House Training a Puppy

Potty Time Training

Another highly important part of the training process is giving your puppy regular, and predictable, potty times in their potty area. For young puppies, this schedule may be as frequent as every 30 minutes. As the puppy grows, you will notice in your journal that he can now have longer increments of time between his trips to the potty area.

Once you have created your dog's schedule, you should pick a potty phrase and potty spot for your dog to eliminate in. The potty spot may include being outside, inside on papers, or in a litter box. The potty phrase will be used by you as you take your puppy to their potty spot at the scheduled times. Examples of potty phrases are "Go Potty", "Do Your Business", "Twinkle Time", etc...

Using Crates In Puppy House Training

Crate training is very important when house training dogs and puppies. You will need to use the crate while you are away from the house and at night to prevent accidents. Young puppies 2 to 4 months of age should not be left crated for more than 2 hours at a time. Older puppies and dogs with better bladder control maybe left in their crates during the day for up to 4 hours. At night puppies and dogs can be left crated for 4 to 8 hours depending on their individual ability to control their bladder.

When choosing a crate, it is important to obtain the right size. If the crate is too large the puppy will sleep at one end and potty at the other. A dog will not normally potty in "their den", unless the den is large enough to allow comfortable sleeping without being in contact with their potty. As your puppy begins to grow up, you may need to purchase a larger crate. If house training is still a concern, do not purchase a crate you plan for your puppy to grow into. Only purchase what will give them that snug, and safe, "den feel" for right now.

Preventing Accidents

At this point I know you have followed all the correct rules. You are equipped with a plan. Your puppy is on a food and water schedule, receives regular potty brakes in association with his potty phrase, is led to potty at the same place every time, crated during non supervised times, and always wears a drag line during the supervised times.

When you are home, allow your puppy to run around the house under a watchful eye with a drag line. The drag line is a nylon leash about 6 feet in length. Anytime your dog is out of his crate he must be wearing this leash. The drag line keeps you in control of your puppy. When he begins to sniff, circle, walk around looking for a potty spot, stops play abruptly, wakes from a nap, or has just finished eating or drinking, then you know it's time to grab the leash and walk your puppy to his potty spot. While at the potty spot you will issue the potty phrase and wait no more then 10 minutes for your puppy to relieve. If he does go potty, be sure to say "Good Go Potty", substituting your own potty phrase. Next, imprint on his behavior by giving him a cherio or some other favorite treat. This reward must be given immediately in order to allow the puppy to imprint on going potty in his spot. If your puppy does not go within the given 10 minutes watch him very closely; you know he will try again.

Continue with House Training Puppies >>>