1.
Buy a crate. During the first few weeks, keep your puppy in
it whenever you are not playing, holding or watching him explore his new
surroundings. Spend as much time with your puppy but when you can’t
crating him can prevent mistakes from occurring. In addition to providing
the safe, secure refuge your dog needs and wants, crates are critical to
housetraining because as den animals, dogs are naturally inclined to not soil
their bed.
2.
Establish a
schedule and don’t deviate from it.
Pick a soiling spot in your yard and take your puppy there on a lead when it is
time to go potty. The odor from the previous time will stimulate the
urge. Use words like: outside, or potty to build a level of
communication between you and your pup.
3.
Be patient. They may have to “go” more than once. Don’t
distract your pup from the job at hand.
4.
Praise them. “Good dog” but don’t over do it.
Afterwards go do something else with him/her.
5.
Don’t mix
business with pleasure. When
they are finished take them back inside if only for a moment.
6.
The key to
housetraining is you. Spend as
much time with your puppy as possible during the first two to three weeks your
puppy is home. Be consistent, patient, praise, and be willing to invest
the time and energy necessary to make this important training time a success.
7.
Establishing a
schedule is important (see below). Dogs are
creatures of habit; they like to eat, sleep, and relieve themselves on a
regular schedule. Pay attention to your puppy’s behavior so you can
develop a schedule that works for both of you. First, learn when your dog
naturally defecates (in the morning, at night, 30 minutes after eating,
etc.) Look at your schedule and determine what compromises need to be
made to make this workable for everyone.
8.
Don’t scold
the puppy. If you catch your
puppy in the act of having an accident, tell him “No!” and pick him up and take
him outside. If you don’t catch him, simply clean up the mess.
General
Schedule (Suggested)
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