Things You'll Need
- Dog crate
- Newspapers
- Crate padding
- Treats
Instructions
Buy a crate before you bring the puppy home. The crate will be the puppy's home or den. With time, the puppy will learn to relax and rest inside the crate. The puppy's natural instincts are to not soil the area in which he sleeps. Therefore, it is essential that the crate fit the size of the puppy, not its full-grown size, which will provide too much room and enable the puppy to eliminate in one area and sleep in another. Place a barrier like a cardboard box if the crate is too big to prevent this problem. Lay newspapers in the crate in case the puppy does make a mistake for easy cleanup.
Take the puppy outside first thing in the morning before doing anything else. Take the puppy out of the crate and carry it outside or the puppy may relieve itself on the floor on the way outside.
Place the puppy into the crate any time you will not be able to actively watch the puppy. Careful monitoring of the puppy's body language is required to keep the puppy from making any mistakes in the house. Preventing mistakes is key to housebreaking a puppy, and using the crate will help prevent mistakes inside the house.
Take the puppy outside immediately after a feeding, playtime or a nap. Each time, carry the puppy outside, if possible, during the first few days until it begins to understand where the desired elimination spot is.
Encourage the puppy to use the exact same patch of grass outside. Always taking the puppy to the same spot to eliminate will help the puppy understand housebreaking quicker.
Feed the puppy on a strict schedule. Keeping a feeding schedule that is followed consistently will create an elimination schedule, enabling you to prevent mistakes from happening.
Remember to praise the puppy profusely and promptly, every time it eliminates in the right area. Puppies inherently want to please you, and the praise you give will teach the puppy that it did the right thing. Offer the puppy a small treat as a reward.
Wake up on a schedule throughout the night to remove the puppy from the crate and place the puppy on the patch of grass where it normally relieves itself. Puppies are unable to hold it overnight, so you will need to take the puppy outside throughout the night. Do not neglect to do this or the puppy will eliminate in the crate; puppies who learn that it is OK to eliminate in the crate become much more difficult to housebreak.
Replace the newspaper in the crate with a comfortable crate pad or cushion once the puppy is fully housebroken.