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The first step in housetraining is to decide whether your pup will be
trained to only eliminate outdoors or have the option of using a dog litter.
A
dog or puppy is either housetrained or not. Unless you can catch him, it
really does not do any good to drag him off to the site of his mishap and
try and punish him. Keep your dog in sight and if he is bold enough to try
something in front of you, say "No," get his attention, and take him
outdoors quickly so he can finish eliminating in the appropriate area. He is
in your house, he has to earn his freedom through good behavior and this is
your responsibility.
If
your dog will be trained to eliminate only outdoors, start by establishing
an elimination spot. In the morning, clip his leash to his collar and take
the dog outdoors to his spot for elimination. State commands like "go potty"
or "hurry up." After he does his duty give him a treat and tell him he was a
good boy, Use your Happy Voice.
Providing your dog or puppy with a crate that is way too large may allow him
to relieve himself in one end and sleep in the other. Make sure you take
your dog or puppy outdoors to eliminate on a regular schedule and especially
prior to being left for prolonged periods of time.
If
you are going to be playing and interacting with your puppy, he would be
free to be out of his crate as long as you like. He will start to circle and
sniff and look for a place to potty when he has to go and when you are
watching him, you can quickly take him to his potty spot. By watching
closely, you will soon learn your puppy's individual body language. Minimize
your pup's chances of making a mistake by predicting when he will need to
relieve himself. The critical times to watch are : as soon as he awakens, as
soon as he finishes a meal, first thing in the morning, after a play
session, and of course, as soon as you take him out of his crate. Do NOT let
your puppy run lose when your eyes are not on him....even for a couple
minutes. Each time your puppy has an accident, he is being trained to potty
in that spot. Each time the puppy goes in the right spot, he is being
trained to relieve himself there. Consistent training will bring consistent
results.
You may found it helpful to have an exercise pen for the house, and one for
the yard, (Please so not leave them out in real cold or hot weather). The
exercise pen inside the house is puppy's safe haven when you are not at
home. Place the other exercise pen in the spot you wish your dog to use as a
permanent potty spot, both as a puppy and adult. Put your puppy in the
exercise pen when it is time for him to potty, and step back a few steps (or
watch him through the door or window). This will help your puppy get down to
the business of going potty more quickly than if he was on a leash, or
running loose.
Even well-trained dogs sometimes have accidents. Clean the accident area
with a pet odor neutralizer so your dog won't be tempted to repeat his
mistake. Raising a puppy is very much like raising a human baby only a puppy
will mature at a faster rate. It is up to you, the parent, to establish
boundaries, train your puppy and understand their various stages of physical
and mental development and provide all their care. When you're raising a pup
there are going to be moments of frustration, times when you have to be
creative with training (not all things work with all pups). By 4-6 months
your pup will be well on their way to a well trained individual as long as
you've done your part but they won't be perfect. With your hard work,
patience, continuity and love, your energetic puppy will bloom into a
dedicated and well trained adult.
It
will be helpful to you and your new puppy if you enroll in a puppy obedience
class. This class will strengthen the bond between you and your puppy, teach
you both about basic obedience and be a continued socialization opportunity
for your puppy. This class can be started as soon as your puppy has
completed his puppy shots (usually between 12 and 16 weeks). If you prefer,
professional trainers can also do individual classes, or come to your home
for private lessons.
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