When puppies urinate and defecate all over the house, it is understandable for you to become a little annoyed. But, what you must also understand is that puppies are still too young to know better.
The good thing is that they are also still young enough to be taught proper behaviour. And because you are the one who knows how your puppy should behave around the house, housebreaking a puppy is therefore your responsibility.
In housebreaking a puppy, some people use newspapers to teach the puppy not to urinate or defecate just anywhere in the house. It is okay if you prefer this method as well, but take note that this can sometimes make it difficult for your dog to understand later that the best place for him to relieve himself is actually OUTSIDE the house.
It may be best to start housebreaking a puppy at the actual spot where you want him to relieve himself regularly. Here are some tips on how you can properly potty train your puppy.
Persistence and consistency are the key elements in housebreaking a puppy. Each day, you should take your puppy to the spot where you want him to relieve himself. Do this in the morning as he wakes up and at night before he goes to sleep. You should also bring your dog to the same spot after every meal, after playtime, and everytime you see him circling or showing other signs that he needs to go.
Each time you bring your dog to this spot, stay with him until he is done relieving himself and then praise him for doing it at the designated spot.
What if your puppy has already relieved himself inside the house while you weren't watching? DO NOT yell at your dog or punish him for what he did.
Remember that you are just starting to train him. Housebreaking a puppy requires a lot of patience. Just pick your puppy up and bring him to the right spot, then clean up his mess. Make sure that you clean the area thoroughly, such that you leave not even a trace of odour. This is because your dog will keep urinating or defecating in that area as long as he can still smell the odour of his mess there.
What if it's wintertime and a thick coating of snow has covered the spot where your puppy is supposed to go?
Can you still continue housebreaking a puppy in these conditions?
Of course, you can. Simply shovel out the snow in the designated area and keep doing your daily housebreaking rituals. If this is impossible to do, you may use the newspaper technique. Place a newspaper by the door and teach your dog to do his business there until the snow melts and he can use his spot outside the house again.
The steps you need to follow in housebreaking a puppy are simple enough. The difficulty lies in holding your temper in check everytime your dog forgets his lessons and creates a mess inside the house. Just always remember that your dog will learn in time and you should do fine.
Discover why Home Dog Training Is Easy, Fun and Effective. PLUS: Keep your Dog healthy by Recognizing Common Dog Ailments




