puppy crates are also a very effective way of housebreaking your puppy. The reason being, dogs do not like to sleep where they have soiled.

A puppy crate should only just be large enough for your dog to turn around in. This will avoid your dog having enough room to relieve himself up one end and sleep down the other.

Lastly, puppy training pads are a popular choice. When potty training a puppy, some people do not have the luxury of being on hand for their dogs 24/7. Puppy training pads are treated with a chemical that will attract your dog to relieve himself on the pad, not the carpet.

These should not however become a long term solution. When house training a puppy, he still needs to know that outside is the place to relieve himself when at all possible.

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