Some Basic Concepts to Understand on Dog House Training
- Dogs develop elimination habits during their first few months of life.
- Dogs do not want to eliminate where they rest.
- Being creatures of habit, dogs will return to their "usual spot" whenever it is convenient.
- Dogs can be trained to react to a conditioned stimulus in a certain way.
- A behavior is likely to be repeated if it is positively reinforced. (You will therefore be using food treats and praise to reinforce elimination at the proper time, in the proper place
The instinct of a puppy dog is to defecate and urinate away from the immediate den area where they rest, play and feed. This natural habit can be seen as early as 3 weeks old but can be easily be lost by poor dog house training. Hence, it is between this 1 and 3 months that the foundations of later success or failure on house training are laid. The challenge of house training a puppy is easier than that of overcoming reversal of house training in an adult dog, but both require a good sense of timing, kindness and a systematic approach to exercise and feeding and.
Successful Tips on Dog House Training
- The best method of house training is the crate method. Buy your dog a crate only big enough for the dog to stand up, lay down and turn around. This will be the dog's "den" and sleeping place. It goes against a dog's instinct to foul his sleeping place.
- Dogs are clean animals and always prefer to keep their area clean. Your dog wants to do the right thing once he knows what it is. You must show your dog the preferred spot for eliminating-outside.
- On the dog's first day home, let him wander in and out of the crate at will. Place a blanket, towel, a house training aid in the crate along with some dog toys. Let him get the idea that the kennel is his own private room.
- Young puppies must be taken outside many times a day. Young puppies need to eliminate within 30 minutes of eating, drinking, playing, exercising, and sleeping. Older dogs need to go out four or more times daily. Always take the dog to the same area outdoors to relieve himself. The smell will remind him why he's there.
- When puppy relieves himself outside, praise him, "Very Good Dog!" and give him a treat. A dog will quickly associate going outside with treats, and will be eager to relieve himself outside.
- If you're inside and notice the dog starting to sniff and circle, quickly grab him up or encourage him to go outside. If you catch him in mid-stream, startle the pup with a noise, and then take him outside.
- If you notice a mess on the floor but didn't see your dog do it? Just clean up the mess without scolding the dog. Dogs are not able to associate past mistakes with a correction from you. You must catch your dog in the act for your correction to be more effective. Rubbing the dogs' nose in the mess will just shame him and lead him to relieve outside on a hidden place.
- Use a cleaner that will kill smells and bacteria, such as vinegar and water, simple green, nature's miracle, or . If you don't thoroughly clean up the spot, the dog might return to that spot.
- Remember, dogs don't like to foul their den. At bedtime, take the puppy outside and then lock him in his crate for the night. He'll make an effort not to foul his bed. Then take him outside first thing in the morning. Some young puppies may not have the muscle control to hold it all night and will have to be taken out during the night.
- Don't feed your dog after about 6:00 pm. This will help the dog to make it through the night with no accidents.
- A good dog house traing tip: Hang a jingle bell on the door and jingle it when you go outside to the bathroom. Your dog should learn to ring the bell when he needs to go outside.
