Helpful Tips for Housebreaking a Puppy

You should be prepared for a lot of ups and downs when you are housebreaking a puppy. There will be times you want to pull your hair out when you're cleaning up a mess.

It's even worse when your already late for an appointment but there will also be those moments that put a huge smile on your face and leave you feeling fulfilled. Maybe you have already read how to house train a puppy but there are also a few small tips to keep in mind that will make both of your lives easier.

Potty Location

When you learn how to housebreak a puppy, you are instructed to take your puppy to the same place in the yard every single time so with any luck, he will get in the habit of always going there.

Now, what you need to do when you're housebreaking a puppy is carefully think through the location you choose. You may be tempted to decide on a spot close to the deck to make it easy on you and the puppy on those rainy days however, this is not a good idea. Keep in mind that if you actually spend time in your outdoor living space, you probably don't want your dog's bathroom area quite so close.

On the other hand, when you're learning how to housebreak a puppy, you don't want to pick an area at the very back of the yard either. Your dog may not enjoy romping through a foot of snow to the back of the yard to relieve himself when Old Man Winter comes to town.

When you're housebreaking a puppy, choose an area off to the side, not too far but not too close. If you have a tree, this is an ideal spot because it will offer a little protection during the rainy season.

Learn Your Puppy's Behavior

Many people will offer a lot of great advice on how to house train a puppy but if you can actually learn certain behavioral traits to watch for, you're ahead of the game. When you're housebreaking a puppy, take the time to observe, learn and recognize actions that your dog makes when he has to go outside.

Of course, it's easy to notice the obvious ones like sniffing and turning in circles but when your puppy learns to go outside, he may try to tell you without you even realizing. He may wait by the door, whine, look around, pace all of a sudden, hit you with a paw or even come and block your view of the television and stare at you. Don't dismiss these small actions! Once you figure out how your dog is communicating his needs with you, the easy part of learning how to house train a puppy is done.

Accidents are Bound to Happen

When you learn how to housebreak a puppy, you also have to learn the right way to clean up accidents. Yes, there will be accidents, don't be naive and think otherwise. Even when your puppy fully understands what is expected of him, there will be times he just can't hold it or you're not paying attention to his hints to take him out in time.

The most important rule to housebreak a puppy is to never scold accidents. It is cruel and it's a waste of energy because it wont get you anywhere. If you scold after the fact, your puppy won't even understand what he did wrong and chances are, if he knows he's suppose to go outside, he already feels bad enough.

The best way to address accidents when housebreaking a puppy is to act upset at the situation, not at him, which shouldn't be too hard. Don't make eye contact but rather mumble under your breath the whole time. He'll understand you're upset but he won't feel like he has to hide in the corner.

When you learn how to house train a puppy the right way and stay consistent, you will find it's not the nightmare others may be preparing you for. In fact, it can be a very rewarding experience, leaving you feeling quite accomplished when it's all over.

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