House training your puppy is one of the most important elements of creating a well trained dog and trusted family member.
Let’s dive right in.
The Process Of House Training Your Puppy
Problems with house training and similar issues are the number one reason that dogs are surrendered to shelters.
So properly house training your puppy can literally save his or her life.
House training your puppy does not need to be difficult. But it is important to take the process seriously, plan ahead and take things slowly.
Easier than Others
Some dogs will be easier to house break than others, so it important to work with your dog. Rushing the process can be counterproductive and cause you to have to start all over again.
When it comes to house training your puppy, it is important to know what to expect.
Unless the owner is able to supervise the puppy round the clock, it is difficult to complete the house training process until the dog is at least six months old.
Constant Change
It is important to know this ahead of time so you can be prepared. Young puppies have bodies that are constantly changing and growing.
And puppies younger than six months often have not developed the bowel and bladder control they need for house training your puppy.
When the owner is not at home, the puppy should be confined to a small room. And the entire floor should be covered with paper.
Puppy-Proof
Of course it is important to puppy-proof the room. Do this by removing any items on which the puppy could be injured.
In the beginning of house training your puppy, the puppy will most likely eliminate anywhere within the room.
In addition, the puppy will probably play with the papers, chew them, etc.
Perfectly Normal
This is perfectly normal and should not be grounds for punishment or distress. Cleaning up each day should simply be part of the routine of living with a new puppy.
Simply clean up the soiled papers and put down new ones each day.
House Training Your Puppy through Paper Training
During the time that the puppy is confined in its little den, it will begin to develop the habit of eliminating on paper.
After a little time has passed, the puppy will begin to exhibit a preferred place to eliminate.
After this preferred spot has been established, the area that is papered should be slowly diminished.
Furthest Away
As you move through the process of house training your puppy the first papers to be removed should be those that are furthest away from the “toilet”.
Eventually, the owner will have to lay down only a few papers.
If the puppy ever misses those papers, it means that the papered area has been reduced too much and too soon.
Gradually Moved
After the puppy is reliability doing its business only on the papers that have been left, the papers can be slowly and gradually moved to a location of your choice.
The papers should be moved only gradually, as little as an inch a day.
If the puppy misses the papers, again it means that they have been moved too soon and too far.
A Few Steps
In this case it will be necessary to go back a few steps and start over. It is important not to become discouraged.
The puppy will eventually understand the concept, and you will be able to choose your puppies toilet area and move on to the next step of house training your puppy.
House Training Your Puppy When You Are Home
Obviously the more time you can spend with your puppy the faster the house training will go.
The objective should be to take the puppy to the toilet area every time they need to do their business.
In most cases this will be either every 45 minutes, right after each play session, after they first wake up or right after they eat or drink.
Praise
When house training your puppy it is important to provide effusive praise for the puppy when they eliminate in the established toilet area.
As the puppy becomes more used to using their toilet area, and as he or she develops improved bladder and bowel control.
More Time
They will be able to begin spending more and more time outside their den with their owner in the rest of the home.
It is important to begin this process by allowing the puppy access to one room at a time.
Supervised
It is also important, while house training your puppy, to allow the puppy in the extra room only when they can be supervised. When you must leave the room, be sure to put the puppy back in their den.
Now I’d like to hear from you.
If you found this post on House Training Your Puppy informative please share it on social media through the buttons on this page and/or leave a comment below.
Thank You For Reading!