Housebreaking your Puppy

Housebreaking your new puppy can be a challenge. Before you get started you need to understand that it’s going to take some time. Accidents will happen.

Do not scold the puppy for accidents. He doesn’t yet know what he’s suppose to do and where he’s suppose to do it.

Remember, puppies under twelve weeks old don’t have complete control of their bladder yet. So getting angry will just upset him but it will not help with his training.

The real secret to puppy training is consistency.

First thing in the morning, take your puppy out of his crate and outside. Don’t let him wander around the house for even a few minutes.

Always take your puppy to the same place. He’ll learn this is the place to do his business by recognizing the smells.

Feed your dog at consistent times and then pick the food up.

Always take your puppy outside after he’s eaten.

A young puppy needs to be taken out every hour.

Give your puppy a treat or plenty of affection when he eliminates outside. This will let him know he’s done the right thing and made you happy. Let him run around for a few minutes after he’s done his business. Otherwise, he might learn to “hold it” so he gets to stay outside longer.

After he goes outside let him run freely in the house for a few minutes. The amount of time can be stretched as he’s better trained.

Take him out before putting him in his kennel for the night.

Watch him closely at other times. When you see him sniffing around and looking for a place to eliminate, immediately pick him up and take him outside. You may clap your hands which will startle him enough to stop, but not so loudly that it scares him.

If this sounds tedious and exhausting — well, it is. But the consistency is necessary.

Try to bring your new puppy home when you have some vacation time or when your teenagers are home from school for the summer.

If that’s not possible, you’ll need to at least come home at lunch.

While you’re gone, keep the puppy in a small area such as blocking off the kitchen or a laundry room. This means the mess will at least be contained in a small area. This also keeps the puppy from chewing on electrical cords or other dangers he could get into if left to roam the house, freely.

You might consider hiring a neighbor such as a teenager or a retired person to come let your puppy out while you’re at work. Explain that you’re using positive reinforcement and not punishment. Let them know the schedule you’ve set up for your puppy.

Don’t resort to pushing the puppy’s nose into his waste when he goes inside the house. He won’t understand the point you’re trying to make. You’ll only scare him.

Always clean up after your puppy has an accident with an enzymatic cleanser. A cleanser with ammonia smells like urine and will only encourage the puppy to go there again.

How long does it take?

Most puppies are house broken by the time they’re six months old if you’ve been consistent in your training. But some take up to a year.

What if your puppy has setbacks?

After your puppy has been housebroken he may have occasional accidents. There are several reasons this could be happening.

Take him to the vet to assure he doesn’t have some type of urinary tract infection that keeps him from controlling his bladder.

He may be stressed if he’s being left alone more than usual.

Some dogs get scared by storms and have accidents.

If you change your dog’s diet it may cause a digestion problem that results in accidents. When you change food do so gradually by feeding half the old and half the new for a period of time so his stomach can adjust slowly.

Urine marking. Dogs like to mark their territory by peeing on the area. Pets that have been spayed or neutered are less likely to urine mark. A dog who is well trained at home may try to urine mark when he’s in a new environment. Watch your pet closely when you take him to a new place to visit.

If another dog visits your home your dog may urine mark to send a message to the intruding visitor, “This is MY space”.

Allowing your dog to urine mark while taking walks will lower the chances of him doing so in his own home.

Remember, patience and consistency are the keys to housebreaking your puppy.