Arguably the most frustrating part about owning a new puppy is the tendency for them to relieve themselves anywhere and on anything they desire. It doesn’t matter if it’s an expensive Persian rug, your favourite leather chair or the new carpet in your bedroom, anywhere looks like a great place to go for your little puppy.
Housebreaking your puppy is the only way to ensure that they hold on till they are outside, and steer clear of your precious carpets, couches and rugs.
One thing that you puppy isn’t born with, is the realization that going to
the bathroom anywhere isn’t ok. He thinks that anything is a potential toilet,
usually the closest rug or carpet. As humans we are taught quite early on in
life that if we need to go, the bathroom is the place to do it, and we must do
the same to our precious pooches. Some people call it potty training but it is
more commonly known as “housebreaking” your dog.The truth of the matter is, no puppy is able to keep himself from relieving himself until they are about 3 months old. The earlier you begin to train him to do the thing, the better.
On average, most pups tend to need to go to the bathroom around 6-7 times a day. If you see him running in circles around the house, it’s usually a good sign that he needs to go. Also, always take him outside after food because the increased heaviness of the stomach puts a strain on the bladder that will cause him to feel the need to relieve himself.
In the early stages of training your pup, you need to keep an eye on him at all times, or at least as much as is humanly possible. As soon as he looks like he needs to go, take him outside. When he’s finishing doing his business, give him a pat or a treat, and make sure he knows that he’s done the right thing. This way, whenever he goes outside, he will know that he’s done something to please his master and want to repeat the action over and over again.
As with all dog training, it is a game of repetition. You need to observe your pup’s eating habits and the times when he wants to go outside to do his business. After a while, patterns will start to emerge and you can build your routine around his and let him in and out accordingly with his habits.
Making sure you give the proper attention to your puppy in the early stages will ensure that you know what he’s needs are and at what times of the day. In turn, this will save you some nasty surprises on your favourite rug or sofa and ensure a happy healthy puppy who will know when are the right times to do his business!