House Breaking
Young puppies do not have control over their bladder until
about 12 weeks of age and then they can only hold their bladder for a short
period of time; about one hour for each month of age.
The easiest way I have found to do housebreak training is to limit the areas
your puppy is allowed to roam freely in the house and take your puppy outside
frequently. Key times to take your puppy outside are when it first wakes up,
after meals, after drinking, and play activities. Puppies will almost always go
potty at these times. Other indicators are when they start sniffing frantically
or turning in circles, this is your cue to get your puppy outside fast! When
you are outside tell your puppy “potty outside” or whatever word you decide to
use, do not play with the puppy so it knows this is business. I always use the
same word and the same door to go out so the puppy will start to associate that
with going outside to relieve itself. Give it plenty of time to sniff around
and find a spot. When your puppy has successfully gone potty outside PRAISE
HIM! I always go out with my puppy no matter what the weather or what
I am doing. If you just plop the puppy outside and go back in the house you
will have no idea if it went potty and the opportunity for praise is gone.
Praise as soon as they go potty is going to reinforce the behavior. BE
CONSISTENT! This will pay off in the end. If you are inconsistent,
your puppy’s potty habits will be inconsistent.
If you want your puppy to always go in the same area make sure you only take it
to that place for potty. If you set a routine and stick with it you will have
an easier time training your puppy and in no time it will be housebroken.
Never punish your puppy for going potty in the house by rubbing its nose in it or
hitting it. Punishing or reprimanding a dog after the fact is useless because
they do not associate what they did five minutes ago with you yelling at them
now. They will think you are angry about what they are doing right at that
minute. Remember dogs do not think like people! If you happen to catch your
puppy in the act tell it firmly NO and immediately take it
outside, even if it is all done, and follow your normal housebreaking routine.
If you are patient and consistent your puppy will catch on that the only place
to go potty is outside. After a while puppy will start going to that door to
let you know it needs out.