by Michelle Johnson

Housebreaking your puppy is the most important training you must provide for your puppy. Dogs are pack animals and they do keep to a schedule. Therefore, it is important to try to keep them on the same routine every day. Having your puppy trained will keep both you as the human and the puppy happy.

How Old Should My Puppy Be To Start Housebreaking

It is best to start housebreaking your puppy when he/she reaches 8 to 12 weeks of age.

Crate Help

Dog trainers suggest using a crate in housebreaking your puppy. A crate is like a cage, with see-through bars and a locking door. Its size should accommodate well the dogs size for it to move around in. It should be used like a dog’s bedroom. It is advised to not confine your puppy in his crate for more than two hours at a time.

Crate training is used for training because dogs generally will not soil their sleeping area. Puppy’s at the age of 3 months old will have to eliminate every 3 hours, therefore, you should take your puppy outside more often. If you leave the puppy in the crate longer than that, he is sure to have an accident.

Rountines Are Important For Your Puppy

When it is time to take your dog out doors to eliminate be sure to use one door only. This way he will use that door to let you know he needs to go outside.

Be sure to keep the same schedule every day. This will make him learn to hold it in until you can take him outside.

It Is Your Responsibility To Look For Clues

If your puppy is left to roam around the house and you catch him in the act, stop him immediately and get him outside to finish his business. Always praise him when he does something good. Dog’s love to please their owners. Praising him will go along way.

Patience, Patience, Patience

Like any training endeavor, housebreaking requires a lot of patience. If you definitely despise cleaning your dog’s waste off your Persian carpets on an hourly basis and having your whole house smell like a public bathroom, you want the housebreaking to be successful in a wink of an eye, if not sooner.

Common Sense Makes a Lot of Sense

The use of common sense will aid you big time in dealing with your puppy’s housebreaking. Logical thinking should inform you to not give your dog water before bedtime if his tendency is to pee often at night time. Catering to his schedule first will prove to be very helpful in making it gradually change into yours.

Housebreaking your puppy requires patience, consistency and a big commitment. Stick to it and you will succeed.

Stay Consistent!

About the Author:

Michelle Johnson has been working and caring for dogs for many years. Visit her blog at Rusty The Dog Blog for more articles on how to take care of your dog.

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Filed under: Dogs

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