HOUSE TRAINING

House training a puppy is a full time job! You will need to take him out into the garden frequently and wait patiently for him to perform. Giving a reward and plenty of praise when he goes in the right place will let him know that you approve of him going to the toilet. Reprimanding him and showing displeasure when he goes indoors will tell him that you disapprove of him going to the toilet!

If you have to leave your puppy unattended for any length of time then he is quite likely to have to relieve himself during your absence. Whilst putting newspaper down certainly aids the cleaning up process don’t forget who taught him to do it when he wees on the Sunday Telegraph before you’ve done the crossword.

Any accidents indoors SHOULD BE COMPLETELY IGNORED

If your puppy looks as if he is about to relieve himself indoors and you are in a position to intervene then quickly, without frightening him pick him up and take him to the garden and praise and reward as usual when he goes in the right place.

If however you fail to notice that he needs to go and he relieves himself indoors a reprimand will almost certainly jeopardise what training you have already done. As he sees it he has been yelled at for simply answering the call of nature and he is very unlikely to ever go when you are watching again, whether indoors or in the garden thus making it impossible for you to reward the correct behaviour. He will simply wait until you are not looking or else go behind the settee!

AND RUBBING HIS NOSE IN IT IS NOT TRAINING. IT IS ABUSE.

By rewarding your puppy when he goes in the right place and ignoring what he does in all the wrong places he will very soon learn to save up all his pees and poos and cash them in for food treats. Of course if you spend a few days being extra vigilant then accidents will be very few and far between.

Once he understands what is required of him as far as toilet training is concerned then give it a command. Something that you can say without embarrassment when you are away from home with your dog but don’t encourage him to go if you are only on a short walk, ask him to go in the garden before you leave. Always carry a suitable poop-scoop with you just in case and don’t forget that if your dog does need to go whilst you are out together then YOU MUST PICK IT UP AND TAKE IT HOME. After all it still belongs to you, you bought it and put it in the other end.

A rolled up newspaper can be a very effective tool in housetraining a puppy if used properly. If he has an accident indoors, simply take the rolled up newspaper and hit yourself over the head repeatedly whilst reciting the words "I forgot to watch my dog. I forgot to watch my dog." If your puppy laughs at you whilst you do this, praise him.

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