Although it doesn’t sound like the most appealing job in the world,
housebreaking a new puppy will play an important part in bonding with the newest
member of your family. It will teach you patience and leave you with a better
understanding of what your puppy wants once he has learned. In addition, he will
learn acceptable behaviours and exactly what is expected of him to live happily
and comfortably in his new home.
It’s important to remember that, just like a small child, a puppy’s attention
span is very short. When you teach a young child not to hit, he likely won’t
learn the lesson the first time, but instead, gradually after you’ve shown him
repeatedly that it’s not okay. Similarly, you will have to be consistent with
your dog when training him. Also, when housebreaking your puppy, keep in mind
that he is not intentionally being a bad dog; he just has not yet learned what
behaviours are acceptable!
Start housebreaking your puppy with a simple feeding schedule. Give him
breakfast, lunch and dinner, just as you would yourself. By doing this you will
be helping him become regular with his bowel movements. Once he has eaten, wait
20-30 minutes and then take him outside. Watch how long it takes before he is
able to void. This will give you an idea of how long to wait the next time you
take him out. (Within about a week, you should have his schedule down.) Try to
never let him eat at free will, leaving food in his bowl all day, because it
will cause him to have accidents and make housetraining all that much more
difficult.
Despite the old rules of training a puppy, you should never hit, rub his nose in
his messes, or yell at your puppy. By doing this, you are telling him it is bad
to relieve himself at all! In addition, most dogs respond negatively to
aggressive and mean behaviour and it has the opposite effect—they regress in
their training rather than advance. Instead, while housebreaking your puppy take
him straight outside when he has an accident. In addition, don’t forget the
praise! Every time he “goes” where he’s supposed to, praise him lavishly, and
soon he will begin to understand exactly what brings praise, and what brings
that disappointed face. During the process, don’t forget that full control of
the bladder and bowels won’t happen until 16 weeks of age, so don’t expect too
much from your puppy in the beginning.
Also helpful in housebreaking a new puppy is to buy a stain remover/ odour
relief spray. Household cleaners and sprays cannot be smelled by dogs; only
those made for animals will work. When an accident happens, clean the mess and
spray immediately. This will cover the odour left and your puppy will not try to
mark his territory there again.
Remember that housebreaking a puppy is a big responsibility that can lead to you
and your puppy sharing a special bond. Giving encouragement and lots of love
will make all the time spent worth your while!
