Dogs are naturally clean creatures. They would rather not soil themselves or their normal eating and sleeping areas if they can prevent it. Dogs build patterns of where they want to go potty on their own, so it is less of a work when you potty training your dog. Dogs that prefer to eliminate on grass or clay, for example, would prefer not to do so on concrete or gravel. These natural traits will help you house train quickly and effectively.
Setting the Stage for Successful House Training
Create the Living Area
Give your dog a special place to sleep, such as an open crate, a big cardboard box, or a beach towel. She will defecate in here at first, but once she knows that this is her special hideaway, she will try to avoid soiling it.You can switch your dog’s bed around your house from room to room until she’s gotten used to sleeping in her own bed. When you’re not in her den, confine your dog to her bed. Simply shut the door if her bed is a crate. If your dog’s bed is a towel or blanket, put it next to a piece of furniture and keep her leashed so she can’t get out.It’s also safer to tether your dog to yourself and you can never leave your dog unattended when leashed! One end of the leash should be tied around your waist or a belt loop. Now you can walk your dog around your house while keeping an eye on her actions.
Establish a Restroom Area
Second, designate a toileting area for your dog (this can be on a walk, in your yard, or a specific area of the yard). Make sure your dog has access to this location if she wants to relieve herself. It is important that you accompany her before she establishes a good habit of removing here. If she eliminates anywhere else, she’ll make it a routine to eliminate there in the future.
Bringing It All Together in the House
You will start spreading your dog’s den to the rest of your house until she regularly eliminates it in her toilet area and avoids soiling her den. Allow her access to one room at a time, but only after you are certain that her bladder and bowels are absolutely clean. Allow her to eat, sleep, and play in this room as long as she is monitored. If you can’t keep an eye on her, confine her to that room’s bed or return her to her den. Proceed to the next room until she recognizes this room as an extension of her den.
The Natural House Training Process Can Be Accelerated
Your dog will be house-trained in no time if you obey the directions so far. Praise and encourage your dog each time she eliminates in her toilet area as a way to speed up the process. It’s just as necessary not to chastise your dog for mishaps and errors. Reprimanding the dog normally causes confusion and slows down the housebreaking process.
During Training, Mistakes and Accidents
If an accident occurs in the building, simply clean it up. Do not scold your dog (i.e. spanking, rubbing her nose in it). Punishment only serves to communicate your displeasure with the puppy.It doesn’t explain what went wrong or what they should have done instead. An accident simply means you gave her unsupervised access to your home far too soon. Don’t allow her unsupervised access to your home until you know she can be trusted. If you make a mistake or have an injury, it’s best to go back to crate school. You must be able to anticipate when your dog will need to eliminate more accurately, as she will require more time to improve bladder and bowel control. Learn more about potty training your dog.
