House training your puppy requires more than a stack of
old newspapers.
It calls for patience, commitment, and above all,
consistency.
Hi, I'm Kathy Santo for Iams with Howdini.
And today we're going to talk about how to
house train your puppy.
A trusting and consistent relationship is fundamental to
successful house training.
The more consistent you are, the faster
your puppy will learn.
House training a puppy can take several weeks and
sometimes longer with smaller breeds.
The first step to house training your puppy is to
establish a routine.
Puppies did best on a regular schedule, because it teaches
them that there are times to eat, times to play,
and times to potty.
As a general rule, a puppy can control his bladder about an
hour for every month of age.
So if your puppy is only three months old, he can probably
only hold it for about three hours, if not less.
Make sure to take him right out after he wakes up, during
and after play time, and after eating or drinking, because
these are times he's most likely to have to go.
If you work and are unable to take your puppy outside as
often as needed, you could hire a dog walker to give your
puppy his necessary breaks.
I recommend picking a specific bathroom spot outside and
always taking him there first when he's on a leash.
While your puppy is going, say something like "go potty" so
that you can eventually use that phrase to
remind him what to do.
You should take him out for a walk or play time after he's
gone potty, or he might just learn to hold
it to keep you outside.
Reward your puppy every time he goes potty outdoors with
praise or a treat, but make sure to do so immediately
before he goes back into the house.
Rewarding correct behavior is the best way
to teach your puppy.
Be careful not to reward your puppy until he's completely
finished, or he may forget to finish up outside and then
have an accident inside.
And remember, what goes into a puppy on a schedule comes out
of a puppy on a schedule.
So always take your puppy out after feeding.
Try picking up your puppy's water dish about two and a
half hours before bedtime, so he won't have as much water to
try and hold overnight.
If you keep a consistent schedule, your puppy could be
house trained by the time he's five to six months old.
But don't be discouraged if it takes your puppy longer or has
an occasional accident.
Many factors, including breed of dog, consistency, and
temperament, can contribute to a longer training period.
If you feel that there's little to no progress, consult
with your veterinarian to be sure that a medical issue,
such as a bladder infection, isn't the culprit.
Supervision in the beginning is critical.
Exercise pens are extremely helpful while house training.
Keeping your puppy in a small space within eyesight will
allow you to notice and react when they start showing the
signs of needing to eliminate.
Those signs can be barking, scratching at the door,
squatting, sniffing, or circling.
If you're unable to monitor your puppy, you can confine
him to an area small enough so that he won't want to
eliminate there.
A space just large enough for him to lay down with a couple
extra inches is just fine.
Many people choose to combine with a crate which can be very
helpful for house training your young dog.
For more information on crate training watch "How to crate
train your puppy."
I'm Kathy Santo for Iams with Howdini, and I hope that
you've found this helpful as you welcome your new addition
to your family.
For more information on puppy care and training, visit
iams.com/puppy.