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Tips for Successful Housetraining
Housetraining involves teaching dogs to reliably eliminate outdoors
and to not have an accident indoors. Young puppies naturally avoid eliminating around
the areas where they sleep, eat and play. You can capitalize on this tendency when you
train them to eliminate in outdoor areas. Here are a few easy guidelines to follow: |
Multiple and Frequent trips: Puppy bladders are very small and young dogs have a
limited ability to control their elimination habits. Puppies between 7 and 12 weeks
of age should be taken outside every 20 to 30 minutes during periods of activity. In
addition, always take your puppy outside immediately after waking up in the morning or
after a nap, after meals, after all playing or training sessions, and right before you
put him to bed for the evening.
Consistency: Each time that you take your puppy outside for elimination, use the same
door and take him to the same general outdoor area. Many owners introduce a phrase such
as “Do you want to go out?” immediately before taking their puppy outside to eliminate.
Always use the same words and tone for indicating that you are going outside for elimination
and select another phrase for going outside for fun activities such as walking or trips to the park.
Reward Results: Accompany your puppy outside so that you can be sure that he eliminates.
As he begins to sniff and circle or starts to urinate, introduce a cue command such as “go potty” or
“hurry up”. Eventually this command can be used to encourage your puppy to eliminate when you are traveling
or in a rush. Stay with your puppy and praise quietly as he eliminates. (Note of caution: Keep your praise
moderate – too much enthusiasm may interrupt him!).
Supervision, supervision, supervision: Puppies are curious and love to explore.
However, unsupervised exploring leads to chewing on interesting objects and eliminating in different
rooms of the house. The best way to avoid accidents is to keep your puppy in the same room with you.
A crate or small puppy-proofed room can safely confine your puppy when you cannot closely supervise him.
As your puppy matures and becomes more reliable in his elimination (and chewing!) habits, you can gradually
increase his freedom.
Never Punish Housetraining Mistakes
If your puppy is well supervised and taken outside frequently, house soiling
accidents should be rare. However, if you do find an accident or observe your
puppy eliminating inside, never punish or reprimand him in any way. Although
many owners believe punishment is helpful in housetraining, it can actually
hinder progress! This is because puppies do not generally associate the presence
of feces or urine with the act of eliminating. Punishing dogs for accidents causes
them to associate the punishment with the location and with the owner, but does
not affect future elimination habits.
If you witness your puppy eliminating in the house, quietly interrupt him and
carry him outside to finish. (Do not use a correction or say “no” because you will
only teach your dog to avoid eliminating in your presence, inside or outside)! Clean
the spot thoroughly with a biological cleaner designed for pet waste and make a note
to intensify your supervision techniques.
Have Realistic Housetraining Expectations Remember: Puppies less than
12 to 14 weeks have limited control over elimination and your home is a new environment where the rules are
not yet clear! As your puppy grows and gains control of his elimination habits, you can begin to rely more
on his signals and on your knowledge of his elimination schedule to dictate when you will take him outside.
Still, always err on the side of good judgment, taking him outside more frequently than needed, rather than
not often enough. Once housetraining is complete, young dogs and adults should still be provided with multiple
opportunities per day to go outside for elimination. |
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