Housebreaking a Puppy

There are several key points to keep in mind when embarking on housebreaking a puppy. If you cannot catch the puppy in the act do not punish them. When you do scold them have it be firm so they get the message but you do not want your puppy to become fearful of you. Make sure that you offer lots of praise them when they get it right. Your puppy will make mistakes which is just part of the learning process. So have patience, be clear, consistent, firm but loving in your message. The puppy housebreaking process will be much more successful if it’s not turned into a troubling, fearful experience for your new puppy.

There are several methods used when housebreaking a puppy. I prefer using the crate for several reasons. One if crate training is done correctly your puppy will associated the crate as his den, a place for him to rest and feel safe. You can now have the crate be a place where he can sleep peacefully throughout the night and where he can stay and not get into any trouble when you’re not home. Secondly crate training puppies teaches the puppy that they can hold it and that they need to hold it until they go outside and that only outside is the place to go. I feel this method is less stressful for the puppy, helps the puppy to get it quickly and prevents accidents for even happening.

Here are the basics when using this method for puppy housebreaking. When your puppy awakes in the morning take them straight outside put them down in the same spot each time and say the same command such as” go potty” and when they go praise them. It will not be long before the puppy makes the association as to where he is suppose to go.

When your puppy is outside the crate watch them closely so if it looks like they are looking for a place to go you can get them outside to their spot to go. Also after the puppy has eaten, been playing for a while it’s a good idea to take them out even before they show you they have to go.

A word about crates. Be sure that you have the correct size space. I would buy a crate that is big enough that your puppy can grow into it and use it as an adult dog. The crate should have a divider so that you can section of space as needed. Puppies do not like to mess in their house and if the space is too big the puppy will learn to go in one area and occupy the other. They will not learn as quickly to hold it or make that association to go potty outside.

Above all be kind and gentle with the housebreaking a puppy process. Be firm to let them understand what you don’t want and exuberant with praise when they make progress. Puppies have their own individual rate of learning so be cognizant that they are doing the best that the can. What they all have in common is the desire to please you, so help them through the puppy housebreaking phase and find lots of opportunities to tell them good job!!

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