House Training a Dog

House training a dog is always a daunting task. Your attention and diligence and consistency in watching your dog will determine the length of time required to train your dog.  Your must make house training your dog a positive experience.  Always give praise when he has performed properly.

Your praise must be delivered with positive enthusiasm.  You must establish yourself as the alpha dog leader.  Your dog wants to please his alpha leader.  A puppy will have to develop the muscle control of his bladder.  The first few days you may have varying success at house training.  Your dog will work at controlling himself to please you.

Establishing a Set Pattern

House training a dog requires the establishment of regular consistent patterns.  You should set a specific time each day for eating.  yOUR dog should be taken outside about a half hour after eating to relieve himself.  Remember to praise enthusiastically every time he performs properly.

Each evening before bed time you should take YOUR dog outside.  You need to stay with him until he has defecated outside.  As soon as he has completed his task you can bring him back inside.  Each morning upon waking up you will need to take YOUR dog outside. Again, you should stay with him until he has completed his task. 

Always praise him when he has performed properly.  Never scold a puppy for soiling an area.  If you catch them in the act firmly exclaim “No” while picking him up heading outside where he can defecate.  Scolding after the fact is confusing to the dog.  They are not absolutely sure of the act that has caused the scolding.  A confused dog is a disobedient dog.

Puppies need to develop the muscle control to be able to hold the urge until the appropriate time.  These set times are the reason for establishing a predictable pattern.  With a firm time pattern the dog knows he can wait until the appropriate opportunity and thus please his alpha dog leader.

Your puppy should be taken outside every couple of hours throughout the day to relieve himself.   His bladder is not very large and he cannot be expected to hold it indefinitely.  You need to set a specific routine.

A specific area of the yard should be established for your dog to perform his job.   A puppy should be taken to the same area of the yard each time he is given the opportunity to go potty.  This affirms your communication and eliminates any confusion as to why you are standing outside in the yard.  This outside area should be picked up on a regular interval after each episode.

House Training a Dog

House Training a Dog – Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement creates the desired result faster than reprimanding bad behavior.  Friendly enthusiastic praise works best.  A man’s normal male voice may not get the praise across to the dog.  A low pitched voice can sound harsh even if the words are of praise.  Male members of your household should try to temper their vocal tones.  Occasional reinforcement of deeds with a treat is recommended.

Patience is a virtue.  In house training a dog patience will produce results faster than frustration and anger.  Your dog wants to please you, his alpha dog leader.

Crate Training

Instinctively your dog wants to be clean.  He does not want to soil an area where he will sleep or eat.  A crate just large enough for your dog to comfortably sleep in will provide him with a secure shelter and an area they want kept clean.  You must provide your dog the opportunity to relieve himself at regular established intervals.  The occasional messes should be thoroughly cleaned.  Crate training can be an effective way of house training a dog.

House Training a Dog

House training a dog is not difficult.  It does require that you establish a set pattern and adhere to it.  Your dog will learn to hold his urges until given the opportunity to go outside.