A new puppy is always a welcome addition to the family, but it is up to the owners to make sure that the dog is well trained. Housebreaking can be one of the tougher lessons to teach, but training pads, which are made from a layer of absorbent fiber or cotton matting on top of a sealed plastic sheeting that protects the floor, can make the chore of housebreaking your puppy a lot easier.
Puppies are attracted to the pads because they are sprayed by the manufacturer with pheromones and scents that appeal to the dog’s sense of smell.
Before starting the housebreaking process, be sure to keep in mind the fact that positive reinforcement is the best means of training. Punishment and negative reinforcement such as rubbing the puppy’s nose in its mess will not produce a favorable outcome.
It is important to place the training pad away from the puppy’s kennel or sleeping area. Don’t place the pad on carpet, which can become saturated with unwanted wetness and smells. Placing the pad on layers of newspaper can be beneficial. Remember to spread the newspaper over a wide area because young puppies are not always going to hit their target.
Puppies do not like to potty in the area in which they sleep. Place the pads flat on the floor in a manner that provides an adequate potty surface. Placing the pads near the door your pet will use to enter and exit to the outdoors is a good idea.
Until the puppy learns to communicate to you that he or she must go outside, it is your job to figure out when the puppy has to urinate or defecate. Watch for signs such as whining, circling and sniffing. Try placing the puppy on the training pad soon after eating, drinking and napping. Remember, puppies are a bit like human babies. They do not have a large holding capacity.
When the puppy lets you know it is time to go, place the dog on the training pad and give the command to potty. You choose the command that you want to use, but be sure to use the same one consistently.
Don’t rush the puppy. Give it time to take care of business. If the puppy’s attention is diverted, repeat the potty command.
When finished, be sure to praise the puppy. The offering of treats is a good means of positive reinforcement.
Repeat the process as often as it takes for the puppy to seek out the pads on his or her own. Accidents are bound to happen, so don’t lose your temper. Simply place the puppy on the pads until he or she learns that the pads are a safe place to take care of business.
Once the puppy learns the potty etiquette lesson, try moving the training pad outdoors to place on the grass. This allows the puppy to make an association between the smell of grass and potty calls. Continue to use the pads outdoors until the puppy learns that is the designated place for potty business.
Expect some accidents when you discontinue use of the training pads. Take the puppy to the designated spot in the grass and gently remind them of the right spot. There is no magic amount of time that it should take to housebreak a puppy.
Remember to use lots of praise during the whole training period, which can vary greatly among breeds. Keep a cool, levelheaded attitude and the bathroom training process will soon be behind you. Treats, hugs and pats will go a long way in reinforcing positive behavior.
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- Potty Training Your Puppy
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- Watch Those Pads!
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