How To Housebreak A Dog
11 Feb 2010
You may know how to housebreak a puppy, housebreaking a grown dog is much the same. However there are certain differences to housebreaking a dog which you should be aware of. An adult dog is able to go much longer than a puppy, and probably won’t have as many issues with getting too excited. Even so, you always need to be patient with them, give them lots of love, and praise them a lot.
Before you bring the dog home, go to a pet store and get the dog a crate that will fit them. The cage will come in handy for housebreaking and is a good place to leave your dog at night or when you are out. It is a good idea to purchase some cleaning supplies, because during this process accidents are bound to happen.
As soon as the dog get out of your car, you need to start housebreaking him. Rather than introducing the dog to the people in the house, take him first to visit his brand new yard. There your dog can get used to all the new noises and smells. Due to the excitement of the experience it could take a while before the dog goes to toilet. However do not take the dog inside the house until it has gone to the toilet. When he relieves himself, give him lots of praise for doing so.
There are going to be accidents, especially when you first start out. It can be expected because of the entirely new situation the dog is in. Any changes in food can make a dog have to go. Quickly. Let them out to go to the bathroom often until they are used to the new food. Do not think you are failing when accidents occur, they are expected.
If your dog has an accident, do not yell at them. This is the biggest mistake you can make. Besides, your friend can’t always communicate his needs, so don’t punish him for something that’s not all his fault. Take it outside straight away and let it finish, then clean up the accident. It is important that no smell of urine remains, otherwise the dog will think it is OK to go to toilet in that spot.
Soon your pet will develop his own routine. After all, dogs are creatures of habit. Work out a potty routine that is good for the dog and for you as well. You will have to allow the dog out regularly through the day, be sure the dogs meal times are the same each day. Keep in mind you might have to change your schedule during the training process.
Putting your dog in his crate will help to avoid accidents when you have to leave the house for some reason. That’s because dogs don’t like sleeping in their own waste. When you get home, let the dog out into the yard straight away. If you go out of town without your dog, have someone take care of him and let him out to go to the bathroom regularly.
Most importantly, don’t forget to praise him for a job well done. You will have to give your dog time to get used to the new house, yard, and the new family that he is now a part of. It may be a while before your dog is completely housebroken, and you may have to deal with a couple of accidents while you wait, but if you train him consistently and correctly, you will housebreak him.
