Tips on House Training Puppies

House training, also known as house breaking or colloquially as potty training, is the system humans use to teach their dog to eliminate outside of the house. House training a puppy takes time, effort and patience by both the owner and the dog. Providing incentives for the dog to go outside will make the process will go much smoother.

  1. Vigilance

    • Keep an eye on the puppy. If she starts pacing or sniffing around, or crouches and looks as though she's about to go, prompt her to give you a signal that she needs to go outside. A signal can be vocal, such as a bark, or physical, like scratching the door. When she makes the signal, take her outdoors to do her business.

      If you cannot keep a constant eye on the puppy, you might want to consider crate training, a method that uses a crate as the dog's den. The dog considers it their safe sleeping place, and dogs will normally not go where they sleep or eat.

    Consistency

    • No matter how you decide to train the dog, absolute consistency is required from all members of the household. If there is an agreed upon "outside" signal, then all family members should know about it and encourage it from the puppy. Consistency might also include having a routine of set times the dog goes outside. After waking up in the morning, an hour after the dog eats and before bed are common times.

    Rewards

    • Reward a dog when he successfully eliminates outside. Rewards can include praise, treats or time with an extra special toy. When praising a dog, act very happy, happier than you might be--as though the dog has just accomplished the best feat in the world. The dog will get the message this is the correct thing to do.

    Punishment

    • Never physically punish a dog for having an accident indoors--this will only teach a dog not to eliminate in front of you. The only acceptable time to punish a dog is when you catch her in the act in the house. A stern "no" is sufficient. After telling the dog no, take her outdoors as quickly as possible to finish her process, and praise her afterward. Do not rub a dog's nose in it's urine or feces if it has an accident.

    Patience

    • It can take as little as two weeks to potty train a puppy, or as long as three months. Patience is required. Never show the dog you are frustrated or take anger out on it if potty training is taking longer than you think it should. There might be a physical or mental problem, and a veterinarian should examine the dog to rule those out.