Housebreaking a Puppy

Let's face it, puppies are a lot of work. It's almost like bringing home a new baby! They have so much to learn and you have so much to teach them. Of course, one of the first things you will need to teach your new puppy is where you want him to urinate and defaecate. Doing so will save your carpets and keep your house smelling much nicer and cleaner. It is not an easy job but there are some tips that can help you!

The first thing you will want to do is purchase a doggie crate. Some people think it is mean to put a dog in a "cage" but really, dogs like this. They are den animals and like to be in small spaces so actually a crate is comforting to them. The size you purchase depends on the size your dog will be. If you have a small puppy who will become a large dog, you will want to purchase a larger crate. You can purchase a crate divider to make it smaller for the puppy days. It is important that the crate is not too big. Dogs will not eliminate where they have to sleep but if their crate is very big, they will go in one corner and sleep in another corner.

Once you have the crate, you will want to make it comfortable for you puppy. A small dog bed or even some folded towels will work well. You want to train your puppy to go in the crate. You can use small dog treats. Toss one in and say, "Spot, crate" Use the dog's name and the name you are calling the crate. You can call it a cubby or a cage or even "home." Whatever you decide, be consistent. Praise the dog for going inside. Make it a happy place and your dog will be happy.

At first, you will want to leave your puppy in the crate for 10-15 minutes and gradually increase the time. You will want to make sure he is in the crate most of the time while you are trying to train him. Of course, there has to be time for eating, play and exercise but make sure when he is not being closely supervised, he is in the crate.

Take your puppy outside to eliminate as soon as you let him out of the crate. It helps to establish the routine so that he knows when he will be able to go outside to eliminate. Puppies are often so excited to see you when you come home that it is so important to get them right out or they may have accidents right away.

Taking your puppy to the same area that he has gone to before is also useful. You may find that you have several "spots" that your dog likes best and this is okay as long as it is not too many. Additionally, you will find that certain trees or posts will become more and more familiar to your puppy. This is good.

Make sure to establish good routines with your puppy. For example, you will want to walk him as soon as you are up in the morning, right after he eats, and at regular times during the day.. This routine will help your puppy's system to adjust. Be positive with your puppy and praise him when he does well. Similarly, a swat on the backside may be useful for accidents. You will want your puppy to know why he is being swatted, however, so make sure you take the puppy to the site of the accident, let him smell it and then swat him but do not do it hard. He will learn quickly and he wants to please you.

Puppy training is a lot of work and will take time but if you are consistent and use routines, it will happen much more easily. Take the time to train your puppy right now before problem behaviors become real nuisances. You will be glad you took the time early on!