Successful Puppy House Training
It must be said, puppy house training is not the most fun part of having your new pet. That’s partly because a puppy is like a toddler; easily distracted, forgetful, with a short attention span and a tendency to try and test the person in charge. There are a few simple rules you can follow though that will lead to successful puppy house training.
As with other aspects of puppy training, the first thing to remember is to go through the process with patience, persistence and affection, but also with a fixed and consistent training programme. The length of time it will take will depend on your pup’s age and sometimes his breed as well as how you go about the process.
It needs to be said at the outset that you should never tell the puppy off or punish him for accidents during housetraining. This will have a counter-productive effect and may leave the poor puppy in fear of you. And accidents will happen; it’s inevitable. If it does, then tell the puppy “outside” or a similar word, but in a kind manner to help him understand the difference.
It’s important when you’re housebreaking a puppy to keep mealtimes consistent. Set a feeding time twice a day and stick to that. Don’t give your puppy food just any time. This helps maintain a regular digestive system in your puppy, which in turn helps with the timing of toileting. And as a plus, your puppy will respond well to a structured day that has boundaries in place.
You can help your puppy’s digestion by taking him for a long walk after mealtimes. As in humans, exercising has positive effects on all the body systems of your pup, including digestion, and walking will help him keep regular. This in turn will make timing easier.
Always use play and treats as rewards when your puppy has done well. Playing, perhaps by throwing a ball, will make the puppy eager to please you again. Also, since playing outside makes him happy, then he will associate other outdoor activities as fun, including relieving himself.
Try not to become too regimented with your puppy house training methods. It won’t happen straight away, it can take some time, and there will be accidents. Just allow for that and remain patient, understanding and kind. In time, your puppy will be fully housetrained.
