Housebreaking Dog Tips for Peace of Mind
Housebreaking a dog usually means getting the dog to use the bathroom in the right place and at the right time. This is certainly important. But housebreaking is a lot more than just potting training. It includes all of a dog’s behavior in the house. This includes their understanding of where they can go and when.
No one wants to find out their dog urinated on the carpet. Of course, pups can’t help it if they are indoors and need to go. They don’t have the knowledge or capacity to wait. They do what is natural. Therefore, it is important to start the training process on day one.
Ideally, you got your pup at about eight weeks old. The problem is, the dog can’t control the muscles to hold the urine until they are about twelve weeks old. This means it is important to take your dog outside or to the designated place often during the first days of ownership. This is especially important shortly after a meal. Take them out every hour at first, and when they go, give them lots of praise.
Praise Is Important:
Positive reinforcement is crucial. Your dog will understand a pat, a dog biscuit, kind and encouraging words. This assures your pet that they are pleasing you and most dogs want to do that. So, opportunities to go and much praise when they do, will reinforce their acceptable behavior.
Are there places in your house you don’t want your dog to go? For example, a black shedding dog may not be welcome on the white couch! The pup not yet potty trained may not be welcomed in the carpeted floors. How do you get your new dog to understand these rules?
Consistency Is Crucial:
This kind of training requires consistency and patience. So, if the dog goes into the forbidden area, then instruct them with words and remove them from the room or off of the furniture. Do this every time they trespass so that tthey know this is never allowed. If you make exceptions, it will only confuse them.
If you suspect your dog is trespassing when you are not watching, but not when you are, then it is obvious they like the place but know it is wrong. One family made it clear their dog was not to get on the living room furniture. But when they came home and felt the warm spot on the softest chair, the dog was caught. To correct this, try tricking the dog into thinking you are not watching when really you are. Then when you catch them disobeying the rule, discipline and scold them so that it’s clear this is never allowed, watched or not.
Dogs generally like to please their masters. Therefore, when you’ve succeeded in housebreaking your dog and they follow the rules without being told, words of praise should be poured on. Let them know they have done very well to control their urge to do what feels good but is against house rules. If you give in, or give up, then remember the dog won and has really trained you.
Easy Steps to Housebreak a Dog
No one wants their dog to soil their carpet. Yet some dogs are purchased as indoor pets and being outside all the time isn’t an option. The answer, of course, is to train the dog to do their business in the proper place, either outdoors or in a designated area. If you follow these steps, you should be able to train your dog in no time at all.
The speed at which your dog learns this important pattern will depend on several things. First it will depend on the intelligence of the dog. Check online for a list of the smartest and most easily trained dogs. If your dog isn’t on it, they can probably still be trained. It will just take a little longer. Second, it will depend on the maturity of the dog. An older dog may have better bladder control, but a really old dog is hard to teach new tricks. Third, it will depend on your consistency with the training. You have to keep at it consistently until your dog won’t want to go in the wrong place. This article centers on a consistent method.
If your dog could understand English, you would simply sit down and say, “When you have to relieve yourself, wag your tail or whine or stand at the door until I get the message, OK?” Since your dog doesn’t know English, you must convey the same message through words, praise, gestures, voice tone, and rewards.
Dogs usually need to relieve themselves within twenty minutes of eating a meal. Therefore, do not feed them until you can take them out after they eat. If you want your dog to do their business outside, you must either send them out or take them outside to do it. At first, it is good to take them so that you can reinforce the good behavior when it occurs.
Success will be achieved through consistent praise for doing what you want, and showing disapproval when they don’t. At first your dog won’t know what you want. So when they mess, be patient and instruct. As your dog gets the message, disapproval can be more overt when the dog doesn’t do what they know they should.
If you got a puppy at eight weeks old (the ideal age experts say), then it is time to begin training at once. But don’t expect miracles from such a young pup. After they have eaten, put a leash on your dog and go for a walk. (Be sure to take a pooper scooper with you.) Talk to your dog. Say things like, “OK, time to do your business.” If the dog goes, praise them, pet your dog, and show strong approval. Exaggerate it as you would to a child. You might even give them a special food treat they only get when they eliminate in the right place. Do this after every meal consistently until a pattern is formed.
In the meantime, you don’t want to sacrifice your carpet for the lesson. So you may want to restrict your dog to a floor that is easy to clean. If the dog whines at the door, or in the night, get them outside quickly! Do everything you can to provide the opportunity for the dog to go when they need to.
If your dog likes to be outside, don’t punish them by taking them inside when they does go. Instead, heap on the praise and do whatever you can to convey to them the reason for your praise.
Most importantly, build a relationship with your dog. Any dog worth his salt will want to please their master. As you play with them and take them with you when you go places, they will experience the bonding and be motivated even more to want to please you.