house training

The key to house-breaking any dog is simple – try to make the process errorless. Your goal should be to never let your dog use the bathroom inside. One mistake will equal many more (ensure if this happens you clean up the mess or the dog will smell it and continue to go in that area)! Preventing errors is done through management and supervision. The use of a crate or kennel is helpful in housetraining and this method is referred to as ‘crate training’.

During the Day

A puppy will have to use the bathroom after:

  • Eating / Drinking

  • Playing

  • Sleeping

  • Every few hours regardless

A new puppy can hold his pee for roughly his age in months plus one hour. So if your dog is 3 months old, he can hold his pee for roughly 4 hours. After every one of the above activities take your dog, on leash, to the area you’d like him to pee. Walk him around a bit and wait. The second he goes pee, wait until he is just finished then reward him with 3 good treats in a row and praise him like it is the greatest thing you have ever seen! Try to take him to the same spot so he builds a habit. Choose a cue and say that word just before he goes so he will build an association with the word (some cues could be go pee, go potty, bathroom etc.). In the future you can say the word when you want him to pee.

If he fails to go and you expect that he has to – play with him a bit outside in hopes he will go. If he doesn’t, return him to his crate for 10-15 minutes then try again. If he still fails to go, assume that he doesn’t need to go but be ready to try again soon! Puppies should always be supervised to avoid mistakes.

If you are not home during the day, you may crate your puppy provided he can hold it based on the advice above. For example, if your dog is 3 months old and you will be home in 4 hours, you can crate him. If however you work and will not be home for 7-8 hours, you must create a Puppy Area.

A Puppy Area is a long term confinement place for your puppy while you are away. A young puppy cannot hold it for 7+ hours, so you must allow for him to use the bathroom in the house.

Your puppy area should contain:

  • A bathroom area. Some ideas include; pee pads, artificial turf, a puppy safe litter box

  • A chew toy with food stuffed in it plus some other toys and water

  • A sleeping area or bed

  • You can try putting the dogs crate in the area as well with the door open, but discontinue if he soils his crate and sleeps outside it. Use baby gates or an exercise pen (x-pen) to block a part of your house for your puppy area

During the night

We recommend all young puppies sleep in a crate that is located in the bedroom with his owners. Dogs like to be near people and should never be forced to sleep in isolation. Young dogs should sleep in crates to prevent housetraining errors but also to build confidence while alone. We do not recommend letting a young puppy sleep in your bed.

DO’s and DON’T of House Breaking

DO

  • Supervise your puppy at all times! Don’t give him full access to all areas of your house or he may sneak into rooms and pee.

  • Give lots of treats immediately when your dog goes to the bathroom in the correct area, use something very high value and don’t forget lots of praise

  • Take your dog on leash to the same area every time. You can change areas to different spots on a walk or in the yard once you feel you’re having success

  • Let your dog play in the yard with you AFTER he does his business as an added reward

  • Crate your puppy at night and anytime you cannot supervise him, or if you just need a break to watch a TV show! Give him a stuffed chew toy so he’s not bored

  • Watch for signs he is about to pee, like sniffing and circling and run him outside

DON'T

  • Take a dog right back inside immediately after he goes pee, play a bit outside

  • Punish or yell at your dog if he makes a mistake, and especially don’t rub his nose in anything. If you catch him peeing in the house, you can shout to interrupt him with a HEY and quickly scoop him and get him outside

  • Confine your dog to a crate longer than he can hold it! You will need to get up early with young puppies to let them out - setting an alarm can help