how to housebreak a puppy?

[ChickenToes]

Take the pup outside all the time, at least twice an hour if you can. When she starts sniffing around a lot, or starts looking for a corner of the room to go to the bathroom in, take her outside!!! If you pay attention to her and watch for signs, you'll rarely have accidents in the house.

When the pup goes to the bathroom outside, give her little treats and lots and lots of praise. If she goes inside the house, immediately take her outside, and try to keep her there until she goes again. Do not correct her for going inside the house, and NEVER rub her nose in it or swat her. Ignore it completely, and use a good carpet cleaner to completely clean up the mess.

I've done this with 2 pups, and had them housebroken by 12 or 13 weeks old. Neither of them ever pooped in the house, and only had a handful of accidents each.

Good luck!

 

[protodon]

To housebreak one should crate the puppy at night and take them outside immediately after you let them out of the crate in the morning. They should also be taken out after each meal. Praise them each time they go outside. They also can't hold it for a long time so trying to take them out every hour or two will help. If you are away from how they should be crated and the crate should not be oversized. It should not give them the room to go poop in a corner. A puppy won't go to the bathroom if it will have to lay in it, unless it has far too long or is sick.

A trick you can do while housebreaking is putting a string with a bell on the door. Make a point to ring the bell every time you go out. The puppy will learn to ring the bell when he wants to go out. All the dogs we have had, learned how to do this and company always got a kick out of it but the better you can communicate with your dog and vice versa the better relationship you will have and it will be easier on the both of you. We actually had a cat that even learned to ring the bell! That got to be a little annoying since he never wanted to be inside but we didn't want him outside all hours of the night.

 

[taraann81]

Remember the rule of thumb when it comes to housebreaking.. A puppy can "hold it" for its age in months plus 1. So an 8 week old puppy can hold it 3 hrs, a 12week old=4hrs. This is only when crated though as they won't even try to hold it until their housebroken. Also I always with hold water after 8pm and limit excessive activity to reduce thirst.