House Training My Dog

"House training my dog! Oh no, what do I do?" Relax. It's not that difficult to do. However, you will need to be patient and you need to repeat exercises. Praising and offering treats also works a charm!

There are people who might get a dog and then worry about how to house train them. There are many ways you can do this. Just remember that nothing will happen overnight (or perhaps it will, when you're not watching?)

Using A Crate

As soon as you get a puppy, you can try using a crate. Crates have other advantages as well, although crate training might not be for everyone.

Normally, they wouldn't want to soil their area. Crate training can help teach self control. With a crate, you are restricting access to the whole house while you're away.

Puppy-Proof A Section

You can also puppy-proof a section of your home or perhaps just a room. Lay down lots of newspapers (it's old and bad news anyway). You can eventually reduce the paper when you notice that only a certain area is being used.

Be prepared for a huge mess though! Your puppy will probably chew and rip up the newspapers! That's alright. You can't do much about that. However, you need to replace it, and on a constant basis.

A point to remember is to reinforce good behavior immediately. If you don't, it's harder for the dog to make a connection and learning will take longer. This can frustrate you as well. When your dog eliminates on paper, make a (good) fuss!

Always Use Specific Commands

Remember that you need to use certain words to help your dog understand better. With repetition, your puppy or dog will soon associate a certain word with a specific action.

It's always nice to offer a treat, whether it's something to nibble on or a toy. However, you don't have to do this if you don't want to. You can always offer lots of praise, hugs and cuddles. Show enthusiasm in your voice.

If you are training a puppy, it could take several weeks or even months. Don't be alarmed. A puppy's habits are formed in the first few months. They will stick to it when they become dogs. They generally never eliminate in their place of rest.

Should I Get A Proper Trainer?

You might be thinking, "Should I be house training my dog or should I get someone to do it for me?" That's entirely up to you. However, you CAN do this on your own. It's time well spent, since you will be bonding with your dog.

You can always purchase informative products that will help you do the job. After all, you need to do some learning as well!

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