Housebreaking Your New Puppy
The amount of patience you would have with your new baby, in teaching and helping it, would also be required to housebreak your new pup. It is tough for a little pup when brought to a new home. It is difficult for it to fathom that this is his home. And to start trusting you, would definitely take some time. Don’t delay but get down to this as soon as possible. One thing you must understand is that young puppies need to relieve themselves quite often in a day. This is purely because they do not have much control over their bowel movements at least until the age of 12 weeks or more. It is understandable for you to want to have a clean home. So ensure that you get him into good habits with regards to his defecating. You really need to potty train him well and from the very beginning.
It is good for you to be very observant when it comes to watching out for signs when he wants to relieve himself. They have a practice of going round and round in circles or even making funny sounds when they need to urinate. And remember, that this scent or odour is what draws him back to that place to urinate. And this leads not only to a habit, but also leaves your home dirty and smelling, something you really want to avoid at any cost. Pups love to make their owners happy, so start making the animal ‘want’ to do things for you. Dogs learn that when they are obedient, the master is happy. Also, reward them when they listen and do what you want them to do.
There are so many ways to house break them. One is getting a cardboard or wooden box and restricting the animal to that particular area. This will help you as you need to clean only a certain part of the house. And they too realize that this is a place where they can be comfortable. Be very clear in instructions. Always give him ten minutes to do his ‘job’. Never rush him.
If you cannot take him for a walk, make sure that you entrust someone with the job, so that he does not become hyper and irritable kept in a corner the whole day. If unable to do so, keep him in a room with the food on one end and the washable pads (for the urine) to one end of the room. This will help the animal to get disciplined when he starts to realize that he needs to crossover to the other side in order to relieve himself. Also, when other family members take him out, ensure that they know which part of the yard is to be used, and slowly even he will realize that this is where he is supposed to ‘DO IT’.