Basic Dog Training - House training your puppy

Puppy house training... Basic early dog training

House Training information

When I started writing this article I did a little reading on the web. I wanted to see if there was any new information or thoughts on the various aspects of raising and training puppies.

Much of the information is unchanged from when I first started learning about dog training but if one looks around you may find articles that lead you to think this process can be a short term learning experience for the dog.

My suggestion is every puppy is different, has different speeds of development, and success can be quick and sweet but it also can be a fairly long training situation. It is not uncommon for a pup to be 6 or 7 months old before he is truly dependable. This process can take time.

I am providing sources for more indepth information on problems and general Dog development.

If you have problems always contact a professional in your area.

House training your dog while you are home

House training a pup is possible because dogs instinctually need a clean nest. You are just utilizing that need when you start training your puppy

Getting a pup to relieve himself where you want is an ongoing project, from when you first acquire him till he is 4 to 7 months old. Each puppy will be different in the time it takes to develop physically and mentally and learn the proper place to use for his toilet. Only then will he earn the Good Housekeeping seal of approval from all concerned.

There will be accidents and it is best to accept that fact and be prepared. You will find in any pet store a number of enzyme based cleaner/deodorizers for this problem, have some cleaner before you turn the pup loose for the first time. It will be needed.

These include Fresh ‘n’ Clean, Nature’s Miracle, Nilodor, and Outright Pet Odor Eliminator. Do not use any ammonia based cleaner as it breaks down into urea, which is a part of urine. This would be counter productive.

Young pups will invariably need to empty their bladders or defecate right after awaking, after eating and after playing. You will also need to consider the length of time between going and make sure you take him out to relieve himself. This time length will vary between puppies and change as they get older.

As soon as the puppy is up he needs to be taken outside to your chosen spot. I always found it easier to pick them up and carry them out until you are safely in the potty area. Place the puppy down and verbally encourage him to do his job or some other special phrase that you will use only for this activity. The first few weeks the carrying will prevent the dribbles that can happen when the distance is farther than the puppy has control for.

While waiting for the pup to do his business it is wise to remain quiet and allow him to snuffle and to proceed without interference. After the job is done then is it time for praise and perhaps a short romp as reward.

During this period of you puppy’s life you will need to be constantly aware of where he is and what he is doing. Accidents will happen because you lost track of where he was, or didn’t respond to the queues he gave you….accept the responsibility and then get over it.

Puppies should never be punished for these accidents. The only thing that will come from punishing a pup for your neglect will be that he will just hide when there is the urge to go. You will then find deposits in out of the way places and house training will not be successful.

If you do catch him in the act scoop him up with a stern ‘No” and then take him outside to finish his job. Praise him only if he manages to finish his job.

Develop a routine for your house training. Puppy goes out after eating, puppy goes out after his nap, puppy goes out after playing, puppy goes out every hour or half hour or every two hours. You have to keep track and make a guess when the gage is full and the need to go is coming.

If you take him outside and nothing happens then bring him back in and contain him. Try again in a few minutes, keep this up until success happens then it's praise, pats and love. With this understanding and gentle approach your puppy will learn that outside is the place to do his duty - not in the middle of the living room floor.

Containment - This where the play pen or wire cage comes in.

If you need to answer the phone or go to the door you can put him away quickly knowing there are clean newspapers and a safe spot to go if the need hits him.

This is a good “put the pup away spot”, and it is also a good place to nap or be part of the family activity without being loose.

When you have to leave, make sure there is clean paper on the bottom and a small amount of shredded newspaper in one end of the cage.

This is a much better situation than having to place the pup into a room such as a bathroom when you are gone from the house. Spreading newspaper over the entire bathroom floor is not an ideal situation.

To facilitate training make sure your puppy is fed a good quality dry kibble and is not allowed to self feed. This will keep his stool firm and he will be more consistent in his pattern of elimination.

Pitfalls in training - Weather

Puppy crate and the toilet box

Part two: Passive training while you not home

____________________

For more information on dogs, behavior and training, visit

Dr. P's Dog Training Library

Many online articles from many authors on all aspects of dog training.

The Dog Trainer Search provides dog training information, helps you find dog trainers.