Repetition Is Key When Housebreaking A Puppy
Puppies can be the cutest little companions, but it is frustrating when they break your stuff. When you do not train your puppy, they develop bad habits and become naughty adults. You can avoid all of this destruction and irritation by housebreaking a puppy. Owning a puppy means that some small accidents will happen, but it is important to limit more serious damage. The only way to prevent damage is to housetrain your pup - a challenging but manageable task. The following tips should help you on your way. Always approach the training process with as much patience and love as possible. Understand that these are baby dogs and would need a lot of time learning things. They are, in the first place, your pets, and in a way, your babies. A puppy can hold their bladder for about one hour per month of age - a two month old pup will need to wee-wee every two hours. For example, a two month old puppy can only hold it for about two hours. Never make your puppy hold his urine longer than he can. The trick is to establish a set routine so that he can learn things gradually - when to wee-wee, when to walk, when to eat and so on. Remember that dogs are intelligent creatures. In many cases the dogs think that feeding time is a reward for their good behavior throughout the day. Puppies love to explore, so let them go outside to sniff around every two to three hours after they wake up in the morning. Walk your new puppy after they have been fed and had a drink. Taking the dog outside often will help him choose a bathroom area other than your favorite couch. It is also helpful to take your dog to his potty spot on a leash. Reinforce the action by saying “time to potty” or something to that effect as he is doing it. After he does his thing on the right spot, reward him by taking longer walks. You cannot allow your dog to potty inside unless you want to spend the rest of his life dealing with indoor messes. You can avoid this problem by supervising your puppy at all times. Reinforce good potty behavior by petting him, feeding him a treat, or offering verbal praise. Depending on your puppy’s age, you might need to feed him three or four times a day. As you do it, make sure to stick to a schedule. A scheduled feeding time means a scheduled potty time as well. Lastly, don't feel bad about having your puppy on a leash until he is fully housebroken. In general, housebreaking puppies takes a long time. Be patient and understanding under training - start the training process over again if he makes any mistakes, but be supportive.