5. House Training

House training for puppies and adult dogs.

Consistency is the key!

Regardless of age, your new dog does not know how to let you know they need to go outside to potty until you teach them.

In the beginning, set up a basic schedule and use the same door each time to help your pet anticipate potty time and learn to hold it until you take them out.

Adult: reasonable is first thing in the morning, after breakfast, in the afternoon, in the evening, and just before bedtime.

Puppies: immediately upon waking in the morning, after a nap, very shortly after eating a meal and many times in between depending on their age.

Your new pet should not have free range of your home until they have learned to indicate to you they need to go outside.

Keep them on lead with you, or in their crate if you are not able to watch them. This will keep accidents to a minimum.

Bell-ringing technique.

One successful way is the bell-ringing technique. Hang bells from the doorknob of the door they use to go out. Develop a routine of getting ready to go out.

• Put on their harness and leash and ask them “do you need to go potty?”

• Walk them to the door and just before you open it, ring the bells. Repeat this every time you take them outside to potty for about 5–7 days for an adult and about 10–14 days for a puppy.

• Repeat the same routine but when you get to the door, stand there and do not ring the bells. Wait patiently as your pet tries to figure out why the door is not opening.

• Most likely once they connect the bells to the door opening, your pet will paw or nose the bells. That’s when you immediately say “YES!” and open the door to go outside. Praise them with a “GOOD JOB!” and tell them how smart they are!

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