When house training a dog, its important to know a little about your dog’s instincts and natural behaviors. In the wild, dogs create a den to have a safe refuge to take their rest and to harbor their puppies. Our homes have become the domesticated dog’s new version of a den. And when house training a dog you can benefit from the instinctive den-friendly habits that come naturally to dogs. Dogs have a natural inclination not to soil their dens. In the wild, the scent could possibly attract a predator that may be a threat to the young puppies. So dogs have come up with their own toilet technologies to deal with this possible threat. In the beginning the mother assumes the responsibility of waste disposal. But soon the pups get old enough to accompany the mother and venture out of the den to do their business. The idea is to use this instinct of going outside the den when house training a dog to go outside the house.
House Training A Dog Starts With The Paperwork
We’ve all seen come across the potty training joke that no job is done until the paperwork is finished. But when house training a dog it’s exactly the opposite. Dog potty training STARTS with the paperwork! Until your puppy is trained and understands where and when she’s supposed to take a load off, it’s best to have an acceptable target that the puppy will recognize. Newspaper is the easiest answer. It’s cheap and readily available. Some people prefer to use the wee-wee pads that can be purchased in the local dog supply store or online because of their increased absorbency compared to newspaper. So try both to see how each works for you. If you have really fancy flooring you may want to get some inexpensive kitchen garbage bags to lay flat under the newspaper for extra protection.
Be Ready When Nature Calls
Now that you’ve decided on the appropriate “target,” you need to let your puppy know what its for. When house training a dog you need to be VERY attentive to your little pup and keep an eye out for the telltale signs that the call of nature is about to be answered. Usually, if you feed your dog on a consistent schedule it will be easier to predict when to expect the grand event. So be prepared to pick up your pup and head for the paper at a moments notice. By repeating this pattern, accompanied by lavish praise and puppy treats, your puppy will get the idea in no time that soiling on the paper is a rewarding behavior to repeat.
Just be very careful not to leave any important papers laying around the house! You may have trained the pup to target paper but not to read. The kid’s homework or today’s unread newspaper laying on the carpet can be an inviting target for a recently paper trained little pooch. As your puppy gains more and more control of her bodily functions, you can move the paper closer to the door. The next step in house training a dog is to eventually have the paper outside the house until the pup is so used to holding it until it goes outside that you can do away with the paper entirely.
Related posts:
- Dog Potty Training: Avoiding Bad Habits
- Crate Training: A Dog’s Private Sanctuary Or A Doggy Prison?
- Introducing Your Outdoor Pooch To Dog Homes
- Great Dog House Comfort Features For Your Pooch
- Dog Prong Collars: Humane Training Option or Medieval Torture Device?
- Dog Training Collars Are Great Tools If You Use Them Responsibly
