If you are getting a new puppy, often the first question you’ll be asked is, “Is she house-trained?” The good news is that it is fairly easy to house-train a puppy.
Be consistent
- Feed at the same time each day and take your puppy outside 10-20 min after she eats.
- Take her to the same area to help this become a habit.
- Pick up your puppy’s water dish 2-3 hours before bedtime. Most puppies can sleep several hours without needing to go potty.
- Take her outside just before bedtime and as soon as she wakes up in the morning.
- Take your puppy outside during and after playtime. Once she stops playing, she will generally need to go potty.
- A rule of thumb is that a puppy can hold her bladder one hour for every month of age, so a three-month-old puppy can hold her bladder for about three hours. Small breeds may not be able to hold it as long.
Reward good behavior right away
- Go outside with your puppy. As soon as he has finished eliminating, reward him with praise, petting, and/or treats. You do not need to make a big deal out of it, but you do need to reward him right away. If you wait until he comes inside, he will not know what he is getting rewarded for.
- If your puppy wakes you up in the middle of the night needing to go out, take him out quietly and return him directly to bed so he does not think this is play time.
Don’t punish accidents
- Stay calm
- If you catch her in the act, you can clap to startle her (this may stop the action) and move her to where you want her to go potty (pee pad or outside).
- Clean the soiled area thoroughly. There are a number of products on the market that can be used to eliminate the smell so your puppy is not tempted to continue using that same area to go potty.
Keep a close eye on your puppy and watch for signs he needs to go:
- Restlessness or sniffing around on the floor or carpet
- Whining or barking
- Heading towards the door
If you will be out of the house for an extended period of time, consider confining your puppy to a smaller area (such as a kitchen), or crate.
- If you leave your puppy in a kitchen or other small area, you can set up a “potty spot,” using commercial potty pads or sod spots developed for this purpose, or you can put down layers of newspaper.
Even if you adopt an older dog, there may be some initial accidents as the dog gets used to your routine. In some cases, older dogs may not be housetrained if they were kept outside all of the time. Your veterinarian can help you rule out medical issues, and a trainer can help guide you on behavioral issues such as submissive urination. If you have ruled out medical and behavioral issues, then follow the puppy housetraining guidelines above.
There are a number of online sites you can access to learn more about housetraining your puppy or adult dog. See the two below to get started.
www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/housetraining_puppies.html
www.aspca.org/blog/house-training-dos-and-donts
Learn more about the Everett Animal Shelter. Plan a visit, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and check out all of our adoptable pets. And be sure to watch our featured Pet of the Week on the Everett Channel.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
