Housebreaking Basics - Puppies do best when they consistently receive clear expectations and are rewarded for good behaviour. Here are some general guidelines to get you started: It is up to you to set clear, consistent rules your pup can follow. Do this by choosing a general potty location, Note that once she "initiates" a chosen space, she'll use the odor from the first visit as a clue to tell her where to go in the future. Then, pick a key word or phrase like "Scooter, get busy" and repeat it each and every time she is expected to go. This way, she knows what you want her to do. Make a huge deal of successes, even rewarding her with a treat to let her know she's done a good job. Eventually, she'll connect her actions to the praise and, wanting more praise, she will repeat the action.
Timing is Everything: The bladder of a six- to eight-week-old puppy needs to be emptied every one to three hours; older animals can wait a little bit longer between outings. Consider using potty time to bookend the activities in your puppy's day. For example, take her outside after the following events: Waking in the morning, Napping, Eating, Playing or training, Being left alone , Prior to bedtime
Scheduling Your Pup - Lucky for you, puppies' bodies fall into a routine pretty quickly. You can make their natural biorhythms even more predictable by setting regular mealtimes and affording frequent potty breaks.
No Puppy is Perfect: Expect Some Mistakes - Puppies are not considered fully housebroken until they've gone at least four consecutive weeks without eliminating in the house. And, yes, you can expect a few accidents. Remember this is a new skill for your pet and it takes time and patience to develop routines. Until you're in the clear, try the following strategies to minimize messes: Keep your little one within eyesight at all times, prop up baby gates to control your pet's movements, kennel your pup when she's unsupervised
Cleaning: If your puppy does go on the floor, it is imperative you thoroughly remove any potty odors. If the scent lingers, your pet will continue to return to the area to mark her territory. Vinegar water is a great odor eliminator.
How to Discipline While Housebreaking - If you catch her in the act, provide a startling distraction like stomping your foot or saying "No!" loudly. Then, correct the behavior by taking her immediately outside to her potty place. If she continues to go, praise her effusively, Scold your pet only once, then drop it. Never rub a puppy's nose in her own waste, this will serve only to scare her. Besides, it is simply unkind.
Yes, the process of housebreaking your puppy will try your patience. But know the majority of pups get the idea pretty fast, providing you offer them consistent rules and praise.
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