Five Tips For Housebreaking Your Dog

One of the great joys of life is bringing home a new puppy and watching the looks of delight on your children’s faces. The reality of pet ownership, however, is that it requires a lot of hard work and consistency, particularly in terms of training him to go to the bathroom outside. Keep these tips in mind as you housetrain your puppy.

1. Be on the look-out for any indications that your puppy has to go outside, such as fidgeting. If you can, try to prevent him from getting into “bathroom position” indoors so that he learns the routine of eliminating outside in the yard. Encourage him to let you know he’s got to go by standing by the back door to be able to head off accidents on the rug.

2. Take him out frequently. This may be a challenge in the middle of the night, but it will be necessary for the first few months. Puppies do have to urinate and defecate many times, day and night, but this will decrease over time. Gradually take him out less frequently to get him used to eventually “holding it in” overnight.

3. Stake out a portion of your yard to be used by your puppy when it’s time to go to the bathroom. This will be useful to establish the zone where his waste will be contained, making clean up easier for you. In addition, as you take care of your lawn in the summer with mowing and landscaping, knowing where the “danger zone” is will be helpful.

4. Reward him each time he goes in the yard. Using positive reinforcement is an incentive to getting your dog to “do his business” outside and not in the house. Never use negative techniques, such as hitting or yelling, as your puppy will only be confused and scared by this method.

5. Crate training is the best way to deal with overnight bathroom trips. Dogs will not soil where they sleep, and often feel comforted by an enclosed sleeping area. You may allow him to sleep somewhere else as time goes on, but for now, the best bet is the crate until he’s figured out the routine of going outside when he has to eliminate.

The main thing in terms of housebreaking a new puppy is to establish patterns that he will get used to in order to learn where the boundaries are. Training can be time-consuming, but once it’s through, you can all rest easier. Your house will be cleaner, and you and your puppy will be able to sleep through the night without “bathroom breaks.

Ruth Williams is a journalist who writes for newspapers, magazines, and online education websites. Her interests include scholarships for adult learners and online colleges offering graduate degrees.