So You Have a New Puppy

So you went and did it. You just wanted to look at the puppies and had no intention of taking one home. Ah, my friend, puppies have a magical way of pulling you in to their world. That cute little pup melted your heart the moment you saw her. You picked her up and held her in your arms. Dark brown eyes eagerly met yours and her warm tongue left puppy kisses on your mouth. Her wagging tail made her tiny rear end dance with excitement. There was no way you were going to walk out of that pet store or kennel and leave your new friend behind.

You arrive home with your new puppy and the first thing she does is piddle on your carpet. Yep. That's what puppies do. Count to ten, bite your tongue and prepare to potty train your pet.

Housebreaking your puppy is a delicate matter for both of you. Stay calm, be patient and dedicated and you can have a happy and potty trained dog in no time at all. Really.

When your puppy leaves little surprises on your floor, she doesn't know it's wrong anymore than a baby does. Start by putting her on a lease and taking her to the area of the infraction. Tell her "no", but don't yell at her. No nose rubbing or scolding. She has no idea why you are yelling at her and rubbing her nose in it will do no good. Take a paper towel or bathroom tissue (I recommend the paper towel. It's stronger) and clean up the mess or puddle. Take paper and puppy outside and put the paper on the ground. Praise your pet at this point and let her know this is what you want. Dogs want to please their master as long as they know what makes you happy.

From this point on, you must create and stick to a schedule. You will need to take your puppy outside after every meal, waking up from naps and playtime. It's important to remember to be respectful of what they need if you want to earn their trust and respect. Dogs live in the moment, so if you have a breakdown, don't worry. Get back on schedule and stay calm and assertive. You are the pack leader.

If you have to leave your pup home alone, find an area where you can confine her safely. Never leave the animal tied up while you are gone. She could easily choke herself. Make sure to puppy proof the area you want to put your buddy in. Electrical cords of any kind could shock your pup if she should happen to chew through it. Puppies will chew on anything they find on or around the floor. Heavy objects on tables should be remove to prevent any possible topples on to the pup or the floor. Look out for sharp objects or anything that may be loose.

If you don't have an acceptable room or area in your home, you can use a crate. Make sure the crate is large enough for your puppy to move around a bit, but not too large. You want her to have room to lay down in with her favorite blanket or rug and a chew toy. Instead of placing a bowl of water inside the crate, use a bottle that you can attach to the side of the crate. This way, she can't spill water all over her bedding and toys. If you are going to be gone longer than 8 hours, you should make arrangements for a trusted friend or family member to check in on your pup to take her out. Place newspapers or piddle pads (you can buy these in most grocery stores, discount stores like Wal-Mart and pet stores) at one end of the crate to create an area where she can do her business. Clean up any messes as soon as you get home and take pup and cleanup outside. Praise your friend every time she goes outside.

It is your responsibility to pay attention to your dog when you are home. After all, you didn't bring her home just to be a paperweight. Right? Getting to know your dog's potty routine will eliminate mistakes and keep peace in the family. By staying calm and not punishing your dog when and if she has an accident, you will be creating a respectful relationship that will serve you later when you want to teach her sit, stay and rollover.

That cute little puppy has feelings just like you. She will see you as the pack leader and respect, love and protect you when she's been treated with calm assertive discipline and lots of affection.

Sources:

Robin Kovary, Housebreaking, American Dog Trainers Network

Race Foster,DVM, Housetraining, Doctors Foster and Smith

George Jones, House Training Your Puppy, Bark Bytes, Inc.