A Tip for House Breaking Puppies

A good first step to house breaking puppies is to crate train them.

Pick one spot where you want him to relieve himself and lead him to that spot each time. Choose a command that won’t embarrass you when your neighbor overhears you and use that command consistently so that your puppy will associate that phrase with relieving himself. When he is successful, praise him enthusiastically.

Once you are back inside, keep a close eye on your puppy. If he starts to sniff the floor and walk in circles, get his attention quickly and lead him out the door. You should also take him back outside after he eats or drinks, since puppies do not have good bladder control when they are young.

If your puppy does have an accident, sop up the urine and take him and the soiled paper towels outside so he can associate the smell of his urine with the spot you want him to use. Shoving the puppy’s nose in the accident area and yelling at him after the fact is an ineffective training technique that just confuses him. Corrections should be made only when you catch him in the act. A firm NO should be sufficient.

Don’t forget to clean any accidents with vinegar or special products that remove dog odor or your puppy will think he has an indoor bathroom and will continue to urinate in that spot.

Finally, don’t give up on your puppy. Sometimes house breaking puppies takes several weeks, but just when you think your dog will never understand, he will finally get the idea. If your puppy is still consistently having accidents after a month, especially if he has diarrhea, consult with your veterinarian. A health related problem, such as Coccidia, could be making your puppy unable to wait to go outside.