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TIPS FOR HOUSEBREAKING YOUR PUPPY
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Always bear in mind that a dog evacuates his bowels on waking in the morning,
after a meal, and about 3 hours after a meal, especially as a puppy.
As soon as he wakes in the morning, and after every nap, take him directly outdoors on a leash and collar to empty his bladder and/or bowel.
Take him to the same place each time, stay with him and
give him 10-15 minutes to "perform".
I find that an expression associated with the action is very
helpful in the teaching process.
You choose your own words - " do your chores" - "time for business" etc.
When the same phrase is repeated over a few days, the pup learns what it is you want of him very quickly. Your puppy is a very intelligent dog and eager to please you.
When he does what you've requested of him, heap praise on him and bring him back into the house immediately and give him a little reward treat.
There should be no outdoor play until he has it firmly in his mind that the outdoors is the place to go to relieve himself, and is giving you signals that he needs to go out ( and RIGHT NOW).
This may be whining, circling, sniffing at various places or going towards the door.
IT'S UP TO YOU TO LEARN TO READ HIS MESSAGES !!!
Remember that you are dealing with a baby with a small bladder, and you should expect to have accidents to clean up until
he is about 6 months old.
When accidents do happen, DO NOT RUB HIS NOSE IN IT, OR HIT HIM.
A rolled up newspaper has no value in teaching a dog.
You wouldn't do that to a child or want it done to you.
YOUR PUP DOES HAVE DIGNITY TOO!!!
You can clean up the accident using "Nature's Answer".
The dog crate will be your most valuable asset in the house-training effort.
Dogs are den animals and he will not want to soil his sleeping area if he can help it.
He will whine or bark from the crate when he needs to go out, but he will do that too if he just wants to be with you.
This is what we call the
"Puppy Con" and you'll have to learn to differentiate between them. Ignore the message and you might be cleaning up a mess!
We train our puppies to "ring the bell" when they need to go out.
You'll need a 3'-4' length of soft rope ( I spool knit my "rope" with Phentex and the kid's spool knitting kit)
Make a loop at one end that will fit over the door knob and tie a great big knobby knot on the other end, so that the puppy has something to grab on to.
Attach a group of little brass bells - available at dollar stores - above the knobby knot, so that they tinkle when the rope is shaken, then hang this "rope" over the door knob of the door going outside, so that it is low enough for the pup to reach.
When you are starting the housetraining, each time you go out the door, reach over and grab the rope so that the bells ring, and say, "time to do chores" or whatever word you have chosen.
Within a matter of hours or days, the puppy will be ringing the bells on his own.
Copyright  2001 Marilyn Brotherton
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author, Marilyn Brotherton, Aisling Perm.Reg. Kerry Blue Terriers.
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