Contrary
to popular belief, housetraining a puppy requires far more than a few stacks
of old newspapers—it calls for vigilance, patience, and plenty of
commitment. By following the procedures outlined below, you can minimize
house soiling incidents, but virtually every puppy will have an accident in
the house, and more likely, several. Expect this—it's part of raising a
puppy. The more consistent you are in following the basic housetraining
procedures, however, the faster your puppy will learn acceptable behavior.
It may take several weeks to housetrain your puppy, and with some of the
smaller breeds, it might take longer.
Establish A Routine
- Like babies, puppies do best on a regular schedule. Take your puppy
outside frequently—at least every two hours—and immediately after he wakes
up from a nap, after playing, and after eating or drinking.
- Praise your puppy lavishly every time he eliminates outdoors—you can
even give him a treat—but remember to do so immediately after he's
finished eliminating, not after he comes back inside the house. This step
is vital, because rewarding your dog for eliminating outdoors is the only
way he'll know what's expected of him.
- Pick a bathroom spot near the door, and always take your puppy to that
spot using a leash. Take him out for a longer walk or some playtime only
after he has eliminated. If you clean up an accident in the house, take
the soiled rags or paper towels and leave them in the bathroom spot. The
smell will help your puppy recognize the area as the place he is supposed
to eliminate. While your puppy is eliminating, use a word or phrase, like
"go potty," that you can eventually use before he eliminates to remind him
what to do.
- Put your puppy on a regular feeding schedule and feed a high-quality
diet to make housetraining easier. Depending on their age, puppies usually
need to be fed three or four times a day. Feeding your puppy at the same
times each day will make it more likely that he'll eliminate at consistent
times as well, and that makes housetraining easier for both of you.
Keep Your Eyes Peeled
Don't give your puppy an opportunity to soil in the house; keep an eye on
him whenever he's indoors. You can tether him to you with a six-foot leash,
or use baby gates to keep him in the room where you are. Watch for signs
that he needs to eliminate, like sniffing around or circling. When you see
these signs, immediately grab the leash and take him outside to his bathroom
spot. If he eliminates, praise him lavishly and reward him with a treat.
Confinement
When you're unable to watch your puppy at all times, he should be
confined to an area small enough that he won't want to eliminate there. The
space should be just big enough for him to comfortably stand, lie down, and
turn around in. You can use a portion of a bathroom or laundry room blocked
off with baby gates. Or you may want to crate train your puppy and use the
crate to confine him. (Be sure to learn how to use a crate humanely as a
method of confinement.) If your puppy has spent several hours in
confinement, you'll need to take him directly to his bathroom spot as soon
as you let him out, and praise him when he eliminates.
Oops!
Expect your puppy to have a few accidents in the house—it's a normal part
of housetraining. Here's what to do when that happens:
- When you catch him in the act of eliminating in the house, do
something to interrupt him, like make a startling noise (be careful not to
scare him). Immediately take him to his bathroom spot, praise him, and
give him a treat if he finishes eliminating there.
- Don't punish your puppy for eliminating in the house. If you find a
soiled area, it's too late to administer a correction. Just clean it up.
Rubbing your puppy's nose in it, taking him to the spot and scolding him,
or any other punishment will only make him afraid of you or afraid to
eliminate in your presence. In fact, punishment will often do more harm
than good.
- Cleaning the soiled area is very important because puppies are highly
motivated to continue soiling in areas that smell like urine or feces.
It's extremely important that you use the supervision and confinement
procedures outlined above to prevent the number of accidents. If you allow
your puppy to eliminate frequently in the house, he'll get confused about
where he's supposed to eliminate, which will prolong the housetraining
process.
Paper Training
A puppy under six months of age cannot be expected to control his bladder
for more than a few hours at a time. If you have to be away from home more
than four or five hours a day, this may not be the best time for you to get
a puppy; instead, you may want to consider an older dog, who can wait for
your return.
But if you're already committed to having a puppy and must be away for
long periods of time, you'll need to make arrangements for someone, such as
a responsible neighbor or a professional pet sitter, to take him outside to
eliminate. Or you'll need to train him to eliminate in a specific place
indoors. Be aware, however, that doing so can prolong the process of
housetraining. Teaching your puppy to eliminate on newspaper may create a
life-long surface preference, meaning that even as an adult he may eliminate
on any newspaper lying around the living room.
When your puppy must be left alone for long periods of time, confine him
to an area with enough room for a sleeping space, a playing space, and a
separate place to eliminate. In the area designated as the elimination area,
use either newspapers or a sod box. To make a sod box, place sod in a
container such as a child's small, plastic swimming pool. You can also find
dog litter products at a pet supply store. If you clean up an accident in
the house, put the soiled rags or paper towels in the designated elimination
area. The smell will help your puppy recognize the area as the place where
he is supposed to eliminate.
Other Types of House-Soiling Problems
If you've consistently followed the housetraining procedures and your
puppy continues to eliminate in the house, there may be another reason for
his behavior, such as…
- Medical Problems: House soiling can often be caused by physical
problems such as a urinary tract infection or a parasite infection. Check
with your veterinarian to rule out any possibility of disease or illness.
- Submissive/Excitement Urination: Some dogs, especially young
ones, temporarily lose control of their bladders when they become excited
or feel threatened. This usually occurs during greetings or periods of
intense play, or when they're about to be punished.
- Territorial Urine-Marking: Dogs sometimes deposit small amounts
of urine or feces to scent-mark their territory. Both male and female dogs
do this, and it most often occurs when they believe their territory has
been invaded.
- Separation Anxiety: Dogs who become anxious when they're left
alone may house soil as a result. Usually, there are other symptoms as
well, such as destructive behavior or vocalization.
- Fears or Phobias: When animals become frightened, they may lose
control of their bladder and/or bowels. If your puppy is afraid of loud
noises, such as thunderstorms or fireworks, he may house soil when he's
exposed to these sounds.
© 2002. Adapted from material originally developed by
applied animal behaviorists at the Dumb Friends League, Denver, Colorado.
All rights reserved.
