House Training Your Pup: What Not To Do

House training a puppy can be done many different ways. All of them require a commitment.

What you should do to train a new arrival is constantly discused and is terribly important. What is often overlooked is what you should not do when it comes to housetraining a new puppy.

Puppies are puppies and until they know or learn differently they may have accidents in the home, regardless of your vigilance and supervision. This is part of owning a dog. It is up to us as owners to pursue all of the normal and proven means that prevent house soiling.

Information reciting what you should do to properly house train your new dog is all over the internet. Countless books have been written about the best methods to house train a puppy. Very little is written about what you shouldn't do when it comes to house training the new member of your household.

What shouldn't be done when house training a new puppy?

1. Do not assume that your new puppy will always make his need to eliminate known. Give him more opportunity than necessary to eliminate outside.

2. Do not allow the animal to have a full run of your yard. Take him on a leash to a designated area consistently.

3. Do not wait to praise or treat the animal for his good work until you return to the home. It is vital this be done immediately during and after elimination.

4. Do not try to make your new pup adhere to your schedule. You must learn to adhere to his and do so consistently.

5. Do not allow your puppy any opportunity to eliminate in your home. Stay vigilant and supervise the dog.

6. Do not ignore signs. Generally there will be circling or sniffing around. House training success is tied directly to our supervision and actions.

7. Do not allow him to eliminate in the home. Catch it, see it coming and interrupt the process. Get him to his designated spot quickly. Do not punish the animal for uncaught mistakes. Clean the area thorughly and continue the house training regiment. Mistakes will happen.

The above are simply a few of the things you should not do when house training a new puppy. The important thing to remember the process is not perfect. Failures will happen and it is our responsibility to hold these failures to a minimum.

Supervising your pet cannot be stressed enough. The animal needs watching at all times when he is in the home.

During those periods of time that you simply cannot be there to supervise. The animal should be confined to an area small enough that he does not want to eliminate preferably by using a dog crate or cage.

Cage training or crate training is a key ingredient when you just cannot be there. Cage training will certainly speed the learning curve of the animal. Every new pup should be caged trained.

During the house training stage caged trained animals have all the advantages. In effect by cage training you are incorporating the laws of nature into the house training program.

Learn to cage train and house training will be easier and include less failures. It is natural for the dog and will give you far more control and peace of mind than the alternative.

Dog training aids and tools exist for reasons. They work, they keep dogs out of trouble, they keep owners from property loss and the loss of temper and in some cases their mind. Properly employed almost everything from cages to leashes to treats is a dog training aid and tool.