Comments on How to House-Train a Puppy

I searched on the web about housebreaking and looked for books on the subject at my local library and I found it. The secret to housebreaking that I was doing wrong was not taking my dog out at the same time (having her on a schedule). I work all day, so I started taking her out at 7 AM then let her eat. And 9:45 AM before I'd leave for work. I'd then put her back in her crate with her toys (no food or water so she wouldn't fill herself up before I got back for lunch). I'd then get back to the house around 2:15 PM, I'd take her out to relieve herself then let her eat and drink again while I ate lunch. I'd then take her back out at 2:45 PM to relieve herself again, then put her back in the crate. When I'd get home around 7:30 PM, I'd take her out again. Then let her eat, drink, play, and snuggle. At 10:00 I'd take her out right before we'd go to bed. She'd lay in bed with us as a treat for about 30 minutes (this allowed us to bond) then back in her crate she'd go. On my days off I'd stick to the same schedule. I might let her out a little longer after she would relieve herself, but she had the same amount of crate time as before. She's now been housebroken for 2 years and I trust her to be loose by herself when we're away. She can also stand being on long car rides without having to make frequent stops. We recently moved 1200 miles and only had to make 2 stops a day; it took us 3 days.

When your dog goes inside the house and you catch him, don't hit or slap his nose, just tap it and say no.Then put him outside for a while. Clean up the mess with Nature's Miracle then get potty pads and put it in that spot and the dog should get use to it. Every 2 days, move it closer to the door and sooner or later you should have a house trained dog.

When your dog goes inside the house and you catch him, don't hit or slap his nose, just tap it and say no.Then put him outside for a while. Clean up the mess with Nature's Miracle then get potty pads and put it in that spot and the dog should get use to it. Every 2 days, move it closer to the door and sooner or later you should have a house trained dog.

If you put a bell on the door your puppy will soon learn to ring it when it wants to go outside.

If you put a bell on the door your puppy will soon learn to ring it when it wants to go outside.

Keep in mind that a puppy is like a child. You wouldn't let a child paint all over a wall without an appropriate punishment; but you would reward your child for learning how to tie shoelaces. Puppies are smarter than you think, and pick up on their owners moods very quickly. Allow for punishment when puppy eliminates in the house and reward when puppy eliminates outside. The puppy will learn when you are displeased/happy about their actions. Puppies require as much attention as a child, if you are unable to provide this kind of care, perhaps you should get a hamster instead.

Keep in mind that a puppy is like a child. You wouldn't let a child paint all over a wall without an appropriate punishment; but you would reward your child for learning how to tie shoelaces. Puppies are smarter than you think, and pick up on their owners moods very quickly. Allow for punishment when puppy eliminates in the house and reward when puppy eliminates outside. The puppy will learn when you are displeased/happy about their actions. Puppies require as much attention as a child, if you are unable to provide this kind of care, perhaps you should get a hamster instead.

For best training results you need 3 things 1. A crate. 2 Use the lure and reward method. 3. Have patience!

For best training results you need 3 things 1. A crate. 2 Use the lure and reward method. 3. Have patience!

I use puppy pads. We first brought the puppy home and we found out where she liked to go to the bathroom. I cleaned up the mess with a puppy pad then put her on the pad with it for just a minute. Leave a pad wherever she eliminates. It only took her a couple of days. Now she always tries to make it to the paper. Don't scold them for just missing the edge of it.

I use puppy pads. We first brought the puppy home and we found out where she liked to go to the bathroom. I cleaned up the mess with a puppy pad then put her on the pad with it for just a minute. Leave a pad wherever she eliminates. It only took her a couple of days. Now she always tries to make it to the paper. Don't scold them for just missing the edge of it.

When crate-training, the issue of upset water bowls in the crate comes up. To keep your pet watered (without the mess) use a rabbit water bottle that hooks to the side of the crate. They now sell these at pet stores for dogs. It keeps them watered without having to navigate a bowl.

