Tips for Toilet Training your Dog
The hardest part of getting a new dog is training it to be housebroken. When I say housebroken, I mean training your dog to go outside to pee (or poop) and not using your house as a toilet! Some people may think that getting a new puppy housebroken is a hard thing to do, but it’s really not if you go about these steps below. Make sure you read through this thoroughly and have done plenty of research and you will be well on your way to getting your new dog housebroken fast.
Intro to House Training
You can train your dog at any age; however the best time to train is when they are around twelve weeks old. Make sure you implement a routine as soon as you bring your new dog home, if not he will do his “business” wherever he pleases. Using a crate would be a great idea when toilet training a new dog. It keeps them confined to a small area and they will quickly learn if they use the bathroom in their crate they will have to deal with the smell and sit in their own mess. Like many other animals, most dogs do not enjoy lying in their own waste!
Use a Crate
Make sure you get a large crate so there is plenty of room for your puppy to move around in. He should be able to turn around in it, but at the same time, he shouldn’t be able to use the restroom and lie down far away from it. You also want to make sure his crate is a “happy” place and make sure he is comfortable in it. Some people see crates as being like a prison for dogs, but as long as your dog is comfortable it will like having its own personnel space. You could even add some toys in his crate to make it even more fun.
Stay on Schedule
Set up a schedule for eating, play time, and sleeping.
This will make toilet training a lot easier. Puppies are a lot like children, they get along best with a set routine. A good routine would be taking your puppy outside first thing in the morning and then every two or three hours throughout the day. You want to make sure to verbally encourage and praise him whenever he does his “business”, some petting or even a treat would be good too!
Keep a Close Eye
Make sure to keep a close eye on your new puppy when getting him housetrained. If you see him sniffing around or about to squat, pick him up and take him outside or wherever you want him to use the bathroom. When he does go, always use verbal praise and encourage him. You want him to know where he should be doing his “business”. It may take a few times of doing this, but eventually he will figure out where it is he is supposed to go whenever it’s time pee.
Don’t Let Him Roam!
This goes back to keeping a close eye on your puppy. You don’t want to let him roam around your house; this is a guaranteed way to have an accident. For the first few weeks you should always be keeping a very close eye on your new pup and making sure he stays out of trouble and doesn’t pee or poop wherever he wants…like under your bed! Make sure he is under constant supervision.
Don’t get frustrated
Sometimes toilet training a new dog can be frustrating and you will feel like your dog is just not picking it up. He may be having accidents every day, but there is no reason to get frustrated. If you stick to these steps it won’t take long to get your dog housebroken. Stay on your routine, keep a close eye on him, and make frequent trips out to the yard and it shouldn’t take long at all. Good luck!
For more info about training your puppy visit http://www.talkmeow.com. There you can also find more tips on dogs and other pets.
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