All dogs need to be housebroken. Even those that spend most of their time outdoors need to learn to return there to do their business.
Puppies have the mental ability and sufficient control of their bowels and bladder to start potty training at around four to eight weeks of age.
Some dog owners will use crate training or follow their puppy around in order to avoid indoor accidents. Sometimes these methods are very effective. Paper training is another method for housebreaking your dog.
With paper training you keep a close eye on your dog. When he looks ready to do his business, you spread out newspapers and allow him to eliminate on the papers. You can also purchase special products to perform the same function. They’re made out of a material that attracts the dog and reduces odors. This method will save on rug cleaning and unpleasant smells. However, it can be the start of a bad habit early in the dog’s life that will be hard to change as times goes by. Essentially, you’re teaching your dog to eliminate inside your home.
Plus, once your dog does his business in a particular location, whether it’s newspapers or your carpet, they are inclined to keep using the same location. You can see that the potential for problems here is quite high, particularly if his aim isn’t that good and he misses the paper. As well, this training method discourages your dog from letting you know when he needs to go outside. It’s a great short-term solution but it can often lead to long term difficulties.
A better approach is to keep a close eye on your puppy. Look for signals such as circling, squatting and backing up. When you see them, take him outside immediately. Praise them highly and give them special attention whenever they go outdoors. On the other hand, never hit your dog for going indoors; it’s not something that they can control at this stage.
With a few days of intensive training, the majority of pups will learn some self control, if only for a few moments. Some will need several weeks become it becomes a habit. If it’s taking any longer, your dog might be developing some bad habits, like using a favorite spot inside your home. If that’s the case, you’ll need to un-train him. Try using a rug cleaning product to eliminate the odor that draws him back to a particular location.
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