Housetraining Your Puppy

House Training puppies can be tough for beginners. However, once you give it the necessary time and effort, you’ll find that the time goes by pretty quickly.

You’ll need a rock-solid plan when you start house training your puppy, and you need to be able to read the signs your puppy will give you. House training adults is a bit more difficult, but you can do it. Here’s a quick guide to get you through it:

Steps For Housetraining A Puppy

Before we get into the steps, there are a few things you need to know. For instance, consistency is key. This is how your puppy will learn. Secondly, a crate is not a punishment. It is your dog’s personal space and it should be comfortable and attractive. Now that that’s settled, let’s get into it.:

1. Set Time Aside

House training should start as soon as your puppy comes home. Ideally, take time off from work, but this isn’t applicable for everyone. Use as much time as possible to bond with your puppy, and stick to it.

2. Start Using The Crate Right Away

If you don’t have a crate, get one soon. Crate training should start ASAP. This should be a place where they learn bladder and bowel control to avoid soiling eating and sleeping areas. Your crate should be large around for your dog to move comfortably, but it should not be too large, as they may try to poop and sleep in the same place.

Your crate should be placed in an area of your house with heavy foot traffic so your dog can get used to the noises of the house. Similarly, it should not be used to ‘get rid’ of your pup, and he/she should still feel like he/she is in on the action. You should also give your dog time to stretch the legs and get out of the crate.

3. Go outside a lot

Don’t keep your dog cooped up in the house. This can cause bladder issues when your puppy can no longer hold it. Try doing this twice or thrice a day. If your puppy soils the crate, take this as a sign that more bathroom breaks are needed. You should also encourage your dog to pee and poop in the same spot. Do not try to play with your pup during this time. Instead, try to train a command like “go potty” to encourage elimination.

4. Use treats and praise

When your puppy goes in the right place, shower him/her with treats and praises. This encourages positive repeat behavior.

5. Try Nighttime Potty Training

Take your puppy outdoors during the night since they tend to want to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. This is much easier since your puppy will be calmer and won’t mistake time outside for playtime.

6. Clean up accidents immediately

If there’s an accident, clean up right away. This will prevent your puppy from eliminating waste in the same spot again. Use a cleaning product that breaks down the mess that contains live bacteria and enzymes instead of just masking it with a fragrance. You can try leaving soiled paper towels in your puppy’s designated pee area to encourage repeat visits.

What You Shouldn’t Do

1. Don’t punish your puppy after an accident. He/she is unable to connect the negative behavior with that response. Doing this can lead to anxiety or even attempting to hide the mess from you.
2. Don’t use the wrong cleaners, especially ones that contain ammonia, bleach, or harsh chemicals which can harm your puppy.

If It Doesn’t Seem To Be Working

If it doesn’t seem to be working, this may be due to:

• Health issues
• Giving your dog much water
• Being too relaxed or lax
• Not supervising enough
• Learning to go in the wrong place