HouseBreaking Your Puppy

For many of us who have tried and failed to housebreak a puppy, there is hope. You see, it wasn't that long ago that I was at my wits end and ready to pull out what little hair I have left.

Fortunately, it didn't come to that.

There are several effective ways to housebreak a puppy, but no matter which way you choose, you have to be consistent. Remember that your puppy is trying to adapt to you and what you expect. Just hang in there and it will happen.

OK, so what did YOU do?

First, you have to remember that depending on your puppies age, he may not be able to "hold it". They don't develop the necessary muscle until about 12 weeks. If you have a puppy younger than that, you'll have to watch for signs that he's about to go. These include sniffing intently and turning in circles.





You'll also need to take him out immediately following meals and after he drinks.

When you take your puppy outside to do his business, do not play with him. Let him know that this is a business trip. Take him to the same spot in the yard while giving him the command to go. You can use any command you like, just make sure that you (and everyone else who takes him out) uses it every time with no deviation. By not playing with your dog during these outings, you instill in him to "Get 'er Done!" without taking all day to do it.





One other thing you need to make sure of: lavish your dog with praise and affection every time he goes potty outside. Keep in mind that your dog wants nothing more than to please you, and if you demonstrate to him that going potty outside makes you happy, he'll be glad to oblige.