How to Break a Dog's bad Habits When House Training

House training a dog can be a long process. Dogs and puppies will have many accidents while they are learning. Some dogs house train really quickly but stubborn dogs can take a long time to fully understand where to go. You must handle accidents properly or they will turn into bad habits that are difficult to break. If your dog has bad habits follow these steps to learn how to break them.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Buy a dog crate if you don't already have one. Ensure that your dog only has enough room to stand up, turn around and lie down; if he has too much room he will have accidents in his crate.

2. Crate your dog anytime you aren't able to supervise him completely. A dog that has bad house training habits shouldn't have any unsupervised time. If he isn't in his crate he should be in the same room with you at all times.

3. Take your dog outside immediately when he wakes up and shortly after eating. Walk outside with him and wait for him to eliminate and when he does praise him immediately.

4. Distract your dog with a loud noise if you catch him in the act of eliminating in the house. If you catch him in the act, scold him then take him directly outside and praise him when he eliminates in the right spot.

5. Clean up all accidents with a cleaner designed for pet accidents. Most dogs that continuously go in the same spot in the house are returning to that spot because they smell old urine.

6. Feed your dog on any spots that he likes to use as his indoor toilet. A dog won't continue to eliminate in any spot that he associates with eating.

7. Gradually give your dog more freedom in the house when he starts to show he is free of his former bad habits. If he develops house training problems again then reduce the amount of freedom he is getting for a little while longer.

[KeenaR]

on 1/30/2009 This was so helpful, thank you!!