Bringing home a new puppy is such an exciting time, at least until that adorable furball starts doing its business all over your house. Unlike cats, puppies don’t instinctively know where to “go.” You’ll have to teach them which places are okay to use as a toilet and which are not.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to house train a dog with minimal stress. If you’re having trouble housebreaking your puppy, call us for dog training in Houston, TX.
How To House Train a Dog the Easy Way in Houston, TX
Tired of cleaning up after your puppy? No worries! Just follow these expert accident prevention tips, and you’ll be a housebreaking champ in no time.
Create a Consistent Routine That Works for You and Your Puppy
Just as schedules are important for people, so too are they for dogs. Puppies, as you’ve probably realized, have to go potty quite often. The younger they are, the more frequently they’ll need to pee. As your puppy ages, it will be able to hold urine for longer. For instance, a six-month-old puppy can hold urine for about six hours. A one-month-old puppy may have to go every hour or even more frequently.
Puppies typically need to eliminate at certain times of the day, such as first thing in the morning, after a nap, and before going to bed at night. If you feed your puppy a meal or treat, expect it to need to do its business soon after.
When your puppy is very young, you might find keeping up with its potty training schedule challenging, especially if you leave the house for work daily. You might consider hiring a pet sitter or dog walker to help you when you can’t be at home.
Start Things Off on the Right Foot With Crate Training
Many new dog owners hate the thought of sticking their puppy in a crate all day. Maybe you’re one of them. Contrary to popular belief, though, dogs enjoy crates. Their instincts tell them that the crate is a safe space, much like a den is for a wolf.
Dogs don’t like to soil their dens, which is why crate training works so well for house training your dog. The trick is to provide a crate that’s only big enough for the puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down. If the crate is too big, the puppy might go to the bathroom in one corner and lie on the clean side.
When your puppy is in the crate, it should let you know that it needs out by scratching and whining. Don’t ignore these cues! If you do, it teaches the puppy that it’s okay to do its business wherever it feels the urge to go.
Put Puppy Pads To Work for You
Are you wondering how to house train your dog if you’re frequently away from your Houston home? Most people can’t be at home to monitor their puppy all day. That’s where puppy pads come in. These absorbent pads give the puppy an alternative place to go when you can’t be there to let it outside.
For the best results, confine your puppy to one room while you’re away and place several pads throughout the room. If your puppy is male, you may want to affix some pads to the walls.
Choose a Verbal Cue and Use It Consistently
Puppies appreciate consistency and learn best when their owners use the same commands every time. Before you start house training, select a cue that you’ll use to tell the puppy it’s time for a potty break. Keep it simple, such as “go potty” or “bathroom.”
When you catch your puppy squatting or lifting its leg, say the cue in a calm voice and direct the puppy where you want it to go. Don’t use an excited tone; this can cause the puppy to match your excitement by peeing right in front of you.
Reward Your Dog for Doing Its Business in the Right Place
Dogs love praise, and reward-based training is an excellent way to teach it that it has done the right thing. Before long, the puppy will associate going potty with something good.
When your puppy goes where you want it to, now’s the time to show your enthusiasm. Happily say, “Good job!” Treats work great, too. Be sure to give your puppy the treat immediately after it goes potty. By doing this, the puppy will connect its actions with the reward.
Don’t Punish Accidents
No matter how good of a job you’ve done with house training, your puppy will inevitably have accidents. When accidents happen, many owners angrily scold their puppies or rub their noses in the mess. This only teaches the puppy to fear you and does little to resolve your woes.
When an accident happens, don’t yell or scold the puppy; just calmly clean up the mess. Use a pet odor remover to get rid of the smell so the puppy doesn’t go potty in the same spot again.
Keep a Log To Track Your Housebreaking Efforts
It may seem like overkill to keep a log of your dog’s bathroom breaks, but doing so will tell you whether your house training efforts are working or need refinement. In your log, note every time the puppy goes potty, the location of its elimination, and who was supervising the puppy at the time.
There’s another good reason to keep a log: It may reveal medical issues with your puppy that require a vet’s attention. For instance, if your puppy is defecating more than seems normal, it may have a food allergy or digestive problem.
Struggling To Figure Out How To House Train Your Dog? Call Our Housebreaking Experts in Houston, TX!
If your puppy still goes potty on the rug despite your best efforts, reach out to our housebreaking pros at Peace Love Dogs! We help with everything from house training puppies to getting a dog to trust you. Call (346) 639-3629 to schedule your appointment in Houston, TX today.
