Guide to Housebreaking Your Puppy

Keeping your house spic and span with an untrained puppy is virtually impossible. If not properly trained both you and your puppy will not be happy. Housebreaking your puppy is the first training you should do. Start off with a schedule and be consistent. As creatures of habit, it is in their nature to keep schedules as pack animals.

Ideal Housebreaking Age

It is best to start housebreaking your puppy when he/she reaches 8 to 12 weeks of age.

Crate Training

Crate Training is used to help housebreak your puppy. Make your puppy’s crate as comfortable as possible. This will be his sanctuary, his own room, so to speak. It is of vital importance not to keep your puppy in the crate for more than two hours at a time. The crate is not to be used for punishment.

In order to housebreak your puppy, keep in mind that puppy’s 3 to 8 weeks have to relieve themselves every 3 hours so be sure to take them outside within that time period. If you leave your puppy in the crate for longer amounts of time he will not be able to hold it. Never, ever use the crate as punishment you do not want your puppy to associate the crate as a bad thing.

Get Your Puppy Used To Routines

When it is time to take your dog out doors to eliminate be sure to use one door only. This way he will use that door to let you know he needs to go outside.

Be sure to keep the same schedule every day. This will make him learn to hold it in until you can take him outside.

Look For Clues

If your un-housebroken dog is accustomed to roaming freely around the house, search for signs that show you he needs to do it. Be really observant enough of his behavior, i.e., heavy sniffing, circling an area, staring at the door with an intense look on his face, etc. If you catch him WHILE doing it, stop him with a quick grab of his collar and pull it up while saying “No” using your deep, stern tone (don’t forget to use a deep, gruff voice when stating commands). Then, take him outside and let him finish what he is doing. Lastly, pat him on his head while saying “Good (his name)!” It is a must to make your dog get used to being praised whenever he does anything that makes you proud. Giving him food as a reward when he does his business in the appropriate spot can help, too.

Patience is a Big Virtue

Like any training endeavor, housebreaking requires a lot of patience. If you definitely despise cleaning your dog’s waste off your Persian carpets on an hourly basis and having your whole house smell like a public bathroom, you want the housebreaking to be successful in a wink of an eye, if not sooner.

Common Sense Makes a Lot of Sense

Common Sense will help you and your dog while housebreaking. Stick to a routine, do not give him water before bed, to not ignore the clues.

Housebreaking your puppy requires patience, consistency and a big commitment. Stick to it and you will succeed.

Best of luck!