Paws-itive Press
8 Easy Steps to Housetrain Your Dog
By Mark Planco of Planco Veterinary Care
You can easily teach your dogs to eliminate in an acceptable location by keeping a close eye, recognizing their signals, understanding their instincts, and rewarding their appropriate behavior.
1. Prevent undesirable elimination by supervising your dog when not confined and keeping them in a crate when unable to observe closely. Crate training is the best way to keep your puppy safe and allow them to develop so they can control their elimination. Puppies should be in their crate when you leave the house, when you’re asleep and when can’t be observed constantly.
2. When puppies are young (8-10 weeks) they should be taken out regularly. Until they understand your schedule and learn the routine you should take them out every time they wake up, eat or drink. As the puppy gains control you can start to wait and when your dog sniffs the ground or circles around, take them out. EVERY time you take a puppy out to eliminate it is important to do it the same way. Have a specific routine that everyone in the family does. Put the leash on, go out the same door, and use the same verbal cues. This routine and as the dog ages and can control his elimination is the key to success.
3. Feed your dog on a schedule. Don’t leave food out or the puppy won’t develop a set pattern. Feed three times daily until approximately four months, then twice daily. If they don’t finish their food in 10-15 minutes, pick it up until next feeding time.
4. Use a specific verbal cue that you want your dog to associate with desirable elimination, such as “Find your spot”, “Go potty” or “Do your business.” or any cue your family decides as long as everyone uses it and is consistent.
5. When your dog begins to eliminate, use quiet praise. You don’t want to distract them from finishing but want them to realize they’re being good. When your dog is done, praise him enthusiastically (don’t worry what the neighbor’s think), pet them, and reward them with food immediately. Don’t wait until you’re back inside, the praise and treat must be immediate.
6. If they do not eliminate, take them inside and supervise closely or return to their confinement area and take them back out in approximately 15 minutes.
7. Reward each time with praise, especially when they tell you they need to go “find their spot”. Most dogs will pick a part of that specific schedule to alert you they want to go out and be a good dog. Good dogs get praised, pet and usually a treat.
8. Remember, it is your responsibility to prevent accidents. If the puppy eliminates in the house, don’t scold the dog, clean up and deodorize the soiled area. Preventing accidents requires that you become aware of how often your puppy needs to eliminate.
Following these steps doesn’t mean every puppy will have no accidents but by using these guidelines will help train your puppy quickly and happily.
Dr. Mark Planco’s compassion for animals has been a lifelong labor of love. He earned both his undergraduate and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees at the University of Florida. Dr. Planco has treated small and large animals since 1991, and has been in Palm Beach County since 1994. Dr. Planco is a member of the Palm Beach Veterinary Society, American Veterinary Medical Association and the Florida Veterinary Medical Association. Visit PlancoVetCare.com for further information or call 561-795-9507.
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Disclaimer: This column is not intended to provide information on which you should use to diagnose or treat a medical condition or delay seeking medical attention. This column is of no value with respect to any medical condition that needs prompt attention. If you have a question that needs an immediate answer, you should call your own veterinarian or emergency animal hospital, especially if you are confronting a medical emergency!
Furthermore, we urge you to always seek the advice of your own veterinarian, and you should not disregard, discount, or delay seeking the advice of your veterinarian because of any response posted in this column.