HOUSE TRAINING

Important things to remember when housetraining your puppy or newly acquired 'older dog' are Restriction, Observation, Consistency and Praise. The old saying of not being able to teach 'an old dog new tricks', is not true with any type of training, this includes house training.

There are a number of ways to housetrain your puppy/dog, one that we would like to highlight is that of observation and restriction. This involves the use of an indoor Crate, or creating a restricted area, in which to place your puppy, when you are unable to keep a close eye on the puppy. The principle behind this is that the puppy/dog associates this restricted area as a 'bed' and not a toilet area. Therefore when the puppy/dog is not in the restricted area that you have designated, you must be prepared to keep him or her under close observation at all times, with a view to preventing any soiling or urinating.

Watching the puppy's/dog's body language is the key to catching the puppy/dog before he/she is able to soil in the house. One prominent feature is sniffing at the ground, sometimes they will start to circle, others may suddenly increase or decrease the pace at which they are walking, attempt to squat, or even become agitated.

The best way to recognise your puppy/dogs particular tell tail signs that they wish to relieve themselves, is again through close observation. When your puppy/dog does go to the toilet at any time make a point of remembering the body language, movement and the behaviour your puppy/dog displayed prior to relieving themselves.

Once you recognise this body language you will then be able to prevent any soiling, and usher your puppy to the area that you wish them to go to. Always praise your puppy when it goes to the toilet in this area. It is a good idea to carry out a training routine using a word of command such as out, so your puppy understands that you wish them to go outside, even at times when they do not need to go to the toilet. If you do this, it will be far easier for them to comply without any confusion, when it comes to ushering your puppy outside, as you recognise the tell tail body language. Plenty of praise should be given once the puppy is outside and relieving itself.

It is a good idea to give a word of command such as 'toilet' as your puppy is relieving itself in the appropriate place.

Once your puppy associates this word with going to the toilet, you may well be able to stimulate your puppy/dog into relieving itself when it hears this command.

Other factors in preventing soiling, is that of cycles and routine. Your puppy/dog may well go to the toilet at regular times, i.e; after feeding, or waking up from a period of sleep, again observation, and making note of these routines and cycles will benefit you greatly in housetraining your puppy/dog. You can actually create these routines, by active use of the Crate, or restricted area that you have designated for your puppy to sleep in.

Always make sure that if you are unable to keep your puppy/dog under close observation, that you place them in their restricted area, where they are less likely to soil. Each time you allow your puppy/dog out of this area, use your word of command to tell them to go out to the area where you wish the puppy/dog to relieve itself, then give the command you have decided to use for the puppy/dog to relieve itself. If this stimulates the puppy/dog into the behaviour once again give plenty of praise.

In the event of any accidents occurring within the home, it is important not only to clean up, but always have to hand an 'odour eliminator' (various makes on the market - available from your local pet supplies store).  The reason for this is because your puppy/dog will tend to go to the toilet where the scent has previously been left.