How to House Train a Dog
When house training a puppy there are two inherent qualities in a dog that are going to work in your favor:
- Dogs and pups are naturally clean.
- Their digestive system is predictable
In a natural environment, well behaved puppies will go outside of their own den to do their business. But when you bring the puppy home, how does he understand that your whole house is supposed to be his den?
If you are not at home all day, the best way of house breaking your dog is the crate training method. If you don’t have a crate, place him in a small confined room.
Feed him on a regular schedule. If you are not constantly with him, feed him twice daily and take him out a few minutes after each meal (5 to 15 minutes). In between meals, take him out after a nap and first thing in the morning.
Do not let him have any water after 9 PM, so there will be no “accidents” in the middle of the night.
When you take out your puppy (or dog) watch what he does all the time. As he is relieving himself, say a short phrase like “go pee pee” or “go potty”. Use the same phrase all the time, so that the dog will associate the act with the command. It will come in handy when the weather is not so good and you need to get back in the house. After the act is done, praise him and encourage him to acknowledge that he has done something you approve.
Understanding the create method
This method uses a small kennel where the dog can go when you are not supervising him. Crate training is based on the premise that dogs do not like to soil the place where they sleep. The crate should be neither too large nor too small; just enough for your puppy to rest comfortably. Since the movements in the crate are restricted, the dog will instinctively “hold it” until he is out of the crate.
A few things should be considered. Do not keep your puppy in the crate for very long periods of time. It’s inhumane and he will get bored. Take him out every few hours, and walk him immediately so that he learns where “the bathroom” is.
Keep the door open when he is not in it and place a clean blanket so he can lie on it comfortably.
House training a puppy should not be difficult provided you keep two things in mind: patience and consistency. It takes patience because the dog will not be trained overnight. It takes consistency because the animal needs repetitiveness in order to learn.
For an in depth look at dog training look at these excellent sources:
One is a downloadable e-book that is a step by step course on how to house train a puppy or full grown dog: Click here to read our review
The other is very affordable online dog training course by Dove Cresswell - Professional Hollywood North Dog Trainer. The course is a comprehensive dog training course but it does include a section on Puppy House Training / Potty Training. Click here to watch a FREE lesson
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Note: The information provided in this article is for reference only and should not be considered medical advice. Please read our Disclaimer.
