House Training Your Doggie
I don't like using the terminology 'housebreaking' your dog.
'House training' your dog sounds better to me.
Why? What a dog does is natural.
Although where they may do it may sometimes seem unnatural to you.
I don't want to break them, I would rather train them.
If you want to have your dog live indoors with you it is imperative that you establish a hygienic household.
Not just because of the smell for when visitors stop by, but because of the actual health problems both you and your animal will experience, which will prove to be medically expensive down the road.
Another aspect of house training is that you are the 'top dog' of the house and by establishing routines and rules you will encourage the natural instincts of your dog to follow the leader.
There are several methods of house training.
Crate Training.
Litter Box Training.
Paper Training.
Command Training.
Puppy Training Pads.
We will give you the basic method of Crate Training, but here is a basic synopsis of the others.
Litter Box Training We associate the litter box with cats.
Yet this same system can be used for training your dog.
Most kitty litter boxes are small so this system generally works best with smaller dogs.
Although you can purchase a larger container and fill it with kitty litter for bigger dogs also.
You can also place this outdoors and train your dog to go there in order to eliminate backyard cleanups.
The pros to this method of training is that it becomes very easy to the dog to understand where to eliminate.
And if you keep the dog in the house and are away for a longer time than usual you will not have an unnecessary surprise when you return home.
The cons to this method is that while cats cover up their waste in the litter box, its proven very hard to train your dog to do the same.
So even if your kitty litter has deodorant in it, the smell of doggie doo quickly overwhelms it and will have to be cleaned very quickly.
Dogs who have been previously trained to relieve themselves outdoors are generally hard to re-train to go indoors in the kitty litter box.
Paper Training Paper training offers a solution for those who want to train their doggie to understand that there is a specific place to do their business rather just than on any other floor in the house.
Paper training generally works best with new puppies and small dogs.
The pros are that a puppy can be easily trained to relieve themselves on a particular type of surface, in this case, paper, Another that it is very easy and inexpensive to train your dog to relieve themselves wherever you may be with them.
Paper can be set up almost anywhere and disposed of easily.
The cons are, the odor, if not cleaned up immediately.
If indoors, you would also need some heavy plastic or other hard surface underneath the paper so that the area can be easily cleaned.
And also the mess can be innocently tracked around the house.
Once your puppy has been paper trained, it can be hard to train them to just go anywhere.
They identify going on the paper with your approval.
Another thing is to make sure that you do not have any newspapers just laying around, if you do, the poo is on you, not your dog.
Puppy Training Pads Puppy training pads are basically the same as paper training but are much more effective at absorbing liquids and controlling odors than your everyday newspaper.
They are available in several sizes.
Basically they are a giant diaper on the floor.
One unique thing about them is they use a chemical scent to encourage your doggie to use the pad which is generally placed in the bathroom.
- pretty much the same pros and cons as regular paper, just add the extra expense.
On Command While not as difficult as it sounds, the trick is that you have to be aware of the needs of your dog and be ready to offer positive re-enforcement with words and treats when this is accomplished.
This type of training should only be done after regular indoor and or outdoor training has been accomplished.
Crate Training Even as puppies, dogs really dislike relieving themselves within their sleeping area.
When doing crate training, it is important to have a big enough crate for the size of your puppy and never,never use crate training as a jail or punishment for your dog.
The crate should be big enough for your dog to comfortably move around in, a place where your puppy can play, as well as a place to sleep in.
When you are around, unless they are sleeping, your puppy generally should not be confined to the crate for more than a couple of hours.
The general concept of this type of training is that you never leave your puppy in the crate longer than they can hold themselves.
In the case of a 3 month old, that would be about three hours.
That is when you should take and train your puppy to do their business in a designated location.
If you have an outdoors method of house training, reinforce the routine by always leaving through the same door and if possible, at the same times each day.
This will establish their routine as they get older and no longer need the crate.
Generalities It is best to start house training your puppy when they are between 8 and 12 weeks of age.
Although some vets recommend starting as early as 5 weeks old.
Remember that whatever type of training method you use, like the old saying about death and taxes, your doggie will always have an 'accident'.
Get over it and accept it right now.
Puppies have small bladders and are unable to control themselves, so try to make as little fuss as possible.
The more aware and responsive to your doggies patterns, the less accidents will happen.
Generally they will try to relieve themselves in an out of the way place, like behind the plant in the corner, but if you see your puppy sniff around the floor and start circling around, this could be a clue that it is time for them to 'go'.
If you can catch them in time tell them "no" in a voice of authority, then take them to the proper place, and after they go, praise and reward them.
Many vets suggest not letting your dog watch you clean up their mess after they go in the wrong place.
Some dogs apparently enjoy this, and will leave you another 'gift' as soon as possible.
It's OK though to let them watch you clean up after they relieve themselves in the proper place.
To make it less likely that your puppy will have an accident in the same spot, make sure to disinfect the area enough to remove any odor.
