No doubt about it, having a new puppy is exciting. They are impossibly cute. They play and tumble with adorable clumsiness. They make you laugh and smile – and when they cuddle up in your lap, life seems perfect.
Of course, there is the little matter of puppy house training, which can be a bit frustrating. We have assembled a few simple tips to help you through this trying time, and get you back to endless doting on your furball.
Puppy House Training
- Never Take Your Eyes off the Puppy: It is never a good idea to yell at a new puppy who has an accident. So although accidents will inevitably happen, it is better to avoid them right from the beginning. The only way to catch your puppy before they go, is to have them constantly in your sight. (You may wish to take a vacation the week you bring your puppy home.) As soon as it appears evident that they are going to pee, scoop them up and bring them outdoors. Some early warning signs of a need to urinate or defecate are circling and sniffing the ground. They may try to get further from you or “hide”. Although it is difficult to keep a puppy so close, you can keep them on a tether or in an enclosure in proximity to you. Remember, if there is an accident, clean it up thoroughly to remove odors, and remain calm.
- Praise Them Profusely: Anytime they go to the bathroom successfully outside, even if you carried them out there yourself, go overboard with your praise. Pat them on the head, tell them how proud you are, scratch their head, jump up and down and get excited! You may feel a little silly, but your puppy will soon make the connection between going to the bathroom outside and your enthusiastic praise. Remember: You get what you reinforce! So reinforce that good behavior with praise.
- Stick with a Schedule: A puppy cannot hold their bladder for too long. You will learn quickly how often they need to go outside, but you should plan on taking them outside every 1-2 hours or so during the day. If they do their business during those trips outside, don’t forget to make them feel like the most talented puppy in the whole world! If they do not have to go, still bring them outside, let them sniff around, and then bring them back in. Most puppies will make it overnight without having an accident, as long as you bring them outdoors before you go to bed, and then get up early to bring them out in the morning. A lazy morning sleeping in may result in an accident for your puppy.
Why Not Use Training Pads?
The method you ultimately choose for puppy house training is personal and depends on your personality, schedule, and temperament. If you cannot be with your puppy consistently, a training pad is a definite option. Many choose to train the puppy to use the pad, gradually moving the pad towards the door and eventually outside. However, if you do have the opportunity to “skip a step” and go straight to the great outdoors, you may save some time.
Toilet training a puppy is hardly our favorite part of bringing a new puppy into our lives, but with a little patience and a lot of praise, your puppy will soon be toileting outside regularly.
Enjoy this special time with your new puppy! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact one of Gulf Coast K9 Dog Trainers‘ professionals. Every day, we help to train Sarasota and Bradenton dogs, from housetraining to dog obedience training and beyond.
