Housebreaking Your Dog - Simplified!

To have a good experience, you must be dedicated to a methodical and consistent process over a few weeks. We are all different, so we "get it" at different times. One key factor for success is to establish a schedule and stick to it.

Being consistent in your housebreaking training effort ensures your awesome pup will catch on as quickly as possible.

Living with a well-trained dog is a delight. I should know!

Puppy or Adult Dog?

Personally, I don't like that crazy indoor puppy pad housebreaking approach. It can create confusion. First you're training your pup to go inside on a pad, then you have to do some re-training to get him to go outside. Save your carpet and don't confuse your puppy!

Of course, we adult dogs have a greater ability to learn than a puppy. We understand cause and effect and also remember praise or punishment. And, since we also have a better amount of control, we are generally much easier to train.

An adult dog, even if housebroken, may be nervous in his new home and have a few accidents. In fact, he may just be "marking" his new territory. Be patient with him.

Follow the suggestions below when housebreaking an adult dog and you should be fine. You may, or may not, want to use the crate, but it is still a good idea for an adult dog, particularly if you can't always keep on eye on him.

Only allow him to have full house freedom (YES!) when he becomes reliable.

Love that Dog Crate!

Get a dog crate or kennel that is big enough for your dog to stand up completely in. He should also be able to turn around and lay down comfortably. This is important. It's a training aid, not a jail cell!

You can either put old towels or a blanket in there for bedding or choose to leave the crate bare. It won't look very comfortable, but if you're training a puppy, there will be accidents. So, a bare crate is easier to clean up and there is also no mess from your puppy chewing something up.

Name the crate so your dog can associate it with the place he needs to go into at night and other times when commanded. My family called my crate, my "bed," and I would go in there at night and any other time when they could not watch me as I was being housebroken.

We will not relieve ourselves in our "bedroom," unless we absolutely cannot hold it!

After awhile, through the simple consistent repetition of the command, "Go to your bed," I eventually went in there whenever told.

Since the crate is a place of security, it should be left open so your pup can go in there whenever he wants to. It is also a convenient place to send him when you have house guests.

The Basics

After a reasonable period of time has passed or when he starts exhibiting those signs, put his leash on and, while taking him out, be sure to say "Let's go potty" or use whatever "bathroom" word or phrase you prefer. Then, walk him until he goes and be sure to praise him when he has success.

In addition to praise, a treat may really motivate your dog. It certainly did for me. A nice dog treat (for me it was two or three cheerios as a reward) every time he has success can be great positive reinforcement and ensure good results.

Try to establish a pattern by also taking him to the same place every time. Once he goes in “his spot,” the scent remains and stimulates him to use his spot again.

Your pup will need to go out when first waking up in the morning, after eating or drinking, and after sleeping during the day. Playing can also stimulate him to go. And, of course, he will need to go out before hitting the crate for bedtime at night.

After he has gotten fairly good at going at "his spot," outside, start taking him to different places so he doesn't get too fixated on one spot. You want him to go wherever you take him outside.

Once again, consistency in housebreaking is important. Before long, he will catch on.

What About Accidents?

No mater how much care you take, there will be accidents during your housebreaking efforts. But, it won't last forever!

Scold the puppy only if you catch him in the act. But, don't overdo it. Remember, he is easily confused and his memory is short.

Never rub a puppy's nose in his feces! This can teach him to eat it, since he will lick it off his nose. YUCK!

Just a sharp "No!" if you catch him in the act. Then, dog, leash, "Let's go potty (or whatever your word is)," and get him outside to his spot. Then, if he finishes there, be sure to praise him. After that, inside and clean up. And, so it goes.

If you find a random mess in the house, just clean it up and be watchful of your pup and commit not to give him another chance to have an accident in there.

Do be sure to clean up well and get all of the scent out of the house. Otherwise, it will remain as a "signal" for him to go there again.

If You Are Away Most of the Day

If you have a schedule that keeps you away for several hours, have a friend or family member come in to continue the housebreaking efforts.

Otherwise, if you can't dedicate the time, you need to wait for a better time to have a puppy. Your housebreaking effort will be frustrating and you will not enjoy your new dog (and he won't enjoy his new home either).

That said, if you can get back during your lunch hour, you can make good progress, but expect a few more accidents.

If you have this type of schedule, get up extra early and go through a training cycle, then restrict his water for a couple hours before you leave in the morning. Still take him outside just before you leave.

As mentioned before, a lunch hour return is best so your pup doesn't have to be alone without training all day. And, of course, he is your first priority when you return after the work day.

Line the crate with towels in case there is an extra large accident and be prepared to give more baths.

Teach Him to Ask to Go Out

Once your guy is pretty will housebroken, you will want to teach him to let you know when he needs to go outside.

Routine (as always) with a lot of enthusiasm will help to reinforce this. Ask him if he has to go out, always saying it the same way. Encourage him to "speak" to go outside.

That’s really it. The routine will do it! Oh, be sure to always follow-through and don't play games around this by getting him excited and "speaking," then confuse him by not taking him out.

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