Housebreaking Tips

It's a daunting task, housebreaking your dog, specially if it's just a puppy that you have got. But it's necessary to teach them how to housebreak, and for this, time and patience, is most important. Would you like it if your dog, no matter how much you love him, dirties your new carpet or keeps dirtying your clean floor? Surely not. So here are some housebreaking tips for dogs and puppies.

Various Techniques

Start housebreaking puppies at an early age when they are 7 to 8 weeks old. There are certain tips and techniques which you have to follow in order to train your dogs. Before going into the details, let me just warn you, that you have to be strict with them. Being a dog lover myself I know that just by looking at their innocent puppy eyes, you will not have the heart to scold them, but it's for their own good. You wouldn't like to have a dog whom everyone refers to as 'disobedient'.

Take Them Outside
Since the puppies cannot express what they want, take them outside quite frequently, mainly after they have had their meals, and after they wake up from their sleep. Walk them around for at least 15 to 30 minutes, 6 to 8 times a day. Allow him or her to roam around freely when they are outside, but do keep them on leash. You do not want your dog to excrete on your neighbors lawn. Avoid areas where other dogs excrete, in order to prevent your dog from catching any kind if infection. There should be a consistent location so that the previous odor can be used to help the puppy or dog to urinate or defecate. Allow the dog or puppy to sniff around. Movement helps it to stimulate elimination. Do not allow the dog to play around unless and until he has done his business. While the dog is excreting, keep repeating phrases like "do your business","go potty" etc, so that the dog associates the phrase with that particular time and location.

Reward Them
As soon as your puppy or dog excretes, another tip you need to keep in mind is to reward him. Do that as soon as they excrete as once they go back home, they become engaged in other activities. With this the puppy will be able to link that if they excrete outside then you will either give him a biscuit or play with him for some more time and so on. You also have to be sure whether or not the dog or puppy has excreted outside, hence for this and the reward, you have to accompany him or her outside.

Indoor Supervision Required
Puppies usually can go on for just 2 to 4 hours without eliminating. Hence, you should always keep a track as to where the puppy is whenever they are inside the house. Tie a bell around their neck or keep them in puppy proof areas, such as in a crate or box. If you are away from home for a long time, you cannot expect the puppy to have full control over his/her bladder. Ask someone who can take the responsibility of taking out the puppy or provide the dogs or puppies with proper elimination location such as papers or pads, left inside their crates.

Feed and Water Properly
A strict feeding and watering routine helps a lot in housebreaking dogs and puppies. A full stomach means that the dog or puppy needs to eliminate quite frequently. But you cannot control the number of times the dog will drink water, just to reduce the number of times he/she urinates.

Be Strict and Punish Them
You have to be strict during your puppies and dogs training period. Whenever your dog or puppy excretes where she or he is not supposed to, punish them. Sounds difficult I know, but you have to do it. Sometimes, the owners try to punish the dog after they have excreted. But that is of no help. It will only instill a fear in the minds of the dog for their owner. What you have to do is, whenever you see your dog or puppy showing signs, i.e., either sniffing around in circles or squatting, stamp your feet hard or reprimand them and then take them outside or wherever they usually eliminate. These tips will take time and patience, but once your dog or puppy learns it, it really pays off.

Clean up the Soiled Areas
If your puppy accidentally soils a confined area, then clean it up immediately using antibacterial products. Do not let the odor remain, otherwise the dog as per his or her habit, will use the previous smell to excrete at the same place again.

All the above tips for puppies or dogs will not get you instant result. It needs lots of patience and time, especially if you are housebreaking an older dog. But if you stick to it, your dogs or puppies will be the best trained. So keep up the good work.