Everyone knows that getting a puppy is super exciting. They are not only adorable but you have the opportunity to train them, watch them grow and ensure that they grow up to be a great dog. One of the first training exercises to do with your puppy is housebreaking.
Housebreaking is basically potty training for dogs. This exercise teaches them to use the bathroom outside.
This training is very important to do within the first three months because it reduces the chance of bad bathroom habits in the future. The only problem is, many new dog owners do not know how to teach their puppy to use the bathroom outside. If that also applies to you, then we can help you out.
Here is how to housebreak a puppy.
The first step is this training is get your puppy on a schedule. The average time a puppy has to go to the bathroom is once an hour. This frequency applies to those under 6 months. Set a reminder to ensure you do not forget. Aside from every hour or so, take your puppy outside after playing, eating or drinking.
After your puppy has gone to the bathroom allot some playtime inside of the home. This not only helps them to distinguish that they go to the bathroom outside and then play inside but gives you 15 minutes or so to do as you please. After that 15 minutes supervision is needed or you can place the puppy in a crate.
To further the training, issue a command as soon as your puppy begins to defecate or urinate. This command must be used consistently in order to effectively housebreak your dog. This helps him/her to associate that word with toileting. Lastly, do not forget to reward your dog for toileting outside. Not only do rewards make them happy but it helps with the training process.
During the the training process keep a close eye on your puppy or keep him/her in a crate. This helps to reduce the chances of an accident. When a puppy is free to wander around the home an accident will happen and they can develop bad bathroom habits early on. If an accident does occur, never forget to deodorize immediately. This stops your puppy from associating going to the bathroom with your home.
Overall, housebreaking a puppy is fairly simple. It will take some time and accidents will occur but with effective training, they will learn.
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