Hey pup fans and welcome to this week’s episode of the Pampered Pup.
A new puppy is a wonderful addition to any household.
Cuddling up to our favorite pup of fluff is a great way to unwind and experience pure
joy.
One thing that doesn’t bring pure joy though are the little “presents” they’ll leave
on your floor and carpet.
Well, it’s time to fix that!
In this video, we’ll give you all the skills you need to house train your fluffy family
member fast AND easy.
But first, we know there’s one present you don’t want to miss each week, so pet that
subscribe button and ring the bell so you don’t miss any of our weekly doggy treats.
Why house train your puppy?
Besides the obvious answer of keeping your house clean, it helps teach your pup boundaries
and prepares them for being a well-behaved dog.
You might think that teaching a puppy is harder than waiting until they’re older, but that’s
hardly the case.
While it can vary by dog, generally speaking, most puppies can begin house training as young
as 2 months old.
You just need the right strategy to instill the right habits in them.
We’ll highlight two popular methods of house training: Crate training and paper training
plus one bonus for the truly dedicated pup owner.
But, first…
What NOT to do when beginning house training
We want to stress that it’s very important to never use punishment as a training tool.
This includes shoving the dog in their accident, yelling at the dog, or abusing your dog in
some other way.
You should think of your new pup as an infant so doing these things aren’t just ineffective,
they can cause serious harm to your dog and damage the trust your dog needs and expects
from you.
Remember that house training is a process that can take anywhere from a few days to
a few months.
Take it slow and teach your dog the right way.
They’ll thank you for it!
Now, let’s cover a few pointers to get you started on the right paw.
Tip one Is to stock up on patience.
House training can take time and your new pup will learn much better when they trust
you.
That means a lot of positive reinforcement, and refraining from anger and punishment when
they have an accident indoors.
Tip two
Is to pick a spot you want your pup to associate with doing their business.
This could be a spot in the house if you’re using a pee pad, or a certain spot in the
yard if you can take them outside regularly.
Tip three
Is to stock up on treats.
While pups like praise, they absolutely love treats, so make sure you have a bunch and
pass them on to your pup when they do their business in the desired spot.
Tip four
Is to set up a schedule and stick to it.
Dogs love routine and if they can expect to relieve themselves at a certain time or after
a certain activity, try your best to keep to that expectation.
Most pups will need to relieve themselves:
As soon as you wake up After playing
After eating and drinking Right before bed
And as they’re growing, probably a few times in the middle of the night
And Tip five
Is to watch for signs that your pup needs to do their business.
This could come in the form of whining, scratching on the door, or sniffing around the house
in an out of the way spot.
Look out especially for that last one, as that’s the dog’s instinctive behavior
and one you don’t necessarily need to train in them.
Now that we’re all ready, let’s cover some popular methods for house training your
dog.
House training through crate training
Crate training is one of the most popular methods for house training a pup for good
reason.
It’s super effective!
Although some new dog parents may worry that it’s cruel to their pet, this is absolutely
not the case, when done correctly.
We’ve made a whole video on crate training your pup, so we’ll just cover the basics
of potty training using a crate.
The first step is to make sure your crate is the correct size for your pup.
Dogs are den animals and are predisposed to try not to make a mess in their sleeping area.
A good sized crate should allow your pup to stand, turn around and lay down without difficulty.
Once your pup is used to the crate, it’s just a matter of getting them to associate
outside with potty areas, and inside with living area.
The next step is to keep your pup near you while they’re in the crate.
This will make them more comfortable while in the crate and also give you more of a heads
up as to when they need to do their business.
Most pups will start whining when they’re ready to get out of their crate, and this
is often due to them needing to do the deed.
When this happens, you should take the crate outside and open it for them.
Remember you need to be patient.
Pups have a very tough time controlling their bladder and likely will need to go out several
times a day.
Usually every 15-20 minutes, but this can vary by dog and the length of time will increase
as they get older and better at holding it.
Over time they’ll build an association with doing their business when they get outside,
but it will take time.
Always be sure to give them positive reinforcement for going outside with praise and treats.
If it’s too difficult to let your puppy go outside so often or they’re having trouble
building the association, then you can combine the crate training with pee pads.
If you don’t have a crate or don’t want to use one, you can also keep your pup in
a confined space like a crib or an area of the living room with barriers.
House training with training pads
Puppy training pads are another effective way to house train your new pup and many busy
pet parents like these as an easy option if they can’t let their pup out regularly to
do his business.
The first step is to choose a spot for the training pads and make sure your pup is aware
of where they are.
You can combine pee pads with crate training by letting your pup out of the crate to go
on their training pad.
NEVER try to make your dog use a training pad inside their crate as this goes against
their instinctive behavior and will make things harder for you down the line.
Keep your pup’s training pad clean but leave a bit of soiled pad on any new ones you leave
out.
This will help your pup associate that location with where they should use the toilet.
You can set up several areas in your house with training pads so your pup doesn’t have
to go too far and is less likely to go on your carpet.
As they get used to going in one spot, you can start removing training pads.
You’ll want to wean them off of training pads eventually.
To do this, remove extra training pads in your home until there’s just one they use
regularly.
Gradually move this training pad towards your door until it’s completely outside.
Once the training pad is on to your lawn, start to reward your pup whenever they do
their business on grass, so they can build a new association.
Remember to trust the process and give your pup time to build the positive associations
and learn where the correct places to use the potty are.
Congratulations!
You’ve house trained your pup and have fewer presents you’ll have to clean up after getting
home.
We hope these skills are useful for you.
Let us know what great advice you want to hear next in the comments below and tune in
next time for more great dog tips!