How to House Train a Puppy

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By almommabear
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House Train a Puppy

Everyone loves a puppy, but everyone hates the messes that they leave in the house. With some time, work, and love you can train your new puppy or older dog to potty outside, and teach them to let you know when they need to go.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Your dog
A collar and leash
A designated door of your home
Newspapers or puppy pads
Time and patience

Step 1

Watch your dog. You need to figure out how often they need to go. Keep them in a room or enclosed area with newspapers or puppy pads lining the floor. Play with your puppy while observing them. A younger puppy will usually go more often than an older dog.
Step 2

Once you figure out about when they usually go, start taking them outside. If you noticed your puppy wetting every half an hour, take them outside every half an hour.
Step 3

Put on the dog's leash and collar and leave the house through a designated door. The dog will begin to realize over time that when they leave through this door they are expected to potty outside.
Step 4

Lead the dog over to a designated area of your yard. This is not absolutely essential, but it helps contain messes in your yard, and it helps with consistency so that the dog knows what to expect.
Step 5

Once there, stop and repeatedly tell your dog to "go potty" as they sniff around. In time they will understand this command. Be patient. At first it may take your dog several minutes to become acquainted with the new surroundings, but in time (with consistency!) he will know exactly what to do when he reaches that spot in the yard.
Step 6

Once your dog has successfully used the area, offer lots of praise and give treats or snacks. It is important to let your dog know how happy you are that they eliminated outside.
Step 7

Repeat these steps at the time intervals you determined your dog usually goes. This is where it is important to be consistent. Yes, this takes a lot of time on your part for a few days, but having a dog is like having a baby. They require lots of time and attention. You will be glad you send such a strong, consistent message at the beginning rather than being inconsistent and taking weeks or maybe never fully training your dog.