- House-training a puppy is not only about teaching it an elimination schedule so that it does not urinate and defecate inside the house, but it is also about training it to stay off the furniture, not chew on shoes and obey other commands. House-training is identified by the mutual learning, between owner and dog, of who is in charge in the relationship. House-training creates boundaries and ultimately aids in creating a safe and balanced relationship between you and your pet.
- There are many different ways to house-train a puppy. Depending on your comfort levels and ability to be authoritative, there is one that is right for you and your puppy. Crate training and pack training are the two most popular types of house training and are not mutually exclusive. Some may choose to implement the use of both of these techniques when training their new puppy. Crate training may arguably be the easiest way to train a puppy. Because dogs are den animals by nature, using a crate helps to encourage comfort in a confined space. A crate limits the puppy's access to the house and because a puppy will not soil their personal space, it makes creating an elimination schedule relatively simple. Pack training is another popular house training tool often used by dog trainers. Pack training uses already trained dogs to show by example and requires more monitoring and experience. Because it requires the use of more than one dog, it isn't always feasible for new dog owners.
- House-training is the best tool for creating boundaries between you and your pet. Like children, puppies thrive in a scheduled environment. They will do anything to please their master, so learning a skill and being rewarded for that skill is the best way to grow your relationship and earn each other's trust. House-training also benefits your family and guests because it eliminates the worry of how he'll behave around other people and when you leave him alone in the house. Puppies need to learn a schedule, especially when it comes to elimination. In the first few weeks they will go everywhere and anywhere. If you can't monitor them all the time, you'll need to train them to be on a schedule, which is why house-training is such a beneficial tool.
- House-training takes time and patience. If owners are consistent with the elimination schedule and correcting mistakes, most puppies will begin to understand the rules within two weeks. This time frame, however, will come with mistakes and accidents. Puppies grow rapidly, so they will eat and drink massive amounts, which means they will have to go more often. A puppy's bladder is not fully developed and they may not be able to control it all the time. While a puppy may understand that he is supposed to go outside, he may not understand how to tell you. You shouldn't trust that your puppy is fully house-trained for at least six months. Some tricks will come quickly, while others will take more time. A puppy will know its name and understand commands like "sit" and "stay" within a month.
- Try not to rush the training. All puppies are different and some will learn faster than others. Expect mistakes and accidents for a few months. The more you practice, the faster it will learn. Practice your commands a couple of times each day. If he makes a mistake, gently correct him until he gets it right and always encourage and praise him when he does. Be sure to stay on a strict elimination schedule so that your puppy both learns when he should be going and his bladder begins to recognize it as well. Punishing your puppy for mistakes will not stop bad behavior; it will only make him fearful. Correct his accidents by showing him the soiled area and using a firm "no," then take him outside to show him where he should be going.
