The key to house-training your puppy is to be consistent, patient and practice positive reinforcement. Your goal should be to introduce good habits and create a loving bond with your dog. While you are training your puppy, don’t fret when there are setbacks. If you continue taking the puppy outside at the first signal that he needs to go and rewarding him when he does, he will learn.
The right time to start house training your puppy is when he is 12 to 16 weeks of age. At this age, he will have enough control of his bladder and bowel movements to grow accustomed to holding it. If the dog is older than this when you start potty training, it may take longer for you to train him. Your dog’s behavior will need to be reshaped by encouraging and rewarding him.
Creating a Routine
It is best to keep the puppy confined to a small space until he is house-trained. Next, it is important to keep your puppy on a regular feeding schedule. Between 5 and 30 minutes after the dog eats, he will want to defecate. This means that if you watch your clock, you can create the right potty schedule for your puppy. Avoid feeding him between meals until he is house-trained.
To begin with, take your puppy outside first thing in the morning and then once every 30 minutes to an hour after that. Take him out after he wakes up from a nap and last thing at night. Dog experts recommend taking your puppy to the same general area to potty each time. This helps create a habit as he recognizes his smell and familiar surroundings. When you take him outside, avoid conversation as this may distract him from the business at hand. After your puppy relieves himself outside, be sure to praise him or reward him with a treat.
Look for signs that it is time to take the puppy outside such as whining, circling, sniffing or barking. If he is not confined, look for him to scratch at the door.
Using a Crate to House-train
Another way to house-train your puppy is by using a crate. This will allow you to watch him for signs that he needs to go, while teaching him to wait until you open up the crate and let him out. All dogs are naturally conditioned not to use their den for a restroom.
Make sure the crate is big enough for the puppy. He should be able to stand up, turn around and lie down. If you leave your puppy in the crate more than 2 hours at a time, make sure the puppy has fresh water in the crate. If the puppy is using the crate to go to the bathroom, don’t use the crate. This may mean that he has picked up some bad habits from the last place he lived, or he may not be getting outside enough. It could also mean that the crate is too big.
When Accidents Happen
It is inevitable that your puppy will have accidents. Experts say that punishing your puppy for having them is not something you should do. This is because you don’t want to create any negative association with his bodily functions.
If you catch your puppy using the bathroom in the house, clap loudly to show that he has done something wrong and then immediately take him outside. If he has already made a mess inside, don’t yell at him or rub his nose in it. This is because the puppy is too small to make the mental association between your anger and his accident. Be sure to clean up the puppy’s accident with an enzymatic cleaner, so that the puppy won’t be attracted to the same spot to do his business next time.