Did you know that most dogs that are taken to shelters are there because their owners couldn’t get them house trained? That is shocking to me. I know it’s frustrating, but it’s not impossible. I think it’s sad that people get a puppy without doing their research and teaching themselves how to teach their puppy. If a dog cannot be house-trained it is more than likely the fault of the owner, not the dog. Mind you, we are still in the house-training stage, but we have gone from many accidents in a day to having most days accident free.
Here are some tips to house-training your dog.
First, I highly recommend having some sort of crate. It really doesn’t matter which type you choose, although I don’t recommend using a fabric crate, they are more difficult to clean. The crate provides a safe zone for your pet where the dog sleeps or rests when you cannot give him your full attention. The crate should be large enough for your puppy to stand up in and turn around but not too large. Dogs do not like to mess near their beds, so if the crate is the right size, they will try their hardest to not go potty in it. Initially you will use the crate frequently, but as the house-training progresses you may use it less frequently. Place the crate in an area in your home where you spend the most time so that while the dog is in the crate he still feels close to you.
Next, I recommend keeping your dog on a leash anytime he is not in the crate. This includes when he is in the house. When the dog is not in the crate it should be near you at all times and in your line of sight. This makes it easy for you to see when the dog starts to show signs that he needs to eliminate. Usually a dog will start sniffing, walking in circles, or some other similar action that will indicate it needs to go outside. If you have the leash, it is very easy and very quick to get the dog out the door and eliminate the possibility of an accident in the house.
Along the same lines as keeping the dog on a leash, limit the dogs access to areas of your home. As the house-training progresses, you may wish to add more area. We keep our puppy’s crate in our family room. When she is not in the crate she can roam in the family room and kitchen areas only. This is where we spend the majority of our time. If we are not in those rooms, she is in her crate. Never leave your puppy out of the crate unsupervised.
Also, don’t leave a bowl of water down for easy, all day access. Give your dog water on a schedule, remember, what goes in, must come out, and water goes through a puppy very quickly. If you know when your dog drank water, you will know when to take it outside to go potty. Just because a dog is panting, that does not mean they are thirsty. Panting is how a dog gets rid of its sweat. Yes, a dog needs fresh water, they just don’t need open access to it, especially as a puppy.
Finally, make sure you are using positive reinforcement to reward your puppy when he does his business outside. Use the same words repeatedly, each time, so he learns that “good potty” means okay, I peed outside so I get a treat! Small, soft training treats work the best. Remember, dogs don’t speak English so it’s important that you use the same words for any command you are trying to teach.
Remember too that if you do get frustrated, many pet supply stores offer puppy training and potty training. Many will give you answers to your questions for free if you just ask. Reach out for help, don’t just give up.
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