How to House Train your Puppy Successfully

House training your new puppy can easily turn into a challenging process for you both.  It doesn’t have to be that way though.  There are a ton of methods for potty training a puppy.  They are not all created equal, but several of them have been proven very effective.  No matter what method you decide to use, however, it is important to keep a few things in mind as you begin the process.  These tips will benefit you in the long run and set the stage for the creation of a long and happy relationship between you and your dog.

Toller puppy

Realistic Expectations

You’ll only get frustrated quickly if you expect your puppy to be able to do things he just can’t do.  Puppies are capable of learning and they’ll catch on fast to what you’re trying to teach them if you go about it in the right way.  They’re still young animals though, and you can’t expect them to be perfect.  Accidents will happen and it’s good to be prepared for this so you don’t get too upset.

It’s also not a natural assumption your puppy’s going to make that there’s a special place to go to the bathroom.  Animals will just naturally go when they have to go.  You need to help your puppy understand that there are places they should relieve themselves and places that they shouldn’t.

You also need to understand that your puppy can’t physically hold it for very long.  The older the puppy gets, the longer they’ll be able to wait.  It’s not their fault and they’re not trying to disobey you – they just can’t wait.  Setting up a schedule and sticking to it is the best way to make sure that you won’t be asking your puppy to wait any longer than they’re physically capable.

Consistency

Potty training, just like any other kind of dog training is all about consistency.  If you’re consistent with your behavior and instructions when you’re potty training your puppy, the puppy will be able to catch on much faster.  If you don’t stick to a routine or don’t react to the puppy’s behavior (good or bad) in the same way every time, your puppy will only become confused.

If the puppy doesn’t understand what you expect, it will never be able to please you.  You have to be able to make it clear exactly what you want the puppy to do.  Maintaining consistency in the signals you’re giving to the puppy is the only way to do this.

Seize the Moment

If you want to have a well behaved dog that you can maintain a good relationship with, there’s no better time to start laying the groundwork for that relationship than right now.  Starting out on the right foot with your puppy will make all the difference in what kind of dog he grows up to be.  And that will have everything to do with you.  The earlier you start to instill the right kind of behaviors with positive reinforcement, the easier it will be for you to train your dog as he grows up.

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Claudie on October 1st 2010 in Dog Ownership, training Tips

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