The good news is that you can house train a dog (an adult dog that is) fairly quickly協aster than puppies anyway卼he bad news is, you抳e got to be consistent and actually do the work because your dog won抰 have a clue what to do.
So how do you get started?...I thought you抎 never ask.
1. Set Up 揌is Space?
Create an area where you can confine your pooch厃ou抣l use it for those times when you抮e away or when you don抰 want to be keeping a close eye on him卪ake sure a large part of that space is covered with newspapers too (about 3 sheets thick).
When (not if) he uses the papers, clean up the mess and replace the papers as soon as you can卋ut place one of the soiled papers right in the middle of the new batch卼his will help build the 揾ere is where I go?idea in his brain. Over time (maybe days, maybe weeks) his 揳im?will improve and you抣l be able to reduce the papered area to maybe just a single sheet.
2. Create a Feeding & Watering Routine
Your best partner in house training your buddy will be setting up and sticking to a feeding and watering schedule協eed and water him at the same times every day ?no exceptions卬o snacks in between; no special treats (until he抯 trained)卛n this way his body will automatically respond to the schedule and be predictable卼his will help you immensely with your house training.
3. Observe, Observe, Observe
Keep an eye on him at all times (when he抯 not in 揾is space?卬ow that he抯 on a schedule, you抣l find out that Fido will need to 揼o?shortly after each feeding session, and perhaps shortly after each watering session and maybe a few more unpredictable times厀atch him closely and learn what his body language is when he needs to relieve himself卛s he suddenly restless; is he sniffing around; is he (and wouldn抰 this be great?) scratching at the door?
4. Do Your Leg Work
When he 搒hows the signs,?put him on a leash and get your legs workings卼ake him outside to the place you want him to use. Make sure this is the same place every time卍on抰 confuse him by switching it around on him.
Be patient and while he抯 sniffing around, repeat a command he can associate with this behavior in the future卽se something like 揼o, go, go?or 搕ime to go boy,?etc卼hen when he finally 揼oes,?make sure to give him a lot of praise and strokes厃ou want him to associate that praise with his actions so his little doggie brain will remember 揋o Outside = Good Stuff?
5. Correcting Mistakes
If he goes 搘here no dog has gone before,?immediately, make eye contact with him and correct him with a firm 揘o?then lead him to the place you want him to use (either outside or to his 損apers?
But you must remember (and never forget) you can only correct him if you catch him in the act卛f it抯 any later, even just seconds later, your correction won抰 work; he won抰 make the connection you want卛n fact, it will have a negative impact卻o, if you miss your chance, you抣l just have to be more vigilant and catch him the next time.
But once the deed is done, clean up the mess completely and remove the odor completely too, because it will be the smell that brings him back to that spot for a return visit.
6. Keep Your Attitude Positive
Keep in mind that house training any dog takes time卛t could take weeks卻ome dogs will be able to control themselves sooner than others and some will learn what you want from them sooner than others. If you want to be successful in the shortest amount of time, it抯 up to you to maintain the right attitude and be persistent and consistent so your buddy has the best chance to learn.
I hope this helps卼hanks for reading.
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