How to Housebreak Your New Puppy

So you have a new puppy! You've got the right puppy food, the right veterinarian and have him set up in his new happy home. Does your new friend know where the bathroom is? A challenge that faces all new puppy owners is house breaking. Puppies don't come into this world knowing exactly where their masters expect them to go and it's your job to lovingly get them over this hurdle. Before your train your puppy you have to be trained yourself. Knowing how to handle your puppy to make their first real learning experience a successful one is key.

There are a few methods on house training and knowing which one suits you and your puppy is critical. Crate training is a method used for people who simply cannot devote their entire day to the puppy. Let's face facts - people work. You can still successfully train your puppy even if you can't be at his beck and call 24/7. The idea behind crate training is very simple. You'll want a crate (or dog cage) no larger then your puppy's bed because in short dogs will not generally defecate in their sleeping environment. Crate training uses a dog's instincts to your advantage. If your dog is a large breed and his puppy size is much smaller then his adult size you can purchase a crate large enough for him to grow into and a divider to make it small enough for now. A crate too large for you puppy will often result in him making his own 'bathroom area' in the crate on the opposite side of the cage from where he sleeps.

In the crate training method you put your puppy in his crate when you are not going to be home or when you cannot pay strict attention to him (such as cooking or doing homework with the kids). Be sure to set him off in the right direction by taking him out for a walk or letting him into the backyard - wherever he is supposed to go - right before putting him in his crate. You will want to take him immediately outside the moment you return. No food or water should be put in the crate with him because eating and drinking only leads to one thing! Avoid those expensive doggie beds and just go with a simple blanket for now. A safe chew toy can be placed in his crate to keep him occupied. While puppies as young as 8 weeks are capable of holding their urine for up to 8 hours it is not recommended to let your puppy go this long.

Crate training has a lot of advantages. Puppies who go through crate training have fewer mistakes later in life because they learn that when they feel the urge to go they don't necessarily have to go. When they learn how to hold it they are also learning self restraint and that will be very handy as he goes on through life. Crate training also provides you with a cleaner house. Your dog never learns to go in the house, as with the paper training method. Most veterinarian would probably recommend crate training as the easier and gentlest method of house training. However you go about it, house training is crucial. Find a method that works for you and your puppy and above all - stick with it. Your efforts will be rewarded with a long and happy relationship with your new friend.