Training a puppy is probably the number one reason people don’t become dog owners. There is no doubt that this is the hardest part of having a puppy, but if the process is started right away and taken seriously, your puppy will be house trained in no time.
kennel training
First of all, buy a kennel. This is just as important as the toys, the leash, and the food bowl. Kennel training is the easiest and most effective way to housebreak your puppy. Not to mention, it will save you hundreds on cleaning bills and damage to her personal property. Forget everything you’ve heard that locking up a puppy is cruel. By providing a kennel for your pup, you are actually catering to her natural instinct as a den animal. Depending on the breed of your puppy, choose a kennel that can accommodate the puppy as an adult dog. You’d be surprised how much your adult dog will use his kennel as a place of refuge or just a place to hang out in the future. Whatever you do, don’t use the kennel as a place to punish your pup. Make the kennel a fun and safe place your pup will want to be.
Start the process immediately
After picking up your cute ball of fluff at the breeder, make the first stop in the backyard or outside area where you plan to take your pup to relieve himself each day. Make him familiar with a place. Dogs are creatures of habit that crave a schedule and familiarity.
Create a schedule that the whole family will follow for how to care for your puppy. When everyone is on the same page, it will be easy to housebreak your puppy. Puppies on average eat three times a day and sleep around 18 hours a day. After each meal, take him to his place and accompany him. http://www.dogbreedadvice.com/ Yes, even when it’s below freezing and snowing. Keep this in mind when deciding what time of year to bring your puppy home. You want to make sure he takes his trips abroad seriously. You will eventually be able to open the door and let him out, but not at first.
Newspaper training is a waste of time when training a puppy. You’re just doing more work for yourself. You will end up training your pup twice, and time is of the essence in the housebreaking process. You can never take too much out of your pup. They should go out first thing in the morning and just before going to bed. If you’re used to staying out until 3 am and sleeping until 10, then you may not be ready to have a puppy.
Now back to the kennel. As I mentioned before, puppies sleep a lot! So, after a meal, a trip outside to relieve himself, and some time to play, put him in his kennel. Repeat this and it will become a habit. Start by leaving your puppy in the crate for short periods of time when you are home. Gradually lengthen the stay and take him outside after each time. Dogs generally do not dirty where they sleep. If the home invasion process is done correctly, there will be minimal accidents. Don’t let a puppy run free when you’re not home. You’re just asking for a mess.
bedtime
Just before you go to bed, put on your slippers and go outside with your pup one last time. When you return, give your puppy a treat and put him in his crate for the night. All night! Don’t give in to the sad cries of a sick puppy at home who would rather curl up under your down comforter. Before you invite your pup into your bed, remember, cute 10lb pups turned into 80lb adults! To alleviate loneliness you can put a radio near the kennel or leave it on in a night light. After a night or two, when your puppy realizes that crying is getting him nowhere, he will stop. It is very important to stay consistent in this house breaking process or it just won’t work. There is no such thing as a partially house trained dog. Either they get it or they don’t. http://www.dogbreedadvice.com/
Praise, praise, praise
Last but not least, dogs crave praise. After each trip outdoors, make a big deal. Scratch under his chin and give him a treat. Don’t scold your pup for accidents unless you catch him in the act. Puppy’s memory capacity is small. He will have no idea why he is being punished after the fact. If you catch him in the act, grab him by the back of the neck, like his mom would in the studio, and say NO! firm. Then immediately clean the area with an odor-eliminating cleaner.
So that’s all in a nutshell. Puppy training sounds a lot harder than it is. With a little patience and a kennel, you’ll be well on your way to puppy training success.
