One of the great joys of life is bringing home a new puppy and watching the looks of delight on your children’s faces. The reality of pet ownership, however, is that it requires a lot of hard work and consistency, particularly in terms of training him to go to the bathroom outside. Keep these tips in mind as you housetrain your puppy.
1. Watch your puppy for signs of fidgeting, indicating he has to go outside. Try to intercept him before he starts to get into position to go to the bathroom so he can get used to going out the door before he eliminates. Try to get him into the habit of standing by the back door when he needs to go out so you realize it before he has an accident inside the house.
2. Be sure to go outside often with your new puppy, even late at night. You may find this difficult, but he hasn’t yet conditioned his bladder and bowels to be able to hold them throughout the night. Keep in mind that this need will lessen as time goes on. Wean him gradually from having to go out so often and he will become accustomed to waiting until the morning to eliminate.
3. Designate a certain area of your backyard as your puppy’s bathroom, and take him to that spot each time you go out with him. This will accustom him to eliminating in that spot only, so that all his waste is kept there. Since you’ll be the one mowing the lawn, this practice will help you as you take care of the yard once summer comes.
4. Every time your puppy goes to the bathroom outside, reward him with a dog treat. Studies suggest that positive reinforcement is a more powerful tool in training your dog to go to the bathroom outside. Hitting and yelling at your dog, or other such negative methods, actually make matters worse, since your dog will only become confused and frightened.
5. Buy an appropriate size puppy crate for him to sleep in at night, because he will not soil his sleeping area. Most dogs also tend to be soothed by being in an enclosed area, and the routine of going to that spot will indicate to him that it is time for bed. If you decide to let him sleep somewhere else eventually, such as in your room, wait until he has been properly crate-trained first.
Setting up routines that your puppy will be able to adapt to is key in terms of housebreaking. Over time, he’ll learn the boundaries and that there are house rules he must abide by. Although training can be tiring for you, once it’s complete, you’ll be pleased with the results. Your puppy will be used to getting through the night without going out to use the bathroom, and your home will be cleaner and fresher.
Ruth Williams is a journalist who writes for newspapers, magazines, and online education websites. Her interests include scholarships for adult learners and online colleges offering graduate degrees.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
