Tips for Training a Dog to Be Housebroken

Preventing a dog from going to the bathroom in your house can be a frustrating task, but remember that all dogs want their living space to be clean, too. Dogs won't relieve themselves where they like to spend most of their time, so just help train them to go in a place where they won't spend the majority of their day.

  1. Walks

    • If you don't want your dog to have accidents in the house, you need to take it outside. Walks are better than simply leaving dogs in the yard, because you can be there to praise and reward them after they go. This positive reinforcement will encourage dogs to go to the bathroom outside. In general, it's best to watch dogs at all times if they are not yet housebroken. Use a crate or child gate to enclose a puppy if you have to leave it unattended for more than a few seconds. The more time you spend helping your puppy learn to go outside, the sooner it will become a habit.

    Correction

    • Accidents happen, but when they do, react properly. If you find a mess or puddle in the house, and you're not sure when the dog had the accident, don't punish the dog at all. Unless the dog is caught in the act, you can't scold the dog. If you do catch the dog while going, scold it and immediately put it in a crate. This will instill the idea that it loses freedom in the house by relieving itself inside. After about 20 minutes in the crate, take the dog outside for a walk. If it goes to the bathroom, give it praise and a treat. Then go back inside and give it freedom to walk around the house again. But if the dog doesn't go to the bathroom outside, put it back into the crate when you come back in. Repeat the process until it does successfully go outside. Never hit a dog.

    Pads or Newspapers

    • Puppy owners may want to put down newspapers or puppy pads in the house. These materials prevent odors from permeating floors, but they don't necessarily teach puppies to relieve themselves outdoors. They are best used during an in-between stage of not going directly on the floor, but not yet consistently going outside. If you see your dog going to the bathroom on the floor, scold it immediately and move it directly onto the newspaper or pad. This helps dogs learn that you'd rather have them go on the pad than on the floor. But don't give them praise for going on the pad, because then they will think that this is where you want them to go every time.