How to Housebreak Your Pooch

For some, housebreaking can be one of the most daunting behaviors to teach a dog; for others, it's a breeze. Every dog is an individual and can present their own set of challenges. Follow the steps below and you'll set your dog up for housebreaking success!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Encouragement
• A cleaner made for cleaning pet stains containing live enzymes
• A crate or equally enclosed area

1. Set your dog up for success. Get them a crate that they can make a den in when you're not around to supervise (for more info on crate training, see the link at the bottom of this article). The crate should be roomy enough for the dog to stretch out and stand up without bumping its head, but small enough to discourage crate soiling (dogs don't like to soil where they rest).

2. Get them an x-pen if you work during the day, or plan on being gone longer than four hours at a time. Set the pen up in a quiet, climate controlled area where they don't have access to chew on anything (other than their toys). Try to place the pen on a surface free of carpet, such as a linoleum floor, to keep any waste from being absorbed.

3. Learn how to read your dog's signals. Puppies will start sniffing, pacing or circling, whining or even barking. Other signs are scratching, panting, or staring outdoors.

4. For puppies, take them out after they play, after rest, and after eating and drinking. Puppies under 6 months will normally have to go every 30 minutes to an hour. Puppies older than 6 months can hold it longer, but will not be totally reliable until 8 months to a year.

5. For adult dogs, watch closely for signs of sniffing, especially if they are showing a lot of interest in one area. They may also pace or whine.

6. Keep a cleaner specially designed for pet stains on hand at all times. You will need a cleaner that removes live enzymes, as live enzymes will remove the smell. Follow all the directions indicated on the bottle for maximum effectiveness.

7. Once your dog is outside, you may have to wait, as the outside world is exciting and more interesting than being inside. Many dogs and puppies learn to hold their bladders until they are indoors so they won't miss anything outside. Wait as long as needed. When they finally go, praise them, and let them continue to explore for a couple more minutes before taking them inside (this way they don't associate using the bathroom with being taken inside).

8. Most importantly, be patient! Some dogs housebreak within days, and others will take months. Hang in there, and as long as you have a good cleaner and steam vacuum, don't sweat it!

Tips & Warnings

• Removing fecal matter from inside the home and putting it in the yard sometimes creates an association with using the bathroom outdoors. There are also commercial products with a similar smell that can be placed in your yard.
• Puppy pads should only be used as a back up and never as the primary way to housebreak a dog. They are not very reliable and many dogs just end up tearing them up.
• Hire a dog walker or ask a friend to come over during the day when you're at work to let your dog out for a midday break.
• Never scold your dog or rub their nose in their mess when they have an accident in the home. Dogs don't make the association between the punishment and their waste. If anything, it only teaches them that humans are scary.
• Never scold your dog if you come home and they've had an accident. They won't understand why you're yelling (just that you're scary and need to be appeased).

Resources

• How to Crate Train
• www.canine-einstein.org

[mvalora]

on 8/31/2009 Good advice on housebreaking a dog. Thanks!