Learn some tips for successful puppy housetraining.

I am getting a new puppy this week!

It is an exciting time — but to be honest, I dread the housetraining routine. Just thinking about it reminds me of an old joke…

Ever Heard This One?

“M-R puppies.”

“M-R not puppies!”

“O-S-A-R puppies! C-M-P-N?!”

“L-I-B! M-R puppies!”

Long before text messaging, this joke would bring peals of laughter from my childhood friends. It was funny because of the reference to puppies peeing!

Of course, if you are in the midst of housetraining a puppy, the humor may be lost on the constant task of the cleanup! What are the most effective methods of housetraining a dog? Keep reading, and you’ll find out.

Watch and Learn

The first key to effective training is to observe your puppy’s behavior. Your pup may need to go potty eight to 10 times a day! Puppies usually need to eliminate soon after waking, eating, drinking or playing. You will begin to understand your dog’s body language when she has to go. When you notice your puppy whimpering, whining circling and sniffing — it is time! (What are you waiting for, a handwritten note?) Take your pup to the potty area immediately.

If the potty area is outside, your puppy will eventually go to the door as an indication. If you are using papers or wee wee pads, place them in the same designated area and train to that spot. Use a keyword — as your dog is peeing or pooping say, “Go pee pee,” or “Go potty.” She will begin to understand the correlation of the word. Above all, be consistent with your program.

Crates Are Great

A young puppy should never be allowed the run of the house. Housetraining requires confinement of some sort, for his protection and yours.

The natural instinct of a puppy to seek safety and comfort from the den-like enclosure of a crate makes for a perfect housetraining tool. Dogs typically will not soil their sleep area. Crates also protect your belongings from sharp puppy teeth and protect your pup from electric cords, plants, stairs and areas that require supervision.

But… if you want this to work, you’ve got to know how to properly crate train.

Follow these guidelines:

• Never use the crate as a punishment! Your dog will come to fear it and refuse to enter it.
• Puppies younger than 6 months shouldn’t stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a clip. They can’t control their bladders and bowels for that long. The same goes for adult dogs that are being housetrained. Physically they can hold it, but they don’t know they’re supposed to. Don’t be cruel.
• Crate your dog only until you can trust her not to destroy the house. After that, it should be a place she goes voluntarily.
• If your puppy continually soils the crate, discontinue using it for housetraining.

Always take your puppy to the “potty area” as soon as you take her from the crate or area of confinement. Reward her as soon as she relieves herself.

Watch This Video

In the video below, Bernadine Cruz, DVM, gives an overview of some methods:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfNeXtTy0NY

Crime and Punishment

Animal experts agree: Rewards are the most successful training reinforcement. Never punish your puppy for accidents.

As soon as your dog successfully eliminates — in the designated training spot — praise her and/or offer a treat. She will learn very quickly the way to get the reward. If she makes a mistake, do not scold or reprimand. Just clean up and start back with the training. Punishments, either by scolding or physical corrections, compromise the trust factor with your puppy. You will end up with a dog that is fearful and anxious.

If your dog soils in the wrong place, she does not understand the mistake. Correcting her after the one-second rule will not work. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s when dog owners rub their dog’s nose in urine. Do not rub your puppy’s nose in urine! It doesn’t work, and will never work. Ever. Don’t be cruel.

Clean the floor thoroughly with an enzymatic solution. Do not use ammonia; dogs instinctively return to areas marked with the scent of their waste, and the aroma of ammonia may be confused with urine. If your dog continues to return to the same spot, you may move potty papers in that area. Help him understand the right place to potty and want to go there.

Saved by the Bell

Puppies are babies, and they will forget training if they are involved in a more interesting activity. Sometimes the urgency hits and they will just start to pee before they give a signal.

When you see your puppy begin to urinate or defecate in the wrong place, distract her. A loud clap, whistle or bell will break her attention just long enough to scoop her up and get her to the right potty place. Encourage her to continue elimination with your special command and then reward the success.

Practice — and Patience — Make Perfect

Housetraining a puppy takes compassion, consistency and patience. It is your responsibility to help your puppy understand where and when to potty. Let me try to simplify this. Regardless of the method, housetraining employs two general guidelines:

1. PREVENT indoor accidents by confinement, observation and close supervision.
2. Take your puppy outside on a regular schedule and REWARD her for eliminating in the designated area.

