Housebreaking Your New Puppy

A brand new puppy is one of the cutest things in the world. But what happens when you get your new best friend home and realize there's more to this little ball of fur then just being a fun-loving new companion? Most people know that proper feeding and trips to the vet to ensure the health of your puppy are absolutely essential, as well as providing a safe environment. Teaching your dog to sit and stay should definitely come before honing your pup's skills for his next shot on Letterman's Stupid Pet Tricks. One important issue that new pet owners discover once they've got their puppy home is that they need to teach Fido where the potty is! There are three main ways of house breaking your dog with the end result in all being they use the great outdoors as their personal potty. One method that has been used with great success is paper training your pup.

Regardless of what teaching method you use there are two main rules every owner must obey to assure quick results and a happy puppy. The first rule is: if you didn't see them do it, don't punish them. Simply stated - unless you catch Fido in the act of peeing on your Persian Rug you can't scold him for it. If you step in a present from your new little buddy and he is no where to be seen then he will have no idea why you are suddenly berating him. The second rule is: praise your puppy when he gets it right. There's simply nothing like positive reinforcement!

The ultimate goal of any house breaking method is to get your puppy to go to outdoors when they have to go. Paper training works best when you have a lot of time to devote to your puppy. In the beginning you will not be able to leave your puppy home alone with the whole house as his oyster and just expect him to go on the paper when he has to go. To start training - place either newspaper or specially treated 'puppy pads' found at pet stores in a certain spot when you are training your dog to go in the house. There are certain times when a puppy will almost certainly have to go - after he wakes and after he eats. Part of training a dog is more about training the owner. Know when your dog is likely to need to go and help him learn to communicate with you.

When you notice your puppy walking around and sniffing, tail pointed straight up, he is most likely looking for a place to go. Quietly, and without any sense of huge urgency (you don't want to frighten your puppy!) pick him and move him to the paper. Let him sniff around and go. If he moves off the paper, gently and quietly move him back. When he does go - praise, praise, praise! This is a good time for one of those small puppy treats. Once he's got this down start moving the paper closer and closer to the door you intend to let him out when he is trained. When you've got the paper right at the door put another one outside. Start taking him out to the outdoor paper until you no longer need one in the house. Once you've got him going outside you can remove the paper out there as well and there you have it! A house trained puppy!

The disadvantages to this method can be avoided. This method may take a while since you are gradually getting him to go outside. The longer it takes to get your puppy outside the more used to going in the house he will become. Avoid these pitfalls by being diligent in your training. Ideally this method should take about a week. Some puppies are faster at picking this up and some are a bit slower. Know your puppy and work with him and keep in mind that accidents do happen. Do not scold your puppy too severely or it will hinder the learning process and just create a dog that is afraid of you. If this is your first puppy remember that you are being trained just as much as your puppy is - don't take your frustrations out on him! This is just a small part of your dog's life but will lead to a long and trusting friendship if it's handled with love and care.