Training Puppies

Lesson 3: Housetraining and Manners

In this lesson we will discuss different housetraining methods for those living in homebound situations as well as those with easy outdoor access. We will also cover the beginning basics of puppy manners in the Recall, the Sit, and Leash Walking.

Crate Training

Be prepared to exercise diligence and patience while housebreaking. You will need to keep a close eye on your puppy and, when you can't, a crate makes things much easier. When he is loose in the house, the best way to watch him is to baby gate off the doorways of the room you are in or to keep him on a leash. When you see him sniffing and appearing to search for a ‘bathroom’, take him immediately outside and give him a cue such as “Go potty!” or “Take a break!” Be patient and wait for him to do his business. When he does, praise him and praise him some more!

For those who have small dogs, litter pans and doggy litter are now available. Use the same steps above, except take the puppy to the litter pan instead of outdoors. Or you can use newspapers or some of the 'piddle pads' on the market.

When you can’t watch him closely, the crate will come in handy. It must be a crate that is big enough for him to stand up, lie down, and stretch out in, but not big enough that he can soil one end and sleep in the other. If you don’t want to buy several crates as he grows, there are crates available with dividers. His crate should be his ‘den’, a pleasant place where he will be comfortable, with a safe toy or chewy.

Young puppies have little control over their bodily functions and will need to be taken out to potty often. A good general rule is to count one hour for every month of age. For example a two month old puppy would need to go out about every two hours and a four month old puppy would need to go out about every four hours. They should also have the opportunity to potty after eating, after playing, and after sleeping. A young puppy will be fed three times a day and will nap often so that will be lots of potty breaks! Just remind yourself that it won’t last forever. A few puppies are trained after several days and some puppies take up to six months but he will gradually become more and more trustworthy.

If you find a mistake, simply clean it up out of the puppy’s sight, using one of the odor-neutralizing cleaners on the market so he will not be tempted to use the same spot again. Do not punish him as he will not make the connection and will not understand why you are scolding him. He will only learn to fear that you will suddenly become angry for no reason and the stress can create many behavior problems, including more housetraining mistakes. If you catch him in the act, clap your hands or sharply say something like “ah ah ah” to startle him, and immediately take him outside. If he finishes there, praise him as if he just won the lottery! If not, calmly bring him back inside without praise or scolding, and try again in a few minutes.

The key is timing and consistency. Give him plenty of potty opportunities and plenty of time out of the crate. Do not leave him crated so long that he is forced to potty there. Restricting food and water three or four hours before the last bedtime potty break may help him make it through the night but make sure he has plenty of water during the day.

Remember, he is just a baby and will make some mistakes just as human babies do, but if you do your part, he should be trustworthy in the house by the age of six or seven months and probably sooner.

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