Puppy House Training

House training a puppy is not unlike potty training a child. Both have a hard time understanding your commands and they won't understand their responsibilities until you educate them. However, children can be reasoned with because they have the ability to learn the language. Dogs do not. Dogs recognize sounds and the tone of your voice. Puppy house training takes patience and commitment.

  1. Commands

    • First, teach your dog the basic commands, "Sit," "Stay," "No," "Down" and "Come." Practice 15 minutes a day until your dog catches on. Show her what you want her to do by gently putting her in that position and saying the command in a firm tone. Show her love when she gets it right. In "Planet Dog: A Doglopedia," Sandra Choron says that you must incorporate praise and treats into the learning process. Focus on giving affectionate praise more so than treats. Physical praise constitutes hugs and belly rubs.

    Feeding Schedule

    • Feeding schedules help you time when your puppy will need to eliminate. The schedule should be consistent and convenient for you. You should take the food away after 10 minutes as to not overfeed the puppy, and to get the dog acclimated to the schedule. In Dog Training for Dummies, Joachim Volhard writes "Until she's 4 months of age, she needs four meals a day; from 4 to 7 months, three daily meals are appropriate. From then on, feed twice a day."

    Toilet Area

    • The "toilet area" is the place you want your puppy to eliminate. This can be outside within the path you normally take her on for her daily walk. Guide your puppy to this spot whenever it is time for her to release. Don't rush her or stare. Give her time to sniff it out and get comfortable with it. Reward the puppy with physical praise once she's finished and let her hang out a little while to enjoy the fresh air.

    Confinement

    • The U.S. Human Society advises that you confine your puppy to a small area, such as a crate, laundry room or a half-bath, if you are unable to let her out to eliminate. Contrary to some opinions, dogs are clean animals. If the area is only big enough for her to stand, turn around and lie down, she will not want to release anywhere near it. You can use baby gates if you don't have an area small enough. As soon as you return, take the dog to her bathroom spot.

    Signs and Accidents

    • A puppy will give you signs she needs to eliminate by sniffing and circling an area before she is about to release. This is the time she needs to be directed to the specified toilet area. If a dog does have an accident in a place that you don't want her to be, don't yell and scream. Dogs don't understand what you're saying, but they sense your unhappiness and will think you're unhappy for the wrong reasons. Accidents can also be signs of more serious problems, too. Pay attention to the signs.