Puppy Housebreaking Tips

Use these Simple Tips to Successfully and Quickly Housebreak Your Puppy

Sleeping Area

A dog will usually not eliminate in the area where he sleeps. When you confine your puppy to a small area (a crate can be a good option), you can usually ensure he will not eliminate until you take him out to a larger area. Carry him to the backyard, if you have to, to make it safely.

You have to show your puppy how to succeed. Be consistent in your puppy training, and he will learn quickly.

“Holding It” and Watching for Signals

KEY TO SUCCESS: Allow the puppy to be loose in the house only when someone can watch him closely. If someone cannot watch your puppy closely, put him outside or in his crate.

• Putting your puppy in a crate will help him develop his ability to “hold it’.
• It puts you in a position to let the puppy know you are watching.
• Soon, you will see your puppy’s signs that he needs to go out.
• Puppies with access to a doggie door may also learn to go outside to potty but may not develop the ability to “hold it” or communicate their needs to you.

Limit Feeding Times

Avoid leaving food out all day for your puppy. Put his meals out at regular intervals, two or three times a day. Knowing when he has eaten makes it easier to know when he will need to go out.

Same Door, Same Area, Same Word

Take the puppy out the same door, to the same area, and say the same word (potty, hurry up, get busy, chop chop, etc.) every time you take him out to potty. Your puppy will soon understand what he is there to do. Make sure the praise you give him equals the job well done. He should quickly be “pottying on command.”

Puppy is Signaling

When your puppy starts to give some potty behavior (sniffing, circling, moving away from the group), quickly distract (not scare) the puppy. Say, “Do you want to go out” and pick up your puppy or have him quickly follow you outside. Praise “Good Outside,” then use your “potty” word in the potty area.

Timing

Only allow your puppy to be loose in the house at certain times:

• for approx. 20 minutes at a time, with supervision
• only after you went outside with the puppy to potty
• and you know that he did go potty

After about a week, you can gradually give your puppy longer periods of inside time, still supervised, of course.

Accidents

If your puppy has an accident in the house, it was your fault, not your puppy’s. If you put in the time for the first couple weeks and really supervise your puppy, you will be done with housebreaking much sooner than if you allow accidents. Remember – you have to show your puppy how to succeed. Be consistent in your puppy training, and he will learn quickly.

Punishment

Do not punish your puppy. It will only make training more difficult as your puppy may try to hide the next time he needs to eliminate rather than communicate with you.

More Information

Book: How To Housebreak Your Dog In 7 Days, by Shirley Kalstone, will help you establish a routine and answer some common housebreaking questions.

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