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HOUSE
TRAINING YOUR PUPPY
House
training is one of the most important steps in your puppy’s training.
(Keep in mind that house training a puppy involves different techniques
from those used to train an adult dog.)
Obviously, if your puppy doesn’t learn where he is supposed to relieve
himself, he’ll never be welcomed as a full-fledged member of the family.
And, if you fail to establish your authority at this kindergarten stage
of his training, you’re going to have a very hard time ever convincing
your dog that you’re the head of the household.
Start by thinking positively. To house train a dog is to teach a dog to relieve himself outside the house. It is not to teach him that you become angry when he relieves himself indoors.
When
to begin
The best time to introduce your pup to the rules of personal conduct
is when he’s about seven weeks old. This has been proven an ideal time
to start basic obedience that will last his lifetime.
How
to put his body on schedule
Although it seems that a young pup is in a constant state of elimination,
his body functions are fairly predictable. He feels the urge to relieve
himself after he wakes up, after he eats, and after he plays. If you
schedule these activities, you’ll know when to take him outside.
First thing in the morning, take the pup for a walk. Don’t let the walk turn into an outdoor play period. At this point in his life, there’s only one reason for the puppy to be outside. When he does what you took him outside to do, praise him lavishly, love him enthusiastically–but get him back into the house quickly.
A seven-week old pup should be getting three meals a day. It’s important that you schedule these meals at a time that’s convenient for you so you won’t be forced to alter the routine from day to day. Allow the puppy just 10 or 15 minutes to eat his meal. If he loses interest in his food in less time, assume he’s full and take his dish away. Then take him for another walk. When the mission is accomplished, praise him and bring him back inside.
You’ll have to repeat this same routine with each meal. The purpose is to train the puppy’s body to operate according to your schedule. A secondary benefit is that the dog will learn to eat when he’s fed and that his food isn’t going to be left out for him to nibble whenever he feels like it. Naturally, between meals there are going to be times when the puppy will have to go out. If he starts acting nervous and sniffs around, he’s signaling for an outing.
You can’t be with the puppy all the time, of course; when he’s not under a watchful eye, he should be confined. While restricting his area of activity first appears to be a convenient method of limiting the area he can accidentally damage, the motive goes deeper. No dog will willingly soil his own sleeping quarters. You’ll be capitalizing on this instinct by limiting his area to one just big enough for him to sleep and play in without feeling trapped. A dog crate is great for this. Let the puppy out of the crate every 2-3 hours. Make sure to keep track of the time. (Using a timer will help prevent mistakes.) Don’t, however, fall into the trap of letting the puppy out of the crate every time he cries. If you do, you will be teaching him to cry when he wants out (i.e., “crying means they let me out of the crate,” in the dog’s mind.)
A
well-trained dog is a joy to live with. The extra effort you take now
to train your puppy will give you a lifetime of pleasure with your new
friend.
