Housebreaking Hints
Dogs are easy to train because they are pack animals with strong instincts to follow a leader. Learn to understand your dog’s inherited behavioral instincts and work with – not against – them.
- Don’t expect to completely housebreak a puppy less than 14 weeks of age. Very young puppies can’t hold bladder and bowel movements for long periods of time.
- Feed your dog a nutritious diet on a consistent time schedule, and he will eliminate on a consistent schedule.
- During the training period, do not feed doggy treats or table scraps between meals.
- Teach control of bodily functions by creating a “den” and confine him to it, until it is time to go out. Supervise your puppy at all times when he is out of his den.
- Select one location outdoors as his toilet area. Use this location consistently.
- Take your dog to his toilet area first thing every morning, after every meal or drink of water, after naps, after play periods or excitement, and before bedtime.
- In between, stay alert for such signs as whining, acting restless, sniffing the floor, or going around in circles.
- Stay outdoors with the dog and praise him lavishly when (and every time) he relieves himself.
- Use verbal praise and petting, NOT FOOD, as a reward.
- Clean up promptly after your dog.
- Keep the dog clean and well – groomed
- Scold the dog verbally, if you catch him relieving himself in the house. Ruse him outside immediately. If you do not catch him, it’s too late for a correction to have any effect. (Note: if the dog does have an accident in the house, put him in another area while you clean up the mess. You are not his maid.)
- Follow a strict timetable. The more vigilant you are in the beginning, the more successful your training program will be. Many, many dogs can be housebroken in 7 – 14 days.
The secret to housebreaking is to understand two things:
- That dogs are pack animals, a dog’s pack instincts allow him to respect and respond to a strong, clear leader.
- That the dog is a den animal by nature, with an instinct to keep his den clean. So, the simplest and quickest way to housebreak is to take advantage of his instincts and housebreak the natural way using a crate to stimulate denning.
Schedule #1 Sample is for owner that is home all day.
7:00am Wake up, go out.
7:10 – 7:30am free period in kitchen.
(supervised)
7:30am Food and water.
8:00am Go out.
8:15am free period in kitchen.
8:45am Confine in crate.
12:00 noon Food and water.
12:30 pm Go out.
12:45pm Free period in kitchen.
1:15pm Confine in crate.
5:00pm Food and water.
5:30pm Go out.
5:45 – 6:15pm Free period in kitchen.
6:15pm Confine in crate.
8:00pm Water.
8:15pm Go out.
8:30pm Free period in kitchen
9:00pm Confine in crate.
11:00pm Go out. Confine in crate overnight.
Schedule #2 Sample for owner that works during the day
7:00am Wake up. Go out.
7:10 – 7:30 Free period in kitchen.
7:30am Food and water.
8:00am Go out. Confine when owner leaves
6:00pm Go out.
6:15 – 6:30 Free period in kitchen.
6:30pm Food and water.
7:00pm Go out.
7:15pm Confine.
9:00pm Food and water.
9:30pm Go out.
9:40pm Free period in kitchen.
10:10pm Confine.
11:00pm Go out. Confine in crate overnight.
Schedule #3 Sample for housebroken adult dog, owner working during the day.
7:00am Wake up, Go out.
7:30am Food, water supply limited during day.
8:00am Go out. Confine when owner leaves for day.
6:00pm Go out.
7:00pm Food (if dog eats twice/day)
7:45pm Quick walk (if dog eats twice)
11:00pm Go out, Bedtime, remove water during night.