Housetraining Strategies That Work

There are many different methods of potty training your puppy. Some of those ways you may already be familiar with. Others may be a bit more unique and even unheard of techniques. Here's a look at some different puppy potty training strategies.

Here are a few unique ideas for puppy potty training. They can be used individually or as a companion with other techniques. Remember that with any puppy potty training strategy, the key lies with you. It's up to you to be persistent and patient with your puppy. It's up to you to put your puppy on a schedule so that s/he gets used to going out at particular times. It's up to you to praise your puppy and make him/her want to go out to relieve him/herself. So not only does your puppy need to learn potty training strategies, but you need to learn how to teach those strategies to your innocent, loving little puppy. Remember that punishing your puppy by hitting, yelling, or any other unpleasant reactions will not encourage him/her to behave. It will only frighten your puppy, damage your relationship and make housetraining more difficult.

Consider these strategies:

1.Crate training: Use a crate while potty training your puppy. Your puppy should be in the crate while you are at work, sleeping, or anytime you are not able to watch it. Make the crate a happy place, not a punishment. You may have to let the pup outside during the night and during your lunch break during the day.

2.Tethering your puppy: When you are at home, consider using a long lead to tether the puppy to you. This way the puppy can't sneak off and relieve her/himself in the house and you'll know when to let him/her out. This also helps you keep an eye on your puppy, while allowing you to accomplish the tasks you need to get done throughout the day.

3.Keep a potty journal: Keep track of how quickly food moves through the puppy. This will help you gauge how quickly to get the little puppy out the door following meals, which enables you to get you and your puppy on a schedule sooner. Having a schedule will greatly improve the ease of potty training.

4.Consistent praise: This is the key to faster potty training. Dogs are simple animals that do things they like that are fun, while avoiding things they don't like or are not pleasant (which is why yelling doesn't work). By watching for signs when your puppy needs to go, you can take him/her directly outside to the "spot� and avoid an accident inside. Accidents will happen but the idea of house training is to keep them from happening by carefully watching your dog's behaviors.

5.Use a litter box: This is one of the more unusual methods of potty training your puppy. It works especially well for small dogs. You may find that this becomes a permanent alternative to taking your dog outside to look for a "spot� every few hours. Many people who live in apartments or condos choose this method. Older people, or people with limited mobility also find training their puppy to use a litter box much easier than the traditional method.

6.Obedience school: Many dog owners have found that simply training their dog to be obedient led to easier, more successful potty training. Plus, many obedience schools teach housebreaking as part of their courses. Obedience school allows you to teach your puppy certain commands as well as general good behavior.

So whether you decide to try something unique, like a litter box, or stick to the standard "spot, squat and praise� you will be happy with a housetrained puppy.

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