The absolute first thing you must train your dog to do is is
housebreaking No, no, you don’t teach your dog how to break into your
house when you forget your keys. Housebreaking means he must learn where
and when he may do his business. Besides being substantially advantageous
to the hygiene of your household, dogs benefit from having rules and a
routine – as pack animals, they look for duties issued by the pack leader
and naturally enjoy keeping schedules. Here are the steps to housebreaking
your dog
Dog House Training 1 – The best age to begin housebreaking your puppy is
between 8 and 12 weeks old.
Dog House Training 2 – Experts suggest incorporating a crate in a young
dog’s training process. (To housebreak an older dog, skip this section.) A
crate usually resembles a cage, with a locking door and see-through bars,
and should be big enough for the dog to move around in. While it sounds
like a miniature jail cell, crates should not be used to punish your
puppy. The idea is to make the crate into a doggy bedroom – someplace
where your puppy can play and sleep. He should never be confined in his
crate for more than two hours at a time.
Dog House Training 3 – Because dogs, thank goodness, don’t believe in
eliminating by their sleeping areas, your puppy will not relieve himself
in the crate unless you’ve cruelly locked him in there for longer than he
was able to hold it in. Three-month old puppies generally need to
eliminate every three hours, so lead your puppy to a designated outdoor
bathroom spot often.
Dog House Training 4 – Try to always leave the house through the same door
– the door you’d like your dog to scratch at to signal his need to go out
in the future.
Dog House Training 5 – Try to take your dog out at around the same times
each day. A routine will eventually be established, and your dog will soon
know to hold it in until you take him out.
Dog House Training 6 – If your not-yet-housebroken dog is used to roaming
freely around the house, look for clues that tell you he needs to go. Your
dog may suddenly put his nose down and sniff the ground intently. He may
begin to circle an area. Or, he may stare at the door with an intense look
on his face. Signs like these tell you to drop what you’re doing and get
that dog out of the house. If you catch your dog doing his business inside
(and only if you catch him – not after you discover he’s already committed
the crime), rush over and stop him by grasping his collar, pulling up on
it, and saying, “NO” in a deep, stern voice. Then take him outside to let
him finish up and praise him with pats on the head or a pleasantly
chirped, “Good Fido!” when he does. (Note Don’t say “Fido” if your dog’s
name is “Rex.”)
