|
Housebreaking & Crate
Training
With patience,
consistency, and a calm manner, you can teach
your dog exactly where he should eliminate and
where he should not. Remember, every puppy
moves at his own pace when learning bathroom
habits. Some figure out housebreaking in
one day, with others it can take months.
You can make the training go smoothly by being
consistent, making plenty of trips outside
with lots of praise, giving every meal
regularly, and always having a confident and
calm voice. Here are some more tips for
housebreaking your puppy:
-
Timing is
everything!
Take your puppy
outside immediately after playing, eating, or
sleeping (approx. every two hours).
Keeping a rigid schedule will help prevent
accidents from happening in the house.
Some people will
recommend using a command like "go potty!" or
"go to the bathroom!" at the moment your puppy
is correctly doing his business outside.
Eventually, whenever you say the phrase, the dog
will eliminate on command.
-
Much like a little
boy who does "the potty dance" when he has to go
to the bathroom, a puppy's behavior will also
let you know that he needs to go outside.
If he whines, paces, or runs in a circle, grab
the leash and run for the door!
-
Accidents
happen. If you catch your puppy pottying
in the house---and he will--correct him with a
firm, gentle "No." and take him outside for a
walk, and praise him lavishly when he does his
business outside. Always feed and water
your puppy at the same time, every day. If
he eats at regular intervals, he will relieve
himself at regular intervals too!
-
Even if you're in a
hurry, don't bring your puppy back inside as
soon as he does his business. If you do,
he will learn that after he potties, the fun
walk is over and he'll start to "hold it" for
longer periods.
If you find that your
puppy has pottied in the house when you weren't
looking, and he has a remorseful, sad
expression, don't punish him. Only punish
and reward the bad and good behavior he performs
while you are watching him.
Which brings us to
the next point: SUPERVISE SUPERVISE
SUPERVISE! Crating your dog
several times a day is an excellent way to
housebreak him. This is because dogs will
try not to potty where they sleep! Make
sure to line the crate with blankets to make it
cozy. You can also cover the top of it
with a blanket, or purchase a crate cover
and mat set to further mimic the "den"
atmosphere. Use the crates for naps,
nighttime sleep, and quiet-time breaks for the
puppy to unwind. Be sure to buy a well
ventilated crate, one that is large enough for
him to stand up in, lie down, and turn
around. If the puppy has a lot of growth
time ahead, you might think about buying a
larger crate, but section off half of it with a
divider. Every time you take your puppy
out of the crate, take him for a walk so he can
potty. Never leave a puppy in a crate all
day. He needs several potty breaks and
play and feeding times. Even though he
won't want to soil his sleeping area, if he's in
there for extremely long stretches, he just
might! He can't help it! And if he
does, it's because the owner has neglected his
responsibility, not because the puppy has been
naughty! Remember: Never use the
crate as punishment. It should always be a
safe haven for your puppy, not a jail cell.
|
