Dog Housebreaking Guide

You just got a new puppy and a new carpet. Ideally, you'd like to keep both for years to come. How do you train your puppy to only do its business outdoors, keeping the inside of your house clean? Well, you're going to need to train it in the home before walking it outside.

The keywords to housebreaking a puppy are the same as with all other dog training. You need to be consistent, clear, and affirming. When your dog makes a mess in the house, if you scold it several minutes after the fact, it is too late. You need to catch the dog in the act so that he or she will understand that this behavior is not acceptable. Catch it, scold it clearly, and then bring it outside to finish its business properly. Afterwards, make sure to effusively praise your dog so that Poochie associates going to the bathroom with the great outdoors.

Check out the external links to read more about ways to housebreak effectively. And read on to learn what products you need for this whole process.

What You Need Immediately

Odor  and Stain Removers  No. Paper towels aren't good enough. Dogs are driven by scents and if their smells linger anywhere in the house, they'll continue to use that spot as their very own fire hydrant. You need to get rid of the odor so that your dog doesn't become a repeat offender. You need to eliminate the stain so that your house doesn't become a sty. Get a remover specifically formulated for dogs. They're different from cats in every other way - they're not the same in this respect either!

Crate  This is for when you can't be home, or when you're around but don't want it to run amok in your home. Can be either wire  or mesh  and should be big enough for your dog to stand up, turn around, and lie down in. The point of the crate is for it to have a place it will not consider a bathroom. If the crib is too big, it will use one end as a bathroom and the other as a bedroom. Avoid that. Wire crates are adjustable sizes and easily collapsible, but have a cage-like feel. Mesh crates are less cagey, may be adjustable, and could be collapsible. Put a blanket  or a bed in the cage to encourage it as a sleeping spot. This is your puppy's new bedroom. When it's time for your puppy to go to the bathroom, entice it out with a treat,  a clicker,  and some positive reinforcement words. Bring it outside on its leash and tell it to do its business outside. Remember, whenever it does something right, be sure to praise it or it will never learn.

Puppy Training Pad  Lay papers down over an entire, closed-off room. Let the puppy stay in there, doing its business wherever, until it starts to find a favorite spot in the room. At this point, reduce the number of pads until the puppy is used to only going in that one particular spot. Many people think that this is a bad method to use, because it could train your puppy to go in the house. If you'd rather protect your floors now and train later, these are the way to go.

In Summary

If you consistently praise your dog for good behavior and do not intimidate it when it misbehaves, it will learn what to do to make you happy and keep your house clean. Once you've housebroken your puppy, though, you have to remember to take it on walks, feed it on schedule, and treat it with love and respect. Or else it will rebel - all over your new carpet.

External Links

• Dog Breeds -- Belly bands are a form of diaper to make housebreaking easier.
• Dog Breed Info --Housebreaking a new puppy and understanding it.
• Perfect Paws-- How to house train a puppy with paper.
• See Fido -- How to housebreak your dog with a crate.
• So You Wanna... -- Housebreak your dog (and learn to walk it).