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How To Housetrain Your Puppy
Dogs are probably
the only animals in the world who love unconditionally,
with their whole heart and body and soul. There are
many stories of dogs saving the lives of their humans,
of warning people of danger or of seeming to know when
an owner is sick or in pain.
If you've decided to get a puppy, or
you've recently brought one home, congratulations! You
will have a loyal friend and companion who will enjoy
your company, never be too tired to go for a walk with
you, and who will always be on your side, no matter
what!
One note of caution though. A dog is
only as well-trained as he has been taught to be by
his owner. It is important that your puppy understands
as quickly as possible what is considered acceptable
behavior and what is not in your home.
You need to decide early if you will
allow your puppy to get on your furniture, where he
can sleep, and what he can chew on.
So housetraining your dog now, while
your dog is still a puppy is the best way to assure
that she/he is a welcome and happy member of your household.
The crate method is one of the fastest
and most humane methods of housetraining your puppy.
But, first, here are some do's and don'ts
for housetraining your puppy:
DO'S:
Do be assessable to your puppy. If you're going to be
gone for long periods of time during the training period,
then do not give the puppy full access to your house.
Put him in an area where you've prepared for accidents.
Do limit the amount of food and water
your puppy has throughout the day. (If it's hot outside,
make sure your puppy has enough water to drink, but
remember that what goes in, will come out!
Do praise your puppy every time he/she
does what you expect him/her to do. Your puppy wants
to please you, and he/she needs to learn what behaviors
create praise from you.
Do be consistent. You will only confuse
your puppy otherwise.
Do be realistic. Your puppy may not
be capable of being completely housetrained until he
is at least six months old.
DONT'S:
Don't reprimand your puppy when he has an accident.
It's going to happen, and if it does, it means that
you didn't get him outside in time. Just clean it up
and move on.
Don't use the crate as a means of locking
your puppy up for long periods of time, or as a punishment.
Don't let your puppy go to the bathroom
anywhere except his/her designated area while you are
training him/her.
Why the crate method works: Dogs are
naturally fastidious animals and they don't like to
eliminate where they sleep or eat. Therefore, if your
puppy sleeps in the crate, she/he will not use the crate
as a bathroom.
First things first:
Puppies need to urinate shortly after
they eat, drink, play, chew, run or walk. Depending
on the breed, size, temperament and age of your puppy,
this can be within 15 to 30 minutes.
1. Keep a record of the times your puppy
needs to go for a couple of days. This will help you
to learn his natural schedule, and make the training
process easier.
2. Plan your "walking" schedule
around your puppy's needs. From the time your puppy
is about 10 or 11 weeks to six months old, he/she should
be walked between 5 and 10 times a day. Once your puppy
is between six months and 11 months old, this will drop
to around 4 to 6 times a day. And when he/she is an
adult, walking your dog three to four times a day will
be sufficient.
3. Especially after your puppy has spent
the night in his/her crate, do not return from your
morning walk until he/she has eliminated. (If for some
reason you do have to return, put your puppy in his/her
crate, and then take him/her out every fifteen minutes
or so, until he/she goes.) Make sure you give your puppy
lots of praise and affection, once he/she has done what
you wanted.
What the crate means for your puppy:
A crate is your puppy's home away from
home, his/her sanctuary in times of stress and his "bedroom"
at night.
Make sure that your puppy associates
his/her crate with positive feelings. Put his/her favorite
blanket, chew toys and treats inside the crate. When
helping your puppy get used to the crate, leave the
door open until your puppy shows no sign of fear of
the crate.
The more comfortable your puppy is inside
the crate, the less likely he/she will be of soiling
it.
Never let your puppy out of the crate
for bad behavior such as barking, whining or scratching.
How To Get Started:
1. Establish a regular schedule of feeding and going
outdoors.
2. Put the puppy in the crate at night, but make sure
you take him/her out first thing in the morning and
don't go back in the house until the puppy has finished.
3. After the puppy has gone, bring him/her in, and let
him play for an hour or so. (Remember not to give your
puppy complete run of the house until he is completely
housetrained.)
4. Feed the puppy.
5. Using the chart you created, take the puppy outside
within 15 minutes of the time you know he/she is going
to need to go. Don't come back in until the puppy has
gone.
6. Bring the puppy in and let him/her play.
7. Put the puppy in his/her crate for a nap.
Repeat this schedule throughout the
day.
Yes, this is a lot of work. But the
method is effective, it works quickly, and your puppy
will soon become housebroken, and as he/she gets older,
your puppy will let you know when he/she needs to go.
In the meantime, you'll be able to have complete confidence
in your puppy!
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