đŸ’©Housetraining Your Puppy
The essential approach to housetraining your puppy involves preventing indoor accidents and rewarding successful elimination outside. Crate training is a valuable tool for housetraining because dogs typically refrain from soiling their resting area. Please refer to the crate training guidelines to properly crate train your puppy.
When housetraining a puppy, it's crucial to ensure you take them outside at specific times when they are most likely to potty. These times include:
First thing in the morning.
After each meal.
After playtime.
When coming out of their crate.
Every hour when you are at home.
Accompany your puppy each time you take them out so that you can provide feedback when they potty. Designate a consistent outdoor location for these outings. Spend a maximum of 5 minutes pacing back and forth in that area without interacting with your puppy. If they successfully potty, offer abundant praise and a food treat upon completion. Then, if you have time, engage in a play session or go for a walk. If they don't potty, return indoors and either place them in their crate or supervise them by keeping them on a leash. Try again in 15 minutes.
When your puppy finally potties, shower them with praise and rewards. Only when you are sure they are "empty" should you allow them more freedom inside the house (but remember to ALWAYS supervise).
While inside the house, your puppy should be under constant supervision. Familiarize yourself with the cues that indicate they need to potty, such as circling, restlessness, or sniffing. Whenever you observe these behaviors, say "want to go out" and take them outside.
If you catch your puppy starting to potty in the house, interrupt them with a sharp sound (e.g., clap your hands). Then urgently say "outside" and take the puppy out. Stay outside for 5 minutes and offer praise and treats if they finish pottying.
If the puppy has an accident in the house and you did not see it happen, you must not punish them for it, as they will not connect the accident with the punishment. This will only cause your puppy to be afraid. Simply clean it up (using an enzymatic neutralizer) and pay better attention next time.
