TIPS ON HOUSEBREAKING YOUR DOG [NO MATTER WHAT AGE]

Introduction

You’ve finally decided it’s time to buy or adopt a new puppy! You’ve done your research: you’ve found the right breed that will fit your home environment, you’ve talked to and signed a contract with a local breeder or rescue group to adopt your puppy, and you’re ready to go pick up your new family member and bring him home.

This is so exciting! And how much fun!

But, don’t forget…..along with the fun comes training. And the first thing your puppy needs is….housebreaking!

It’s Not So Hard to Housebreak Your Dog

It’s really not hard to housebreak your puppy, or even an adult dog. Even if you have a breed that is known as “hard to train”, they’re trainable. The smaller breeds tend to be known as “hard to train”, but most of the time they’re just a little more stubborn and wary of what you want them to do. If you show them you are not going to harm them, and that they can have FUN while being trained, then they’re not “hard to train”.

Some dogs - such as the working breeds - are quicker to learn things and be housebroken. And why are they quicker to learn? Because they LOVE to learn, and please their owner when they do a good job.

Remember: every dog loves to have FUN! And they want to be loved. So if you use positive reinforcement, make their housebreaking a fun event, then they’ll respond to it quickly and positively.

• Why You Need to Housebreak Your Puppy
• What You Need to Housebreak Your Puppy
• How to Housebreak Your Puppy
• Good Boy U: Positive Reinforcement works
• When Accidents Happen
• You Can Teach Old Dogs
• How to Help Control Accidents

The Secret Behind Successful Housebreaking

So how do you housebreak a puppy, or adult dog? There are three elements that spell success when it comes to housebreaking. Those three elements behind successful housebreaking are:

• Focus
• Dedication
• Love

Focus

• Through focus, you’ll be successful.
• Focus on what needs to get done: housebreaking your puppy.
• Keeping your focus will make your puppy keep his focus.
• Remain focused and you’ll be in control of the situation.

Dedication

• Housebreaking can’t be done overnight. It takes dedication to get to the day your puppy runs to the door to be let out or to go for a walk!
• By dedicating yourself to housebreaking your puppy, you’ll have a puppy that is trained quickly and easily!
• Dedication means time out of your day that’s totally for your puppy. You can’t housebreak a puppy in just a few minutes. It will take a good amount of time of your day to get his bed and crate ready, his training area set up, feeding him, letting him out, playing with him and walking him.

Love

• Why did you purchase your puppy? Out of love, right? Then you need to remember that love, and put that love into our training efforts.
• If you train with love, then you’ll be excited and remain calm, knowing what you’re doing is the best for your puppy. And your puppy will feel your calmness and be calmer too! A calm owner and calm puppy will result in a happy training session!
• When your puppy is fully trained, you’ll sit back and sigh. And then your love will pour out even more. Your puppy will know that and love you back. Now you can focus on other fun things to do together like obedience, agility or just exploring the local parks!

It’s Not Just Puppies Who Need Housebreaking

Many people think only puppies need to be housebroken. But that’ s not true. Puppies are one of three groups of dogs that need to be housebroken. Many adult dogs need to be housebroken due to various reasons:
         
Puppies – Puppies are used to their mother cleaning them and where they urinated and defecated. Now you’ve taken them home, and their mother isn’t there to help out! You’re now responsible for helping them out. Your job is to train them where they can ‘go to the bathroom” and it’s not in the house!
         
Adult Dogs –  If you’ve adopted an adult dog that was a retired show dog or breeder, a former stray or one that another owner did not properly housebreak, then you’ll need to retrain him. Or, if you’ve adopted another adult dog, you may have a territorial war between your new dog and other dog(s) resulting in a “pissing match” and their marking inside the house. You’ll need to work with all of the dogs to make sure that doesn’t get out of hand.
         
Special Needs/Senior Dogs – Many older dogs will battle urinary incontinence due to bladder problems, senility or hormonal problems. Others will be arthritic or partially paralyzed and not be able to get up quick enough to make it outside, or be able to go for a walk. And some dogs that have health problems can have problems with incontinence.

If you can't always be there to let your dog out when needed, you may choose to invest in pet doors. This can really help with the training process. "Your job is to train them where they can 'go to the bathroom" and it's not in the house!" ?