There’s no greater feeling than bringing home a new puppy for the first time and watching your children’s reaction. The delight may fade somewhat, once you appreciate how much work is involved, particularly in relation to house-training your puppy. There are a few things to consider as you work toward establishing bathroom routines for your new dog.
1. Be on the look-out for any indications that your puppy has to go outside, such as fidgeting. If you can, try to prevent him from getting into “bathroom position” indoors so that he learns the routine of eliminating outside in the yard. Encourage him to let you know he’s got to go by standing by the back door to be able to head off accidents on the rug.
2. Puppies need to get into good habits, and part of this process involves going out frequently. This could prove annoying in the middle of the night, but it is a necessity for the first few months until your pet is used to waiting until morning to go to the bathroom. As he matures, the need to go out frequently will diminish. In time, your puppy will get used to “holding it in” throughout the entire night.
3. Go to a particular spot in the yard and don’t leave until your puppy goes to the bathroom. This will get him used to going in this location and will make clean-up easier if waste is stored in one designated area. It will also be helpful to know where the “land mines” are as you mow the lawn in the summer.
4. Every time your puppy goes to the bathroom outside, reward him with a dog treat. Studies suggest that positive reinforcement is a more powerful tool in training your dog to go to the bathroom outside. Hitting and yelling at your dog, or other such negative methods, actually make matters worse, since your dog will only become confused and frightened.
5. Buy an appropriate size puppy crate for him to sleep in at night, because he will not soil his sleeping area. Most dogs also tend to be soothed by being in an enclosed area, and the routine of going to that spot will indicate to him that it is time for bed. If you decide to let him sleep somewhere else eventually, such as in your room, wait until he has been properly crate-trained first.
If you remember only one thing about housetraining a puppy, it’s that you must always be consistent. Creating the routines your puppy will get used to is crucial so that he learns that it’s not acceptable to go to the bathroom inside the house. You may find housebreaking to be taxing, but once you’ve accomplished it, you’ll be glad you did. Your house will be cleaner, and your puppy will no longer need to go out at night to use the bathroom.
Ruth Williams is a journalist who writes for newspapers, magazines, and online education websites. Her interests include scholarships for adult learners and online colleges offering graduate degrees.
