InsaneJournal

Facts Regarding Housebreaking a Puppy
Everyone loves puppies until they get rowdy and start breaking things inside the home.

Owning a puppy means that some small accidents will happen, but it is important to limit more serious damage. Although it is not easy to train these feisty creatures, it must be done. Simplify the training program with these tips.



When things get frustrating, step back and be patient. A puppy is a baby dog, and they take time to learn new things. They are, in the first place, your pets, and in a way, your babies.

The second thing to keep in mind is that puppies cannot hold their bladders for very long - approximately one hour for each month of age. So, a two-month old puppy will need to urinate every two hours. Don’t make him control his bladder more than he can because—well—he simply can’t.

Try to establish a routine early on - when to use the bathroom, when to eat, and so forth. Remember that dogs are intelligent creatures. And they learn best when following a routine, which also serves as a reward system for them since they would know exactly when chowtime is.

Another great tip is that you get into the habit of taking your puppy outside every few hours so that he can learn about the world around him. Walk your new puppy after they have been fed and had a drink. Dogs will learn to go to the bathroom in their favorite outside spot, which means no more messes inside.

Take your puppy to his potty spot on a leash so that he knows where it is. Reinforce the action by saying “time to potty” or something to that effect as he is doing it. When your puppy has done his thing on the right spot, reward him with a longer walk.

You cannot allow your dog to potty inside unless you want to spend the rest of his life dealing with indoor messes. When the puppy is indoors you need to supervise his actions. When your puppy does his deed outside on the chosen spot, reward him with petting, praise or a treat.

The amount of times that you feed your pup each day depends on his age. You need to instill a firm feeding routine. It may be helpful to tie up the feeding and potty schedules.

You can keep you puppy on a leash until he is fully housebroken - do not feel guilty. Be prepared to put in a lot of time and effort when you housebreaking a puppy. Be patient and understanding - start the training process over again if he makes any mistakes, but be supportive.