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Housebreaking Puppies
Congratulations! You have just acquired a new puppy, and in
between having fun and enjoying him/her, you will have to teach your pet certain
rules of behavior. Let’s start with some important facts.
During the third week of life, puppies start moving away from
the nest to eliminate, and by 5 weeks old they begin urinating and defecating in
a regular place. From this point, up until 8 and a half weeks old, they will
start developing surface preferences for elimination. During this period,
puppies develop neuromuscular control of their bladders and bowels. So, from 7
weeks on, your efforts to potty-train will be most rewarding…
These are some steps for you to follow:
- Take the puppy outdoors to eliminate. Most important times are upon
awakening, 15 minutes after meals, after play sessions; take him out 6-8 times a
day. It is best to have your puppy on a leash and take him to the same location
so that he can sniff previous odors. It may take 15-20 minutes of sniffing;
avoid playing so the puppy concentrates.
- Choose a simple phrase, like ‘go potty’ or ‘potty time’ and repeat it to
exhaustion, before and especially during defecation/urination.
- Reward your puppy immediately after getting the job done (within 15
seconds). You can offer praise, food treats or playtime. (This means you must be
with your puppy while she eliminates, so you can praise before she engages in
another activity.)
- Supervise your puppy indoors (like a hawk!), or use a leash or bells in
the collar. Whenever you can’t watch the puppy, he should be placed in a
puppy-proof area, like a crate, a large box, a small bathroom (without rugs).
(see below)
- Provide appropriate indoor elimination areas if you’ll be away for a long
time. An 8-12 week old puppy usually can go 2-4 hours without needing to
eliminate. For longer periods, use paper or housebreaking pads, place them
inside a crate or a confinement area. Make sure the puppy has space for a
rest/restaurant area away from the wastes. Upon getting home, immediately take
the puppy outdoors. You may wish to take a sheet of soiled paper to the outdoor
bathroom to reinforce the message. By 7-9 months old, usually puppies can go
8-10 hours without soiling.
- Teach your puppy to signal when she has to go. You can hang a bell onto
the doorknob and teach the puppy to nudge it, then you open the door. You can
also cue the dog with a key phrase, like ‘need to go out?’ The puppy’s reaction
will indicate whether he needs to eliminate. Many will learn to bark as a signal.
- Properly feed and water your puppy. A full stomach stimulates the colon
to contract within 10-30 minutes – good time to take your puppy out! But pets
need access to water at all times. If you’re concerned that thirst and/or
urination is excessive, please bring that up with your veterinarian.
- Punishment for mistakes. Like the name says, mistakes are mistakes and
are best prevented by constant vigilance. The only time that reprimanding works
if when the puppy is sniffing and assuming position; try stomping your feet or
saying NO out loud, grab the puppy and run outside! If you find a puddle or a
pile in the house, clean it up really well with a product specific for that use,
which will degrade the odor (don’t use bleach). Scolding your puppy after the
fact will only confuse and intimidate her.
- Develop versatility. Once the puppy reaches 4-6 months of age (most are
housebroken by this age), you can introduce him to different surfaces and
locations. For example, dogs who usually eliminate in the yard should now learn
to do it during a walk; or off leash; or on soil rather than grass. Use your key
phrase and then praise to tell the puppy it’s okay.
- Discuss problems with your veterinarian. If you’re having problems that
are not responding to these techniques, there may be physical or emotional
causes that together you can identify. We are here to help you!
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