How to House Train Your Puppy Quick and Easy!

The very best way to house train your pup is to set aside the first few days to be with your pup. If you have a three day weekend or just take a couple of days vacation before or after a weekend, plan to pick up your pup ASAP on the way home when your time off starts!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Patience
• A sharp eye
• Paper towels and disinfectant to clean up at first - if necessary!

1. 
    
   Happy Gypsy Girl

   Before taking your pup into the house for the very first time, take him or her for a walk in the area that they can use to do what they must! Play with them a bit until they go. Praise and pet them, saying, "Good *name*" or "Good boy/girl" after they are done. Think happy, too. They can read your body language and facial gestures well!

2. 
    
   Rowdy and cat pal, Panther

   Understand that your pup will need to go at least every two hours. Even if they don't have to, they need the chance to go! Whether they seem to need to or not, take them OUTSIDE - or wherever you want them to go. No matter when they nap, take them out immediately when they wake up! This is a major step in understanding when a pup needs to go. Cuddle them and carry them outside. Talk to them encouragingly until they relieve themselves. Praise them every time they finish going.

3. 
    
   Gypsy & pal, Ariel

   One of the keys to house training success is to watch your pup to know when they start looking around for a place to go. Don't let their playing with a friend interfere with your "radar". Know your pup and watch what they do outside before they go because it is THE signal that they need to go. Usually they will sniff and circle a little.

4. 
    
   Barnes Grew Up Big & Good

   Take them outside before they eat! Give them about half an hour after they eat, and take them out again. Watch when they drink water and know that water will have to come out relatively soon. You will soon know how long it takes for your specific pet in a day or two. If you just throw them into a kennel for a few hours or lay newspapers, they will take much longer to understand the difference between inside and outside relief areas.

5. 
    
   Harley and Punkin'

   Set an alarm to take the pup out at least once over night or keep the pup on the bed with you so you can feel him or her moving. (This might only be necessary the first couple of nights!) I have house trained all my dogs without using newspapers on the floor or on their butt. When I have a pup in the house, I am a very light sleeper.

6. 
    
   Boo Boo On Our Couch

   The day I got Boo Boo, I sustained a severe leg injury and had to sleep on the couch. Even while I was on crutches, he was house trained within two weeks! He slept on my chest the first few days on my beautiful velvet couch - without incident! The house training usually takes about 2 weeks, or less, if you are "in tune" with your pup.

7. 
    
   Cookie on Jess with Barnes Waiting!

   Just an added tip, if you have other pets, rub something of theirs on your pup and rub something with your pup's scent on your other pets, in their areas, and on their things to let both sides "get to know each other" from a distance - at least in the beginning.

8. 
    
   Gypsy & her best bud, Spank

   Don't let your pup gnaw on your other pets until it is understood between all that it's just play.

Tips & Warnings

• You don't have to swat you pup when they have an accident. Put their nose close to the offense (if there is one) and say sharply, NO! Then take them outside - immediately. Either have someone else clean up the mess or put paper towels over the mess, quickly, stepping on the towels to soak up more but get the pup out ASAP. Do not let much time go between the no and the go outside.
• Even if you have to leave the mess longer than you like, if you get the pup out faster, there will be less incidents to clean up in the long run.
• Be consistent with your training - any training! Don't let them chew one of your shoes one day and not let them chew another shoe a different day! In other words, never let them chew your shoes!
• If the pup is taking a long time to house train, remember it is up to you to notice or realize that the pup has cycles like you do and help them get outside in time.
• Most pups want to please you but if you don't show them what you want, they probably won't be able to guess, even if they are more intuitive than we are.
• Puppies can not hold it very long - just like babies.

Resources

• Duelin' Deals Blog

[bjerry]

on 5/18/2009 I was thinking of getting pup soon - this will be downright handy. Good job as always!

[carmensjones]

on 4/10/2009 now you tell me. 5

[Primefalcon]

on 4/5/2009 My wife, MarlaineMarie, is amazing with animals! She reads their minds like she does me - like a book! All of her pets have amazed me since the day I met her.

[campanaro]

on 4/5/2009 It took me way to long to house train my pup. Wish I'd read this sooner. Rc 5*

[Raemonde]

on 4/4/2009 What great advice and I love those photo'swhat a lovely dog!