Housebreaking Tips and Hints for New Puppy Owners
Housebreaking can drive you crazy. Thankfully, there is hope. Read on.
Successful housebreaking can be boiled down to one word: Routine. Puppy's rely on routines. It helps them adjust to being part of a new "pack". If the same thing happens at the same time everyday, he won't get anxious wondering what's coming up next.
So here's the basic formula.
Be Patient.
He's a baby. The general rule is that your puppy should be able to 'hold it' all night when he's around 12 weeks old. I know of owners whose little angles were housebroken at 8 weeks and never had another accident. My own little dogs took well over 6 months to completely housebreak. And they still have occasional accidents.
Larger breeds seem to housebreak more easily than toy breeds. There are exceptions in every breed and size of dog. Just remember that every case is different. Don't compare your puppy's progress to that of your neighbor's puppy. Be patient. Keep trying.
Be Consistent.
Go out the same door every time. Say the same phrase every time your puppy goes out or goes potty. Leash him up and take him to the same spot in the yard every time he needs to 'go'. Make sure your puppy's weekend routine mimics his weekday routine.
Who walks the puppy? It needs to be the same person every time during the housebreaking phase. Feed your puppy in the same place at the same time every day. Routines make your puppy calm and happy. Routines also help to minimize accidents.
Have A Plan / Work The Plan
Are you crate training? Paper training? Where will your puppy stay while you're gone? What will you do if he has an accident? Have a plan.
Is everyone on board? Does everyone know the plan? They'd better. Total family cooperation cuts down on accidents. Fewer accidents means more success and a shorter housebreaking period. Work the plan.
So you've got a plan. How do you know when your puppy needs to "go"? Here are the biggies:
*First thing in the morning.
*After drinking and/or eating.
*After a nap.
*After, or sometimes in the middle of, enthusiastic play times.
*After confinement for any length of time.
*Last thing before going to bed for the night.
So there you go. Housebreaking in a nutshell.
Keep checking in for more help, tips and hints on training your furry best friend.
Published by mom2gwyni
Adult. Human. Mom. Wife. Dog Trainer. Sleep-deprived! View profile
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- Housebreaking is easy once you know the basic formula.
- A consistent routine is crucial to successful housebreaking.