When crate-training, the issue of upset water bowls in the crate comes up. To keep your pet watered (without the mess) use a rabbit water bottle that hooks to the side of the crate. They now sell these at pet stores for dogs. It keeps them watered without having to navigate a bowl.

Dogs aim to please, so every time we took our Shih Tzu pup outside we would repeat a key word every time she was doing #1 and another when she did # 2. She learned to associate the key word to the act, so that each time we take her outside and say the keyword she goes, and she knows that as soon as she is inside again she is rewarded with a treat. This method helped us train her in record time (over a long weekend).

Never forget, your puppy is still just that; a puppy. He will urinate and defecate inside. Do not, under any circumstances, take your puppy back to where you got him, especially if it's a shelter. If your puppy is losing control more than twice a week after three good, solid months of training, talk to your veterinarian.

Never forget, your puppy is still just that; a puppy. He will urinate and defecate inside. Do not, under any circumstances, take your puppy back to where you got him, especially if it's a shelter. If your puppy is losing control more than twice a week after three good, solid months of training, talk to your veterinarian.

Make a square of paper in the corner of a room, your dog will go potty there, then slowly make the square smaller. When theres only a little left, move it outside. Your dog will instantly go outside to go potty. Eventually remove the paper and your dog will go outside without question.

Make a square of paper in the corner of a room, your dog will go potty there, then slowly make the square smaller. When theres only a little left, move it outside. Your dog will instantly go outside to go potty. Eventually remove the paper and your dog will go outside without question.

Avoid over feeding your puppy or dog. Make sure you feed him at the same time everyday. This makes potty time more predictable.

Please, when training your dog(housetraining or whatever!) don't think he can learn in a day! And don't think that one way of doing something will be the best for your dog. Try new ideas to see if they might work. Develop your own plan. Use what works!

I have a Chihuahua and I know that punishment and rewards are keys to housebreaking pets. If you completely ignore your pet's accidents and just clean them up, they think that it's alright. Rewards must always be given when eliminating is where it's supposed to be. I took people's advice and didn't punish my dog for eliminating wherever in the house, but my dog didn't actually get the idea until I tried punishment! Do not go overboard and abuse your pets. There is a fine line between punishment and abuse. Always have patience. Make sure your dog is getting the proper attention because if not, they will purposely do things like eliminate in the house or tear up your couch. Love, patience, rewards, and punishment are all you need.

Our puppy is about 5 months old and he'll use the puppy pad, but that thing about puppies not messing up where they sleep isn't true! He uses the bathroom on the pad and anywhere else, even if we take him outside.

After our puppy eliminates outside, we gently pull her toward the door (she likes to mess around outside, and we don't want that yet) while happily saying "Good girl!" over and over. Once inside, we give her a small treat. It works like a charm!

I must strongly disagree with all forms of hitting an animal and rubbing their noses in mistakes. I have never raised my hand (or anything else) to any of my pets and I have never had any trouble housebreaking my pets. I have had a few puppies and older dogs in my time and had to housebreak them. I cannot think of any pet that took longer than a month (he was full grown and we used puppy pads during the day also). The average was a week. Yes, I punish for accidents by giving a "time out" and gentle to moderate scolding, depending on if they know better or not. Time out consists of an open/slotted laundry basket placed upside down so that the puppy is under it with the paper towel that I used to clean the mess in there with her, being careful that she doesn't come in contact with the paper towel. Time out isn't in the same spot the accident was in. The purpose for a different spot was to teach that anywhere in the house was unacceptable. Time out varies according to age (seconds for the very young and up to 5 minutes for the older/grown pets). And afterwards, hugs, love and play outside for all. And I don't send my learning pets out by themselves. We always go together, even in the worst weather. It's always worked for me. I hope this method helps.

Tie a bell on string, hang on knob of door. Each time you take dog out, make dog ring bell with nose even if have to help dog ring. Say "OUT? OUT?" at same time you ring bell. Encourage to ring bell alone. Must do potty! Praise if rings bell!