House Training Your Puppy

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House Training Your PuppyPuppy training is a rite of passage for any dog owner. Get a new puppy and people come out of nowhere with tips on how to train him You’ll hear wonderful stories about how someone’s dog never had an accident – yeah right! And you will hear horror stories about months and months of mess.

The truth is that for successful training, it is important to learn about house training before you bring your puppy home. Why? Because there are key ingredients to successful training, there are approaches that work and approaches that do not, and a structured and strategic approach should be taken if you want to accomplish successful house training.

Think of it this way; will you go on a road trip to a specific destination without a map or a plan on how to get there? Probably not. If you did, you might end up taking several wrong turns and losing precious time.

However, if you first get a map and plan your route, you will reach your destination much faster.

Getting Started – The very first thing to understand is that there are two basic approaches to determine how to train your dog . The first is to scare your puppy to behave. For example, your puppy soils the carpet and you rub its nose in it and scream “NO!”

This is a negative reinforcement approach and even if it will eventually stop your puppy from going inside your house, there will be a very long experience for both of you and perhaps even unbearable. There is a good chance that your puppy will pick up some additional negative behaviors.

The other approach is to reward good behavior. This is called positive reinforcement. The approach is simple – you reward good behavior with both verbal praise and a treat (food). This is the approach that most experts advise will provide quick results and excellent relationship with your puppy.

Benefits Of Positive Reinforcement Training

#1 – Trust. When you bring your puppy home they are afraid. Your puppy is in a new environment and has no idea what to expect. It can be an exciting time for you, but it’s a terrible moment for your dog. This is the best time to start building a relationship of trust. That means play time, hugs and snuggles. It also means good training with praise and rewards.

#2 – Structure. To house train puppies, you must provide a reliable structure. This means feeding them at the same time each day, going to bed and waking up at the same time each day and carrying out regularly until they learn to tell you that they need to go outside. Create a structure and your puppy will learn much faster what they are supposed to do.

Puppies generally:

* Need to urinate around 10-15 minutes after meals.

* Will have a bowel movement 15-30 minutes after each meal.

* Need to urinate after they wake up.

* Need to pee after playing.

* Need to pee every 4-5 hours during the day and night until about 12 weeks of age.

Tools For House Training Puppies

#1 – Signals. Not just a signal for you to give your dog, but also a signal that your dog can give you. Yes, dogs give some physical signals such as scratching or sniffing the carpet, but what if your dog does that and you’re not in the room? Instead give your dog a signal. A signal such as a bell is quite useful.

Take a long piece of rope with a bell and tie the other end of the rope to the doorknob. Each time you take your dog outside, the bell rings. At some point your dog will bump the bell on his own. When he does, immediately take him outside. This reinforces this behavior and your dog will know now that when it rings the bell you will take it outside.

A nice place for your dog is important. For your sake and for your puppy’s give them a place they can use as a toilet. If you have a large yard, then they can use a small corner in the back perhaps. The location and size of the site are yours to decide.

If you do not have a yard, then the place your pot may be beside your building or condo. A designated place gives your dog an idea about what you expect. If you always take them to the same place and always use the same order such as “go potty”, your dog will quickly make associations.

#2 – Cleaning. Your puppy will have accidents – guaranteed. Get rid of them quickly and eliminate any lingering odor that often triggers a return to the scene of the crime. Enzymatic cleaners are very useful.

#3 – Treats and rewards. Dogs love food. They also love physical and verbal praise from their owners. Walking your dog is also important. Save your favorite puppy treats and lots of love and praise for successful attempts at house training and they will be eager to repeat the experience.

Toilet training puppies does not have to be a battle of wills that lasts 12 months – it may instead be a very short and smooth road. Understand what your puppy needs and provide them with kindness and praise. They will be house trained in no time.