Housetraining Your Puppy

 

1.     Feed your puppy at set times. Do not vary feeding times, even on weekends. The key to making this process successful is to have a routine.

2.     Feed one diet and do not vary it. Different food will affect the puppy in many ways – it may cause thirst, it may cause gastro-intestinal problems.

3.     Use good quality puppy food.

4.     Make sure that Puppy does not have loose stools – if he does, consult your veterinarian.

5.     Ensure that Puppy has been checked for worms.

6.     Take your puppy outside on a regular schedule and stay with him.  He needs to go out to relieve himself when he awakes, after he has eaten or had a drink, after he has played and when you see him sniffing or walking in a circle.

7.      When you take Puppy outside, go directly to the spot you want him to have as his toilet area and stand there. Give Puppy a command to eliminate. Give the pup only a few minutes to relieve himself – this is not playtime, walk time or training time.

8.     When Puppy eliminates, praise him exuberantly and bring him inside.

9.     If Puppy does not eliminate, bring him inside and try again in 5 or 10 minutes. DO NOT REACT IN A WAY THAT SHOWS DISPLEASURE. You need to crate your puppy or keep him in a small, enclosed area until you take him out again, and you do not want the pup to associate the crate with anything negative.

10. If you see your puppy having an accident, say, “STOP”. Pick him up, carry him outside to his toilet area, tell him the command to eliminate, and wait with him until he goes there. Then praise the puppy.

11. DO NOT REPRIMAND PUPPY IF YOU FIND THAT HE PREVIOUSLY HAD AN ACCIDENT. Take him to another area and clean it up. You don’t want Puppy to see you cleaning up because that places you in a subordinate role.

12. Keep a chart of exactly what the puppy does at what time, including accidents. You will have a column for food, water, urine and stool. Note the times and if your pup has had an accident, indicate that with an “A”. If you find excrement after the fact, indicate that with the letter “F”.

13. Clean accidents with a cleaner designed for urine odor or with white vinegar and water. Do not use an ammonia-based cleaner because urine contains ammonia and would therefore attract the pup to use that spot again.

14. Some puppies and some situations have a more difficult time   learning the concept of eliminating outside. Some examples are:        

      - winter puppies;

          - toy breeds;

- puppies who have been taught to use paper and at the same time, are being taught to eliminate outdoors;

15.   Once your puppy starts understanding the concept of going outdoors to eliminate, it would beneficial to teach the dog a  signal indicating that he needs to go outside. Some people teach their dogs to ring a small bell, for example.