subject: House Training Dogs - Ways To House Train Your Dog [print this page] When it comes to house training dogs half the battle is in anticipation. Your role is to anticipate them needing to 'go' and ensure they are not in the house when they do need it. This is a little different to the usual plan of waiting for an accident to happen and then telling them off - your dog will react much better to positive reinforcement than negative.
Create A Schedule
The first thing you should do is create a schedule for taking your dog out. This allows them to get used to when they can rely on being able to go, when they will be in a place that they can relieve themselves. This lets your dog get into the habit and train it's own bladder.
Try to take them out first thing in the morning and last thing at night to ensure they don't urinate during the night. Also give them a command that they get used to - this is the command that you will teach it to recognise that they can go. So when you are outside say 'go no' or 'go on' and they will understand it is ok to relieve themselves.
Accidents Will Happen
Understand that when house training dogs accidents will happen. With puppies they can even surprise themselves by going without realising it - so don't expect a lot of advance warning.
Keep an eye on them, a dog will naturally circle around sniffing the ground before he or she relieves themselves. This should be a warning sign for you to take them outside to go, allowing them to understand that inside is not the place for it.
If you miss the accident happening never tell the dog off. Dogs will only understand something they are doing wrong when they are doing it - they won't otherwise understand what it is that you are telling them off for.
House Training Dogs - Ways To House Train Your Dog
