If you’re looking to house-train your new puppy, these techniques will set your training routine up for success!
How to House Train a Puppy
When it comes to bringing a new puppy into your home, don’t fall into the trap of assuming that house training them will be a walk in the park. Although certain dog breeds are known for their intelligence and ability to be easily trained, all puppies will need to be given basic house training to prevent them from ruling the roost!
Teaching your new pet to adapt to an indoor environment can be tricky, so it may be wise to research the breed before bringing home your pet in order to make the house-training easier. It is recommended to start house training your puppy when they are between 12 – 16 weeks old.
Always remember that pets will naturally try to wee indoors (it’s just their nature!), but using these techniques, your puppy can be trained to live in harmony with your home:
1. Establish a routine
One of the most important factors to consider when house-training a puppy is maintaining a routine. Without it, your puppy may become confused about when they need to head outside and inconsistency can lead to difficulty training.
In order to do this, establish a routine with your puppy that allows them to know when they need to go outside to the toilet. Use cue words to communicate with your puppy that they should head outside for a wee every one to two hours as they may have a weak bladder.
Not only do these cue words help your dog to recognise when they should go to the toilet, but it also helps to avoid the chances of your pet accidentally urinating on the carpet!
2. Toilet training whilst walking
Training a puppy to go to the toilet at certain times is often the most difficult part about house-training, so you should try and encourage your dog to wee when you’re on your daily walk. This helps to prevent the cycle of weeing only in your garden and ensures that your pet is getting enough exercise.
By spending more time outside of the house, your puppy will also learn basic skills such as socialisation with other pets and walking on a lead. Be careful to not take your puppy outside before they are old enough and it’s a good idea to take out puppy insurance, in case your puppy hurts themselves whilst on a walk.
3. Feed at certain times
When it comes to house training, you should also consider the times in which you’re feeding your pet as certain times have the best chance of success. Eating a meal stimulates the digestive system which can cause your puppy to need the toilet at inconvenient times of the day, so try to feed and hydrate them at a time when you’re ready to take them on a walk.
Generally, puppies need to urinate within 15 minutes of eating and have a “number two” within half an hour.
It’s also important to think about the volume of food you’re giving your pet. Over-feeding is one of the most problematic issues when house-training a new dog, along with feeding them unsuitable foods for their age.
Never punish your pet
Some pups are slower to learn than others during house training. Just like babies, dogs have varying abilities to pick up new skills so it’s essential to be patient with your training.
Never punish your pet for making a mistake indoors as it could be a result of many things such as stress, or simply as not understanding the training properly. Showing your pet signs of anger can cause them to be confused and has the potential to delay their training.
As you can see, house-training your puppy doesn’t have to be stressful and complicated. Using these techniques, you should have a happy and well-trained puppy on your hands within a matter of months!
