Housetraining is one of the most important steps in developing a strong bond with your puppy. When done correctly, housetraining will teach your puppy to eliminate in the right place at the right time.

General Principles

Positive reinforcement is the single most important aspect of housetraining. The owner must accompany the puppy outdoors, praising the puppy immediately each and every time it eliminates in the proper area. Use lots of verbal praise and occasionally a treat (use a piece of his food). Positive reinforcement should be the primary technique used to train your dog. Not only will your puppy learn quicker, you will develop a stronger bond with your puppy which will make all types of training and activities easier and more enjoyable!

Negative reinforcement is the most misused and misunderstood type of training. Negative reinforcement must immediately (within 5 seconds) follow the undesired behavior for it to be associated with that behavior. Do not punish after the fact, as the puppy will not understand what it is being punished for. The puppy will believe it is being punished for whatever behavior occurred just before it was punished (for instance, coming when you called). If you do catch your puppy eliminating in an inappropriate area, shout "outside" to stop the elimination and remind them where is appropriate. Then take him outside to let him finish and praise him for eliminating in the proper area. This will make it a learning experience. Do not use physical punishment with your puppy - you will just create a fearful puppy and weaken the developing bond between you and your puppy.

Develop a routine. It is very important to develop a routine and follow it. The fewer accidents your puppy has, the quicker it will catch on. You should develop a specific feeding routine so that your puppy will need to eliminate more regularly (see handout on proper nutrition for your pet). Puppies normally eliminate after being confined, after eating or drinking, after playing, and after sleeping. Understanding these natural behaviors can help you plan for your puppies elimination needs.

Crate training. When the puppy is left alone, it should be confined either in a crate or in a small confined area. This method of training is building on your puppy’s instinct to keep their "den" (crate) clean. Puppies do not choose to eliminate where they eat or sleep. Take the puppy outdoors immediately after it has been confined.

Tips on Training

Train your puppy to "tell" you when it needs to go outdoors. For example, train him to go to a door, bark, ring a bell, etc...

Train your puppy to eliminate on command. Repeat a desired word when you see your puppy starting to eliminate - eventually he will learn to eliminate when you use the word.

Watch for indications that your puppy may need to urinate. Young puppies may need to urinate every 45-60 minutes. By 3 ½ months of age, they should be able to make it through the night. Most "accidents" occur because we are not monitoring the puppy closely enough or we fail to recognize when a puppy is trying to tell us that he needs to eliminate - learning your puppy’s indicators will help reduce this problem.

Pick an appropriate "toilet" area and consistently take your puppy there. Do not just send the puppy outside on it’s own - you won’t know if he has eliminated and you won’t be there to offer praise. Make sure to remove feces daily. Do not allow play areas to become "toilet" sites.

If accidents do occur inside, you must use a product designed to eliminate the odor as well as the stain (rather than just covering it with a fragrance. This helps to prevent the puppy from eliminating in the same site in the future.

Remember - positive reinforcement and developing a consistent routine are the keys to successful housetraining. If you have any questions or concerns regarding housetraining your puppy, please contact us.