Housebreaking A Dog

Housebreaking a dog is easy when you follow this simple process. If you're consistent, these easy and practical tips will make it a snap.

Prevention is much faster and more effective than correction.

And good habits are just as easy to establish as bad ones.

But wherever you're joining me on this adventure of housebreaking a dog, I'm sure you'll find these suggestions helpful.

Dogs are basically clean animals.

A healthy dog will do his very best not to mess up his sleeping area.

Housebreaking a dog is just a matter of encouraging him to potty where you want him to do the deed.

Housebreaking a Dog Includes Night Time Potty Trips

Keep him on a leash, and make it as quick and businesslike as possible.

You want to give him the idea that it's no fun to get up in the middle of the night and go outside in the cold.

Put your puppy right back in his crate after he does his business--no drink, no cuddling, no playtime.

Puppy goes straight back to his crate, you cover it, and it's back to bed for everyone.

When you're housebreaking a dog at this early stage, it helps if you keep his crate beside your bed. That way, you can hear him when he whines to get your attention.

If you ignore him or tell him to shut up and go back to sleep, you'll have a mess to clean up in the morning. You can catch up on your sleep after you've survived the first few weeks of housebreaking a dog.

Housebreaking a Dog During the Daytime

You can't expect a puppy to "hold it" for hours and hours while waiting for someone to remember to take him outside.

When housebreaking a dog, it's easier if you take your pup to the same spot in the yard every time. Pretty soon, he’ll notice, “Ah yes, this smells like the bathroom!”

It also keeps him from leaving puppy piles all over the yard, which means less cleanup for you.

Housebreaking a dog is much easier if he's on a feeding schedule. If you know when everything goes in, you'll be able to predict when it will come out.

Your pup’s water intake is an important factor, too. If you take away his water in the early evening, you’ll have fewer midnight potty trips.

If he seems really thirsty at bedtime, you can offer him an ice cube, which will quench his thirst without flooding his system.

Hosuebreaking a Dog Begins Early

• Your pup needs to go potty first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

• He must be taken outside anytime he comes out of his crate, after he wakes up, eats, plays hard or chews awhile on a chew toy.

• You have to go outside with him! You can't just pop your puppy out the door and hope for the best.

• You need to be there to cheer him on, and to make sure he does the deed before you bring him back inside.

• When housebreaking dogs, you need to stick like glue to your canine pupil.

• Out of sight is into trouble. When he's not in his crate, keep a lead on him in the house.

• When he's out of his crate for brief bouts of freedom, the moment your dog starts to sniff and circle--get him outside fast!

• If he makes a mistake because you left him out of his crate too long, don't rub his nose in it, yell, or swat him. This is a mistake, not a felony.

• Stick to the same puppy housebreaking schedule on the weekends. You can sleep in after he's housebroken.

• These potty trips are business trips, not time for play. If he wants to romp or visit, just ignore him until he does his job.

• Once he's finished, praise him enthusiastically and go back inside. Plan your walks and playtime at other times throughout the day.

Consider the Vaccination Schedule
When Housebreaking a Dog

Don't put him down on city sidewalks or allow him to visit with other dogs until he's finished with his puppy vaccinations and your vet says it's OK.

Once your pup's vaccinations are complete, take the time to train him in other places on different surfaces.

Some dogs will relieve themselves only in their own backyard, which can cause them a lot of distress if they're taken out for the day.

Get him used to sand, grass, gravel, concrete, and any other kind of ground he may need to use.

Housebreaking a Dog to Potty on Command

My kids were embarrassed when I used “Go potty!” with our puppies, but I figured if it worked for three kids, it should work for puppies, too. It did!

Whatever command you choose when housebreaking a dog should be said as your pup is sniffing for a place to go, then again as he squats.

Praise him calmly until he's done, then make a big deal over him when he's all finished.

In a few weeks he'll squat as soon as you say, "Go potty!" (or whatever).

Housebreaking a dog using this "command method" comes in really handy when it's raining or cold outside, or when you're on vacation.

By the way, praise works wonders when housebreaking dogs. Don't just say, "Good dog" in a flat tone of voice. That's like saying, "Nice try." (How does that make you feel?) Instead, say, "Gooood dog!" in a voice that says, "You're the smartest puppy in the whole world!"

Using a Crate When Housebreaking a Dog

If you bought a crate big enough for an adult Golden Retriever, you’ll need to block off part of it for now. Small living quarters coincide with his instinct to keep his sleeping area clean.

You can’t housebreak a puppy by keeping him in a crate big enough for him to dirty in one end and sleep in the other.

When housebreaking a dog at this tender age, you need to remember that when you can't be home, Puppy Pete needs to stay in his crate. Make sure those times are reasonably short, for the puppy's sake.

When you have to be away, line up friends and family to drop by every couple of hours. You can also hire a dog sitter who knows how to housebreak a puppy and can let your pup out for some fun playtime during the day.

Instead of a crate, it's possible to start out housebreaking a dog by paper training. That method isn't recommended for large dogs like Golden Retrievers, but in special circumstances, it's another option to consider.

Cleaning Up Accidents When Housebreaking a Dog

Place several layers of paper towels on the spot and then stand on it.

If you see any moisture coming all the way through to the topside of the paper towels, apply another batch of paper towels to the spot. Stand on it, and check again.

When you can't absorb any more moisture, the next step is to apply a pet odor neutralizer.

Cleaning with a pet odor neutralizer is a must! Never use a product with ammonia in it. Ammonia is in urine, and that familiar smell will shout to your puppy, "Pee here!"

Your favorite pet supply store sells a wide variety of very effective pet odor eliminators and neutralizers to help with those “Oops!” moments of housebreaking a dog. Might as well keep a can handy.

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