Your next door neighbor is looking to give away the entire litter of Rat Terriers that her dog gave birth to a few weeks ago. ‘Oh, Mommy! Can we? Can we?’ your daughter pleads. Between the hopeful eyes of your little girl and the adorable eyes of one of the little terriers, you cannot say no. You know that potty training for puppies is important to take control of early and inform your daughter that she must agree to help.
There are a number of ways people go about housebreaking their dogs. One good method is using newspapers or pads. Often, these pads are treated with a chemical with a scent to which puppies are attracted. This encourages them to use the pads. Set the papers or pads down in the area where you want to begin. If the puppy shows signs of needing to potty, like walking in circles and sniffing the floor, simply pick her up and bring her to the pads or take her outside. Do not speak until after the dog has done her business. After each successful bathroom break, bestow her with praise. As she continues to have success with the pads, you can move them closer to the door or put them outside.
Another method is crate training. This rationale is based on placing your dog in a crate that is just large enough to be his bed. In so doing, the idea is that the dog will not want to soil his sleeping quarters. The first thing you do before putting the puppy in the cage is to take him outside to go, and the first thing you do after taking him out of the crate is to bring him outside. Crate training teaches the dog not to go inside and since puppies can usually hold it for up to seven hours, it also teaches them that they can control their urge to either urinate or defecate.
A third method is constant supervision which is very time intensive. Instead of using papers, pads, cages or crates, you make the decision to spend as much time as necessary training your dog. This technique is popular with retirees and stay at home individuals. In this situation the owner watches the dog constantly for any signals that he needs to go to the bathroom and immediately brings him outside. If the dog does his ‘business’ praise him and bring him back inside immediately. Do not play with him as he needs to understand the reason he was brought outside.
Remember, these are puppies. They will have accidents sometimes. It is important not to reprimand him for the accident if you did not see him do it. Usually the dog will not know what he did wrong and this will not help in his training. If you do witness the accident, tell him ‘No’ in a stern tone and pick him up and take him to his pads or outside. If he finishes his business in the right area, remember to praise him.
Get everyone in the household involved in the potty training process. Whichever method you use, make sure everyone is on board and follows through. This takes pressure off of just one person and also keeps the training consistent. It is also a good lesson of responsibility for kids and helps build a bond between them and the dog.
When a business trip or vacation comes up, you may be afraid that all your hard work will be for naught. While you are gone your puppy will forget everything she has learned. A good way to avoid this is to utilize the services of a pet sitter. A sitter will be able to continue the process while you are away.
A new puppy is like a new family member. The time you spend together can bring untold joy to your life. Proper bathroom training will relieve stress and therefore make it easier for you to build the bond.
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