HOUSE TRAINING:
Contrary to popular belief, housetraining a puppy requires far more than
a few stacks of old newspapers, it calls for vigilance, patience, and
plenty of commitment. By following the procedures outlined below, you
can minimize house soiling incidents, but virtually every puppy will
have an accident in the house, and more likely, several. Expect this,
it's part of raising a puppy. The more consistent you are in following
the basic housetraining procedures, however, the faster your puppy will
learn acceptable behavior. It may take several weeks to housetrain your
puppy, and with some of the smaller breeds, it might take longer.
Establish A Routine
Like babies, puppies do best on a regular schedule. Take your puppy
outside frequently at least every two hours and immediately after he
wakes up from a nap, after playing, and after eating or drinking.
Praise your puppy lavishly every time he eliminates outdoors you can
even give him a treat, but remember to do so immediately after he's
finished eliminating, not after he comes back inside the house. This
step is vital, because rewarding your dog for eliminating outdoors is
the only way he'll know what's expected of him.
Pick a bathroom spot near the door, and always take your puppy to that
spot using a leash. Take him out for a longer walk or some playtime only
after he has eliminated. If you clean up an accident in the house, take
the soiled rags or paper towels and leave them in the bathroom spot. The
smell will help your puppy recognize the area as the place he is
supposed to eliminate. While your puppy is eliminating, use a word or
phrase, like "go potty," that you can eventually use before he
eliminates to remind him what to do.
Put your puppy on a regular feeding schedule and feed a high-quality
diet to make housetraining easier. Depending on their age, puppies
usually need to be fed three or four times a day. Feeding your puppy at
the same times each day will make it more likely that he'll eliminate at
consistent times as well, and that makes housetraining easier for both
of you.
Keep Your Eyes Peeled
Don't give your puppy an opportunity to soil in the house; keep an eye
on him whenever he's indoors. You can tether him to you with a six-foot
leash, or use baby gates to keep him in the room where you are. Watch
for signs that he needs to eliminate, like sniffing around or circling.
When you see these signs, immediately grab the leash and take him
outside to his bathroom spot. If he eliminates, praise him lavishly and
reward him with a treat.
Confinement
When you're unable to watch your puppy at all times, he should be
confined to an area small enough that he won't want to eliminate there.
The space should be just big enough for him to comfortably stand, lie
down, and turn around in. You can use a portion of a bathroom or laundry
room blocked off with baby gates. Or you may want to crate train your
puppy and use the crate to confine him. (Be sure to learn how to use a
crate humanely as a method of confinement.) If your puppy has spent
several hours in confinement, you'll need to take him directly to his
bathroom spot as soon as you let him out, and praise him when he
eliminates.
Oops!
Expect your puppy to have a few accidents in the house, it's a normal
part of housetraining.
Here's what to do when that happens:
When you catch him in the act of eliminating in the house, do something
to interrupt him, like make a startling noise (be careful not to scare
him). Immediately take him to his bathroom spot, praise him, and give
him a treat if he finishes eliminating there.
Don't punish your puppy for eliminating in the house. If you find a
soiled area, it's too late to administer a correction. Just clean it up.
Rubbing your puppy's nose in it, taking him to the spot and scolding
him, or any other punishment will only make him afraid of you or afraid
to eliminate in your presence. In fact, punishment will often do more
harm than good.
Cleaning the soiled area is very important because puppies are highly
motivated to continue soiling in areas that smell like urine or feces.
It's extremely important that you use the supervision and confinement
procedures outlined above to prevent the number of accidents. If you
allow your puppy to eliminate frequently in the house, he'll get
confused about where he's supposed to eliminate, which will prolong the
housetraining process.
Paper Training
A puppy under six months of age cannot be expected to control his
bladder for more than a few hours at a time. If you have to be away from
home more than four or five hours a day, this may not be the best time
for you to get a puppy; instead, you may want to consider an older dog,
who can wait for your return.
But if you're already committed to having a puppy and must be away for
long periods of time, you'll need to make arrangements for someone, such
as a responsible neighbor or a professional pet sitter, to take him
outside to eliminate. Or you'll need to train him to eliminate in a
specific place indoors. Be aware, however, that doing so can prolong the
process of housetraining. Teaching your puppy to eliminate on newspaper
may create a life-long surface preference, meaning that even as an adult
he may eliminate on any newspaper lying around the living room.
When your puppy must be left alone for long periods of time, confine him
to an area with enough room for a sleeping space, a playing space, and a
separate place to eliminate. In the area designated as the elimination
area, use either newspapers or a sod box. To make a sod box, place sod
in a container such as a child's small, plastic swimming pool. You can
also find dog litter products at a pet supply store. If you clean up an
accident in the house, put the soiled rags or paper towels in the
designated elimination area. The smell will help your puppy recognize
the area as the place where he is supposed to eliminate.
Other Types of House-Soiling Problems
If you've consistently followed the housetraining procedures and your
puppy continues to eliminate in the house, there may be another reason
for his behavior, such as
Medical Problems:
House soiling can often be caused by physical problems such as a urinary
tract infection or a parasite infection. Check with your veterinarian to
rule out any possibility of disease or illness.
Submissive/Excitement Urination:
Some dogs, especially young ones, temporarily lose control of their
bladders when they become excited or feel threatened. This usually
occurs during greetings or periods of intense play, or when they're
about to be punished.
Territorial Urine-Marking:
Dogs sometimes deposit small amounts of urine or feces to scent-mark
their territory. Both male and female dogs do this, and it most often
occurs when they believe their territory has been invaded.
Separation Anxiety:
Dogs who become anxious when they're left alone may house soil as a
result. Usually, there are other symptoms as well, such as destructive
behavior or vocalization.
Fears or Phobias:
When animals become frightened, they may lose control of their bladder
and/or bowels. If your puppy is afraid of loud noises, such as
thunderstorms or fireworks, he may house soil when he's exposed to these
sounds.
Adapted from material originally developed by applied animal
behaviorists at the
Dumb Friends League, Denver, Colorado. All rights reserved.
If you have questions or need our services, please contact the shelter
at
618.346.5213 or contact us today via
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COLLINSVILLE. A KTLLC Communications Solution