Housebreaking Your Puppy
Housebreaking your puppy will start the minute you bring him home. Each dog is different so keep in mind that housebreaking can take from a few days to a few weeks to achieve. The best way to house train you new puppy is to teach him to go outside to eliminate. So how exactly do you get this done?
First, start immediately when you bring your puppy home. Give him some time to get acquainted with his new home. Give him a drink of water and then immediately take him outside to eliminate. Many people choose a specific area of the yard that will be designated for the puppy. You will need to stay with the puppy in this area until he goes. Do not play with the puppy as this may distract him from his purpose. Remember that your puppy is experiencing a lot of new things and it may take some time for him to finish. As soon as he is done, praise him and take him inside. Every time the puppy needs to go, you will take him to the same spot, wait with him and then praise him for his good behavior.
You will need to keep a close eye on your puppy to avoid accidents. Taking your puppy out immediately in the morning, before and after each meal and nap and before bed is the minimum investment you will need to make. Puppies have small bladders and may need to go more frequently than you would think. Puppies may need middle of the night potty breaks for the first several weeks.
If your puppy has an accident there are two ways to handle it. First, if you didn't catch him having the accident then the best thing to do is to clean it up and move on. Bring the puppy back to the scene of the crime and reprimanding him will not help. He cannot connect the two events in his brain.
If you catch him in the act, then you need to scoop him up immediately and take him out side. Keep his tail between his legs to prevent seepage. Avoid saying "NO" at this point. Your puppy will not know that your reprimand is in reference to the location that he is eliminating and not the fact that he is eliminating.
As you work on housetraining you need to be patient. If you take him out on a schedule and focus on your puppies needs, house training will go much faster. Prepare in advance for accidents; they are bound to happen. Remember to praise your puppy each time he goes in the correct location. If you are vigilant about your end of the training, before you know it your puppy will be house trained and will be a reliable member of the family.
