PONCA CITY HUMANE SOCIETY
Housebreaking Your New Puppy or Dog
The Basics
Teaching your new puppy or dog not to use your house as a bathroom is not as difficult as you might think. All you need to do is remember some basic rules and be consistent in your application of these rules.
Before you start, there is a basic principle that you need to know about your dog. You must understand your dog’s natural instinct about this natural function.
Dogs by nature are den animals. They are comfortable in cozy, secluded spaces. If they were still in the wild (non-domesticated) they would seek out a cave or other small space in which to live; a place where they can feel safe. They would eat, sleep and play in that cave. They would never, however, go to the bathroom in that space because they would not want to soil the space or leave signs for other animals to know where they are.
To properly housebreak your dog or puppy, you need to simulate the same atmosphere. You can easily accomplish this by the use of a dog crate. CRATES ARE NOT CRUEL, contrary to popular belief. A crate is similar to a cave which is a natural setting for your dog. After your dog has used its crate a few times, even when it is not required to go into it, your dog will choose to go in on its own.
There are other uses for a crate as well. A crate is a great way to keep your dog or puppy out of trouble when you can’t watch over him. A puppy can’t chew furniture, shoes or other household items during the teething period if it is crated.
This does not mean that your puppy has to stay in the crate until adulthood. But, during the early development stages a crate is the best friend a puppy can have - - next to you.
Housebreaking Techniques
Young puppies usually need to relieve themselves after about 15 minutes:
upon awakening;
right after eating; or
of playing
If you have your puppy out of its crate to visit and play with you, it is your responsibility to take your puppy outside at these crucial times.
Always use a keyword or phrase to let your puppy know that it is time to go outside and relieve itself. "Outside," "Go Potty," ir "Get Busy" or any phrase with which you are comfortable.
If you have a doggie door (another pet owner’s aide), be sure to let your dog out through that door so it will learn that this is the exit/entrance to good behavior. If you don’t have or don’t want a doggie door, try to use the same door every time you let your dog outside. You could also excite your dog about going outside by teaching it to "speak" (bark) at the door.
Official housebreaking begins in the evening and continues through the night. Make your dog’s last meal about 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Allow your dog to drink water until 8:00 p.m.. Don’t
Ponca City Humane Society
Housebreaking Your New Puppy or Dog
Page 2
panic. Your dog will not dehydrate from lack of water. Just before you go to bed, take your dog outside to allow it to relieve itself. (Follow the rules above).
Give it 15-20 minutes to finish the job. PRAISE your dog for a job well done, then go back inside. Put your dog in the crate with a command such as "Crate," "Kennel," or "Go to bed." Then praise your dog again once it is in the crate. Allow your dog to have a toy in the crate, but no food or water.
In the beginning, your puppy or dog may whimper, whine or bark when you put it in the crate. If you ignore this tantrum or scold it to "Be quite" then this behavior will pass. In a shot time your dog will come to realize that crate training is a part of growing up. Sometimes it helps to put the crate in your bedroom so that your dog is aware of you and won’t feel abandoned. However, you can place the crate anywhere in your house.
Other Rules
First thing in the morning you must let your dog outside to relieve itself (even before you go). Leave it outside for a few minutes. Let your dog back inside for its morning meal then you can let it outside again.
If no one is home during the day. Housebreaking becomes more difficult, but not impossible, if you follow these additional rules.
If you have a doggie door, then place the crate flush against the doggie door with the crate door open. Brace the crate with something heavy. Put your dog outside with a few toys, a chew bone and plenty of water. This gives your dog outside access as well as the security of its crate indoors.
Make sure that your dog or puppy cannot squeeze out of a gate or under a fence.
Make sure your puppy does not have access to your swimming pool, if you have one.
If you don’t have a doggie door, put the crate outside, preferably on the patio or in the shade, again with toys and water available.
If you must leave your dog indoors, put it in the crate. You, or a trusted neighbor or friend, should let your dog out of the crate and outside every four hours for necessary duty.
Although housebreaking may seem like an overwhelming job, keep in mind it can be done. Some puppies and dogs are easily housebroken, while others may take what seem like a terribly long time.
What housebreaking really requires is consistence and patience on the part of the owner and LOTS OF PRAISE for your pet.