Savvy Tips For House Training Your Dog

Most canines are domestic pets. Their owners keep them inside their homes for long periods of time. Having an indoor dog, you’ll need to  house train him in order to avoid messes. Remember to reward your dog with dog treats to reinforce good behavior.

Below, we’ll provide several methods that you can use to house train your puppy. Before we begin, it’s important to establish a few ground rules. First, training takes time. The more time you spend with your dog, in the training process, the less time it will take. Second, avoid physically punishing your dog if he has an accident. There will be accidents from time to time. Punishing him will only make him fearful of you. Third, be generous with your praise when you observe him using his designated spot.

Taking A Chance Inside

The goal of this approach is to help your puppy make the transition from eliminating inside your home to doing so outside. Spread paper down on the floor in a designated area. When your puppy exhibits the tell tale signs of needing to go to the bathroom.g. he begins sniffing the ground), pick him up and place him on the paper. When he “goes” on the paper, praise him. Through the next several days, gradually move his designated area closer to a door leading outside. Finally, get rid of the papers within your home and set him outside to eliminate.

Crating

This house training strategy is preferred by many owners. The idea behind crating is that your puppy will learn to see his crate as his personal space. It is where he sleeps, eats his meals, and retreats when he is tired. He will not use his refuge as his toilet.

One of the most important benefits of crating is that it trains your dog to learn to control his bladder and bowels. When he needs to urinate or defecate, he can withstand the urge to relieve himself immediately. Instead, he learns to hold it until you let him go outside.

Hands-On Management

Some owners prefer to take a hands-on approach to house training their dog. There are no papers. Nor is there a crate. The owner commits himself or herself to constantly watching their canine for signs that he needs to eliminate. When he shows signs (again, sniffing the ground is common), the owner will lead his dog outside.

This strategy will only be effective if you spend most of your time at home (for example, if you’re retired). If you are unable to continuously supervise your pooch, you can expect mistakes.

When Your Dog Has An Accident

If you observe your puppy having an accident inside your home, regard the event as your fault, not his. After all, had you been attentive to his sniffing the ground, you could have prevented the accident from happening.

Avoid getting angry. Instead, immediately (and calmly) pick him up while he is in the act. If possible, push his tail down to limit the mess. Then, carry him outside so he can finish. Stay near him so you can praise him when he finishes in his designated area.

House training your pooch takes time and patience. But, once he learns to adopt the proper behavior and use the area you have set aside for him, he’s unlikely to have another accident.