Remember, a puppy less than 12 weeks old will not have developed bladder or bowel control. A dog may not be fully housetrained until 8 to 12 months old.

Magic Formula? Not So Much

Sorry, there are no magic formulas for housetraining a puppy successfully. It requires the pet parent’s investment of time and effort. The payoff is a happy, trusting relationship with your new fur-child.

If you find you need additional help, professional guidance is available. Contact a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT), a certified applied animal behaviorist (CAAB), or a board-certified veterinarian behaviorist (Dip ACVB).

Additional Resources

• WebVet: Housetraining your new puppy
  
• ASPCA: More advice on housetraining your puppy

Many owners opt not to teach their dogs to use the bathroom outdoors. The method of chihuahua wee wee pad training suits their lifestyle better. They do not need to walk the dog. Pee pads are especially lauded by apartment dwellers and condo owners. For people without back yards, these training papers are a perfect solution.

Still others do not like to bring their chihuahuas outdoors in inclement weather conditions for fear that they will get a chill. These are all viable reasons for using wee wee pads.

Housebreaking pads are made of absorbent paper. The bottom is lined with leak-proof plastic. The plastic protects carpets from becoming urine soaked, hence preventing dog pee stains and odors. They are very similar to the consistency of a baby’s diaper. The pads have a scent that entices the puppy to go potty there.

Chihuahua Wee Wee Pad Training Tips

Decide on a spot that you want your chihuahua to use to go to the bathroom. This should never be close to a bedding area. Be sure that this is where you want him to go. Once decided, you should always place the chihuahua’s wee wee pads in the same spot. Changing the bathroom area will result in accidents. Place the house-training pad in a permanent spot.

As soon as your pup eats or drinks, place him on the pee pad. If he walks away from the spot, place him back there until he pees or poops. When he wakes up, put him on the pad. Watch carefully as he plays; exercise also aids in elimination. If your chihuahua begins to sniff around or squat, bring him back to the wee wee pad.

Stress-Free Housebreaking Possible

Should your little canine friend have an accident, soak up the urine with paper towels. Place the towels on the wee wee pads for a few minutes, allowing the urine to seek into the pad. This will give the pad your doggie’s scent and encourage him to go there again. If he goes potty in an inappropriate area, pick up the poop and place it on the pad. Leave it there for a bit so the pad gets the odor absorbed into it. Then remove the turd. This will help your puppy understand that the bathroom training pads are the place for him to do his business.

Be consistent and gentle for proper chihuahua wee wee pad training. Always praise your pet when he goes in the right spot. Using this method, relatively stress-free housebreaking is possible.

Photo: !ºrobodot/Flickr

 

Allen Simon, Wee Wee Pad inventor

Allen Simon never went to high school. But now he’s filthy stinkin’ rich. How?

Easy… He is the inventor of the Wee-Wee Pads for dogs. That’s right: Every time a dog pees, this guy hears cash registers ringing.

Allen was a former carpet layer who transitioned into a dog grooming business in Brooklyn. In those days they used newspapers for the pets to pee on. Noticing how the urine soaked through the paper to the floor, Allen says he had an epiphany: “I said this is ridiculous; I’ll make my own pad.”

Nothing “Wee” About This Idea

A novel product of the 1970s, Allen’s super absorbent piddle pads were designed to attract the puppy when nature comes calling. There is a plastic lining that helps to prevent floor damage from urine. You can use them in potty training or for dogs that are housebound for longer periods of time. Various sizes are available, from small pups to extra large dogs.

As the bestselling housebreaking pad in the world, Four Paws Wee Wee Pads have been tremendously popular, and Allen figures that he’s “gone from $1,000 in sales to over $30 million.” That’s nothing to bark at.

Word of Caution

“Dog Whisperer” Cesar Millan praises the pads, but cautions pet owners about their use in house training a puppy.

“Though Wee-Wee Pads are a wonderful invention,” he says, “it’s very important that puppies don’t learn housebreaking inside a house.” He advises to set the pee pads out at times when you won’t be able to supervise the puppy. Also, always replace a used pad immediately with a new one.

Top pic: TV Land photo