House Training Your Dog
15 Mar 2010
New dog owners often find that they have much more difficulty house training a dog than they first think that will when they first get a puppy. Dogs are, above all else, animals. If they are going to learn to be house trained, then their owners will have to firm and consistent with both their dog’s schedule and their rewards.
The first thing an owner needs to realize is that they’re also teaching themselves a routine, not just teaching the dog. It is important that the dog is taken outside several times a day. This would include first thing in the morning and right before bedtime. However, it’s also important to get your dog outside after playtime and meals.
At least at first, you’ll want to stay outside and make sure that the dog does go. Praise them for this, making sure you use whatever phrase you want the dog to associate with the act of elimination.
Dogs do not like to eliminate where they eat or sleep. Putting their food bowl in an area where your dog has had accidents in the past might help keep them from going there again in the future. Dogs are creatures of habits and instincts, so hopefully the instinct not to eliminate near food will override the habit of eliminating in the area.
If you continue to have problems, consider limiting your dog’s access to the majority of your house. Blocking off the second floor or a hallway leading to rooms the dog doesn’t often go to might help eliminate accidents. Rooms that are too far from a dogs regular living space feel no different that outdoors to him.
Remember, consistency is key when you’re hoping to house train your dog.
Taylor also writes on articles on dog bed selection such as kuranda dog beds.
