House Training Your Dog
10 Mar 2010
New dog owners often find that they have much more difficulty house training a dog than they first think that will when they first get a puppy. Dogs are, above all else, animals. If they are going to learn to be house trained, then their owners will have to firm and consistent with both their dog’s schedule and their rewards.
House breaking a dog is much more about having a routine and training the owner than teaching the dog anything. It is important that the dog is taken outside several times a day. Early in the morning and right before bed are both good places to start. Other times to take or send the dog outside include after meals and after playtime.
At least at first, you’ll want to stay outside and make sure that the dog does go. Praise them for this, making sure you use whatever phrase you want the dog to associate with the act of elimination.
One thing that will help is that dogs don’t like to go where they eat and sleep. This fact can be taken advantage of if the owner places a small bowl of food in any area of the house where the dog has had an accident in the past. Dogs are creatures of habits and instincts, so hopefully the instinct not to eliminate near food will override the habit of eliminating in the area.
If you continue to have problems, consider limiting your dog’s access to the majority of your house. Often owners find they have to block off the second floor of a home or the hallway leading to the bedrooms of the house. Rooms that are too far from a dogs regular living space feel no different that outdoors to him.
Remember, consistency is key when you’re hoping to house train your dog.
Taylor also writes on articles on dog bed selection such as large dog beds.