training
Puppy House Training 101 Sally Bradbury discusses house training a puppy, highlighting the importance of clear and consistent messaging to set up pups for optimal success
H
ouse training is all about creating good habits. Young pups have very small bladders and very little bladder control, so they need to be in the right place when nature calls. To house train success fully in as short a time as possible you must take your puppy outside as follows: • When he wakes. • After eating. • After taking a drink. • Before, during and after a period of activity. • When you arrive home. • Before you go out. • Before bedtime. • During breaks in TV shows. • And every 20 to 30 minutes in between unless he is asleep. During periods of activity, change that to every 10 to 20 minutes.
house, it is because you haven’t house trained him yet and didn’t take him outside when he needed to go. When this happens, take a rolled up newspaper and hit yourself over the head while repeating the words, “I forgot to watch my puppy. I forgot to watch my puppy.” Just kidding! But if your puppy laughs at you when you do this – praise him.
Avoiding Errors
Common mistakes made during house training include: • Using newspaper or puppy training pads. While these may aid the clearing up process, it can be very confusing for the pup who is taught or permitted to eliminate in the house to make the transition to going outside. This will often result in a pup that, when playing in the yard, will simply hold on until he is back in doors because that’s where the bathroom is. • Leaving the door open. This does nothing to teach the pup to eliminate outside only. • Reprimands for eliminating in Learning the house risk the result of a dog Once you’re outside, stay there with your pup. Don’t nag or who believes you disapprove of distract him. Just mooch about and he what he did, not **where ** he did will do the same. Eventually he’ll it, and are damaging to your relationship eliminate. Quiet praise is sufficient. with your pup. Once pup has • Giving treats for eliminating in the eliminated you garden. Again, the dog is being re can either stay warded for what he did, not where he out and play or did it. While this is not going to be as big a go back in problem as any kind of reprimand, a smart doors. If dog may learn to do lots of little pees and you stay never fully empty his bladder. outside for The insecure dog, mean a game, while, may urinate indoors then he will often to appease you if you get need to go again be © Can Stock Photo / WitthayaP cross about something else, fore you go back inside, because he knows this is so stop the game Creating good habits and sticking to them is essential in the successful house training of a puppy something he gets rewarded and this includes taking him outside when he has just woken up and stay out for a for. Note: Using both repri‐ while longer to give mands and rewards is very confusing for your pup. him the chance to go again. • Expecting your pup to tell you when he needs to go out. Once a If puppy doesn't eliminate outside when you’ve been there for a pup understands that outside is where the bathroom is, he may few minutes, take him back in and sit him on your lap or tuck him under start to let you know he needs to go out. However, if you are not your arm (small breeds only) as you go about your chores, then try there to ask or you fail to notice him asking, then the house again in five minutes. It’s imperative that you do this, especially if you training will break down. It is far better to have a dog go outside have started off with newspaper or puppy pads on the floor, because to the bathroom on your schedule once he is house trained. the puppy may prefer to urinate indoors and could simply be waiting to • Giving your pup an ensuite in his crate (if you use one). Do not be taken back in. encourage your pup to eliminate in his crate by putting in puppy Give the puppy zero opportunity to go wrong. If he eliminates in the pads. If you have to leave puppy for a while and he is likely to need to go to the bathroom, then, in my opinion, it’s best to Give the puppy zero opportunity to go wrong. If have the crate inside a larger pen or blockedoff area and leave he eliminates in the house, it is because you the crate door open, so he can get away from his bed to elimi nate. haven’t house trained him yet and didn’t take General Note: Areas indoors where pup has had an accident are best him outside when he needed to go. cleaned with a dilute solution of biological washing powder. Avoid using
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BARKS from the Guild/November 2020
