How to House Train a Dog in 7 Days

Dogs are much harder to house train than cats. Cats seem to instinctively know how to use the litter box. A dog, however, must be shown that it needs to let you know it must go to the bathroom. If you are consistent in your training, your dog can learn to go outside rather than in your house in as little as seven days.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Treats Schedule

1. Commit to having someone at home with your dog at all times for the duration of the week. The person will need to keep his eye on the dog and look for any signs that the dog needs to go to the bathroom. If he spots a sign, he needs to take the dog out immediately.

2. Take the dog outside as soon as you wake up in the morning. Stay outside with the dog until it goes to the bathroom. The dog will need to learn that you will take it out first thing in the morning so that it does not go in the house during the night.

3. Give the dog lots of praise and a treat each time it goes outside. The dog will then associate going outside as something that pleases its owner. Dogs are always seeking to please their owners.

4. Ignore your dog if it goes to the bathroom inside the house. Don't look the dog in the eye, and make sure you turn your body away from the dog. The dog will quickly get the idea that this behavior will not earn it any attention.

5. Take the dog outside after each meal and after any naps. Dogs often have to go after they eat and sleep. Stay outside with the dog until it goes. Again, when it goes, give it lots of praise and a treat.

6. Put your dog's water bowl away around 8 p.m. This is the same principal that you would use when potty training your children. You don't want the dog to drink so much that it can't make it until morning.

7. Keep your dog on the same schedule all week long as best as you can. Keep mealtimes the same. Continue to take your dog out first thing in the morning, after meals, after naps, whenever the dog looks like it has to go, and before everyone in your house turns in for the night. By sticking with this schedule, your dog will learn to go outside instead of in your house.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't expect to successfully train any dog under the age of 6 months unless the dog is extremely smart.

• Don't yell at your dog or punish it for having an accident. This form of training does not work. If your dog gets overly excited, it may have an accident. Don't punish the dog for this, because the dog can't help it.

Resources

• Housebreaking a dog