subject: Best Methods For Housebreaking A Puppy [print this page] Many new dog owners underestimate or are not prepared adequately for housebreaking a puppy. Though dogs can quickly become an integral member of the household, ensuring that they are well trained should be a priority. It is important to start the process of housebreaking as soon as you bring your pet home. To minimize the effort and stress take a moment to consider the following advice.
There are always different options and opinions when it comes to training a puppy. It is worth noting that the approach will differ depending upon the breed, some species are known for their stubbornness, such as red setters, while others are able to grasp concepts very quickly, for example a boxer dog. As a general rule, the larger dogs are usually thought of as easier to train then smaller breeds.
Without training, no puppy will be aware that they are not supposed to defecate and urinate indoors. Those dogs under the age of twelve weeks will also have greater difficulty in controlling their bladder and bowels. For this reason it is vital that the training you give starts immediately and is also consistent. If you let your puppy get away with dirtying your carpets a single time, future training would be much harder.
There is every chance that at first they will try to go the toilet indoors. If you catch them in the act you should make your displeasure known, but never raise your voice at other times as they will not understand why you are shouting. It would be useful to have a puppy litter tray they can use until they are big enough to go outdoors unaccompanied. If you find them trying to use the carpet as a bathroom, pick them up and place them in the litter tray. Over time they will come to learn the correct procedure to do their business.
As much as you should make your displeasure felt you should also praise your puppy when they start using the litter tray without being told to. Over time you can slowly move the litter tray closer to the door and then eventually out into the garden. By doing this in incremental steps you will not leave your dog confused.
It is possible to learn your puppy's behaviour so that you are aware of when they want to go the toilet. Pacing, circling around and around, scratching the door, and excessive sniffing can all be signs that point to the call of nature. Take your puppy for walks as often as you can and encourage them to empty their bladder and bowels when outdoors.
