House Training Your Puppy or Dog The Importance of Proper House Training House training is an important part of every dog’s life. How you train will set the relationship with your dog for the next 12 to 15 years. House training will influence other forms of training and establish the rules of the house. Owners who do not take the time to house train correctly end up with a problem dog. One of the many behavioral reasons that dogs are surrendered to shelters across the country is due to the lack of house training. This doesn’t mean the dogs were incapable of learning…it means the owners either couldn’t or wouldn’t take the time to train. House training does not have to be a battle of wills. It does not have to be traumatic for dog or owner. Remember… • Before the age of 4 months, the puppy does not have the physical ability to control himself for any length of time. • Puppies need more outdoor trips during the day than at night when body functions slow down. • Puppies and older dogs will have to go outside upon waking, after eating, after drinking, during or after play or exercise, and during or after chewing, which stimulates digestion. Levels of Learning Your puppy or dog will be expected to master three levels of learning in order to graduate successfully from your house training program. Level 1: First, your puppy or dog will learn bowel and bladder control. Puppy will “hold” until taken outside rather than “go” where or when it pleases. Level 2: Your puppy or dog will learn to “go” outside as he begins to understand that this is the appropriate place for eliminating. Level 3: Your puppy or dog will learn how to let you know when he has to “go outside.” He will recognize the sensation of bowel or bladder pressure and will anticipate having to relieve himself. The magic formula for successful house training is: Time +Patience +Persistence Setting the Rules House training is setting the rule (no soiling in our den/living area) and then strictly enforcing it. You have to be there to take the puppy outside to the same spot each time. You have to be there to praise the dog when it “goes” outside. You have to be there when it makes a mistake in the house. It is important to train without punishment. Never hit, yell, or put your dog’s nose in it! Helpful Hints Control the food…both amount and type. Puppies need to eat several times a day and will have to go outside several times a day. Read dog food labels. Soft, moist foods contain preservatives and salt. Both affect the amount of water your puppy or dog will drink and therefore the frequency of urination. Foods with dyes and additives will affect both bowels and behavior. They can make your puppy or dog overactive and reduce his attention span, thereby making it harder for him to learn. Control the territory. Letting untrained puppies or dogs have unsupervised run of the house is asking for failure. Crate train or limit your puppy or dog to a specific area of the house with the use of baby gates or barriers. The kitchen is a good place if it has quick access to the yard and easy clean‐up surfaces. Puppies and dogs must earn the right to be in other rooms of the house. Create a house training schedule for you and your puppy. Your puppy or dog’s day will include sleep, play, eat, exercise and “go” outside lots of times. Praise your dog for “going” outside. In order to help your puppy or dog follow the rules and make you happy, you must take him outside and stay with him. Snap the leash on his collar and say “go outside.” Take him to the same spot in the yard so that the odor from previous visits will help to stimulate him. Let him know this is the place you want him to “go” and when he does, praise him in a high, happy, voice, “What a good dog, and go outside!” Swoon with joy because you don’t have to clean up in the house! Then be sure to let him sniff, explore or play outside for awhile. Give yourself about 5 to 10 minutes to spend time outside with your puppy. Taking your puppy or dog back into the house right away can cause problems. Many dogs will want to explore or play first, then “go” later, which may be on your carpeting or right inside the doorway. Accept responsibility if your puppy or dog has an “accident” … YOU didn’t keep close watch, YOU didn’t respond to his signals, YOU slept in, or YOU let him go too long between trips outside. Approach house training with patience and positive thinking. Praise is the fastest way in the shortest amount of time for a dog or a person to learn what you want them to do. A final check on your pet’s diet… • Leave food down 20 minutes, then pick up the leftovers. Puppies/dogs that nibble on food throughout the day are harder to house train. • Eliminate “people” food and limit snacks. Your dog should be eating his healthy food. • You’ll have 10 to 20 minutes from the time your puppy eats to when it will have to “go outside.” Older dogs may vary. Plan accordingly. • Most dogs do not need a high protein food. Try to keep the levels under 23%. Puppies should be off puppy food by the time they are 6 or 7 months old. Adult teeth=adult food (except for big or giant breeds). • Puppies do not need water overnight. Limit evening water to prevent overnight “accidents.” • Feed quality food. Talk with your veterinarian about the nutritional need of your pet.