Advice To Follow When Housetraining Puppies
When you decide that you want to own a pet, usually dogs are the first choice with cats being a close second. Housetraining puppies can be a long process if you are not going about it the right way. The first important thing to remember is that dogs are not born knowing that the carpet is an inappropriate place to relieve themselves. Actually, they are born with no thought whatsoever about where they may choose to 'go'.
When you begin this process, you might as well realize that there will be accidents regardless of how much effort you put into it. If you are distracted only for a second and miss the warning signs, an accident is very likely during the training process. It is important that you learn how the dog acts when they are feeling that urge in order to make sure you catch it in time.
You should set a schedule of taking the dog outside at specific intervals and allow them to relieve themselves. Times like immediately after sleeping and eating are very good times to do this. This builds a schedule for the dog as well as helps you keep track of when they will need to go outside.
When you notice that your dog is showing the signs of needing to relieve themselves, pick them up and carry them outside. Doing so will cut down on the chances that there will be an accident on the way out the door. They need to learn bladder control as well as self control, so patience is a must.
Nighttime is the hardest for making sure there are no accidents. However, confining the dog to a specific area for sleeping will help reduce any accidents. They do not like to sleep where they relieve themselves, so they will usually not do so. You will want to consider an option for relieving themselves in the night such as a potty training pad or a litter box.
To reinforce the behavior that you desire, be sure to reward them each time they are successful outdoors. A treat and praise will reinforce the behavior. Be sure to provide the reward immediately after completion so that the dog associates the treat with the behavior. If you wait too long they will not realize they are being rewarded for relieving outdoors instead of indoors.
When working through this process, remember that children take time to train to use the toilet as well. Dogs are no different. Both are born with no inkling that there is a proper time and place to relieve themselves and as people who have already learned this it is up to you to teach them.
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You should definitely take a look at the information we have on puppies, if you have a new puppy or plan on getting one.
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