Stick to one training method at a time.
Above all have patience.
'House training' your dog sounds better to me.
Why? What a dog does is natural.
Although where they may do it may sometimes seem unnatural to you.
I don't want to break them, I would rather train them.
If you want to have your dog live indoors with you it is imperative that you establish a hygienic household.
Not just because of the smell for when visitors stop by, but because of the actual health problems both you and your animal will experience, which will prove to be medically expensive down the road.
Another aspect of house training is that you are the 'top dog' of the house and by establishing routines and rules you will encourage the natural instincts of your dog to follow the leader.
There are several methods of house training.
Crate Training.
Litter Box Training.
Paper Training.
Command Training.
Puppy Training Pads.
We will give you the basic method of Crate Training, but here is a basic synopsis of the others.
Litter Box Training We associate the litter box with cats.
Yet this same system can be used for training your dog.
Most kitty litter boxes are small so this system generally works best with smaller dogs.
Although you can purchase a larger container and fill it with kitty litter for bigger dogs also.
You can also place this outdoors and train your dog to go there in order to eliminate backyard cleanups.
The pros to this method of training is that it becomes very easy to the dog to understand where to eliminate.
And if you keep the dog in the house and are away for a longer time than usual you will not have an unnecessary surprise when you return home.
The cons to this method is that while cats cover up their waste in the litter box, its proven very hard to train your dog to do the same.
So even if your kitty litter has deodorant in it, the smell of doggie doo quickly overwhelms it and will have to be cleaned very quickly.
Dogs who have been previously trained to relieve themselves outdoors are generally hard to re-train to go indoors in the kitty litter box.
Paper Training Paper training offers a solution for those who want to train their doggie to understand that there is a specific place to do their business rather just than on any other floor in the house.
Paper training generally works best with new puppies and small dogs.
The pros are that a puppy can be easily trained to relieve themselves on a particular type of surface, in this case, paper, Another that it is very easy and inexpensive to train your dog to relieve themselves wherever you may be with them.
Paper can be set up almost anywhere and disposed of easily.
The cons are, the odor, if not cleaned up immediately.
If indoors, you would also need some heavy plastic or other hard surface underneath the paper so that the area can be easily cleaned.
And also the mess can be innocently tracked around the house.
Once your puppy has been paper trained, it can be hard to train them to just go anywhere.
They identify going on the paper with your approval.
Another thing is to make sure that you do not have any newspapers just laying around, if you do, the poo is on you, not your dog.
Puppy Training Pads Puppy training pads are basically the same as paper training but are much more effective at absorbing liquids and controlling odors than your everyday newspaper.
They are available in several sizes.
Basically they are a giant diaper on the floor.
One unique thing about them is they use a chemical scent to encourage your doggie to use the pad which is generally placed in the bathroom.
- pretty much the same pros and cons as regular paper, just add the extra expense.
On Command While not as difficult as it sounds, the trick is that you have to be aware of the needs of your dog and be ready to offer positive re-enforcement with words and treats when this is accomplished.
This type of training should only be done after regular indoor and or outdoor training has been accomplished.
Crate Training Even as puppies, dogs really dislike relieving themselves within their sleeping area.
When doing crate training, it is important to have a big enough crate for the size of your puppy and never,never use crate training as a jail or punishment for your dog.
The crate should be big enough for your dog to comfortably move around in, a place where your puppy can play, as well as a place to sleep in.
When you are around, unless they are sleeping, your puppy generally should not be confined to the crate for more than a couple of hours.
The general concept of this type of training is that you never leave your puppy in the crate longer than they can hold themselves.
In the case of a 3 month old, that would be about three hours.
That is when you should take and train your puppy to do their business in a designated location.
If you have an outdoors method of house training, reinforce the routine by always leaving through the same door and if possible, at the same times each day.
This will establish their routine as they get older and no longer need the crate.
Generalities It is best to start house training your puppy when they are between 8 and 12 weeks of age.
Although some vets recommend starting as early as 5 weeks old.
Remember that whatever type of training method you use, like the old saying about death and taxes, your doggie will always have an 'accident'.
Get over it and accept it right now.
Puppies have small bladders and are unable to control themselves, so try to make as little fuss as possible.
The more aware and responsive to your doggies patterns, the less accidents will happen.
Generally they will try to relieve themselves in an out of the way place, like behind the plant in the corner, but if you see your puppy sniff around the floor and start circling around, this could be a clue that it is time for them to 'go'.
If you can catch them in time tell them "no" in a voice of authority, then take them to the proper place, and after they go, praise and reward them.
Many vets suggest not letting your dog watch you clean up their mess after they go in the wrong place.
Some dogs apparently enjoy this, and will leave you another 'gift' as soon as possible.
It's OK though to let them watch you clean up after they relieve themselves in the proper place.
To make it less likely that your puppy will have an accident in the same spot, make sure to disinfect the area enough to remove any odor.
Stick to one training method at a time.
Above all have patience.
Source...