If you are bringing your new puppy home for the first time, it’s important to get off on the right foot. Accidents happen and new puppies often don’t know any better. As such, it is important to start house training your new companion as soon as you bring them home.
Housetraining requires patience, commitment and consistency to get right. It can be frustrating for you and your dog if you are not prepared, but it really doesn’t have to be all that difficult. With the right approach, housetraining your puppy can be relatively easy and painless. in this post, we will outline a basic plan for housetraining a new puppy.
How Long Does Housetraining Take?
Not all puppies learn at the same rate, so this will vary considerably. There are a number of factors that will determine how long housetraining will take, such as age, health, your methods and consistency. Where others take months, some pups get the hang of it within a few days. However, with patience and persistence, most dogs can achieve perfect house manners.
Establish A Routine
Canines thrive on a regular schedule and a consistent routine. This will teach them the times they will eat, the times they will play and the times they will do business.
Typically, a puppy can hold their bladders for one hour for every month of age. This means that the younger your pup is the more frequently they should be put outside to do their business. It is also recommended to do so immediately after they wake up, during and after playing and after eating and drinking. This establishes a routine of when they should be let out.
Observation and Supervision
Don’t give your puppy an opportunity to soil in the house; keep an eye on them whenever they’re indoors. Puppies will often display signs for when they want to do their business. These include pacing and sniffing. When you see these signs, immediately take them outside. Once they are finished praise and reward them for good behaviour.
Praise & Reward
Positive reinforcement is one of the best ways to teach your dog good behaviours. When the animal is exhibiting the desired behaviour, reward and praise them for doing so. You should reward your pup immediately after they have finished outside.
Mistakes Happen
It is important to remember that mistakes happen and that they are a normal part of the puppy training process. Your puppy is still young and it is expected to have the occasional accident.
If this happens it is important to not punish them as this may make them afraid and more likely to do so again. Instead, take immediately take them outside and praise and reward them if they finish there. Additionally, it is important to thoroughly clean the areas young puppies are motivated to soil areas that smell like urine or faeces.
Professional Puppy Training
With patience and consistency, you can get your pup housetrained in no time. However, there are a number of basic training concepts that need to be understood for effective training. Chapter One Dog Training is here to help you learn the basic puppy training skills to help you give your companion the best start. Book your class today.
