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Housebreaking A New Puppy |
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Author: Simon Harris
Although it doesn't sound like the most appealing job in the
world, housebreaking a new puppy will play an important part in
bonding with the newest member of your family. It will teach you
patience and leave you with a better understanding of what your
puppy wants once he has learned. In addition, he will learn
acceptable behaviors and exactly what is expected of him to
live happily and comfortably in his new home.
It's important to remember that, just like a small child, a
puppy's attention span is very short. When you teach a young
child not to hit, he likely won't learn the lesson the first
time, but instead, gradually after you've shown him repeatedly
that it's not okay. Similarly, you will have to be consistent
with your dog when training him. Also, when housebreaking your
puppy, keep in mind that he is not intentionally being a bad
dog; he just has not yet learned what behaviors are acceptable!
Start housebreaking your puppy with a simple feeding schedule.
Give him breakfast, lunch and dinner, just as you would
yourself. By doing this you will be helping him become regular
with his bowel movements. Once he has eaten, wait 20-30 minutes
and then take him outside. Watch how long it takes before he is
able to void. This will give you an idea of how long to wait
the next time you take him out. (Within about a week, you
should have his schedule down.) Try to never let him eat at
free will, leaving food in his bowl all day, because it will
cause him to have accidents and make housetraining all that
much more difficult.
Despite the old rules of training a puppy, you should never
hit, rub his nose in his messes, or yell at your puppy. By
doing this, you are telling him it is bad to relieve himself at
all! In addition, most dogs respond negatively to aggressive and
mean behavior and it has the opposite effect—they regress in
their training rather than advance. Instead, while
housebreaking your puppy take him straight outside when he has
an accident. In addition, don't forget the praise! Every time
he "goes" where he's supposed to, praise him lavishly, and soon
he will begin to understand exactly what brings praise, and what
brings that disappointed face. During the process, don't forget
that full control of the bladder and bowels won't happen until
16 weeks of age, so don't expect too much from your puppy in
the beginning.
Also helpful in housebreaking a new puppy is to buy a stain
remover/ odor relief spray. Household cleaners and sprays
cannot be smelled by dogs; only those made for animals will
work. When an accident happens, clean the mess and spray
immediately. This will cover the odor left and your puppy will
not try to mark his territory there again.
Remember that housebreaking a puppy is a big responsibility
that can lead to you and your puppy sharing a special bond.
Giving encouragement and lots of love will make all the time
spent worth your while!
About The Author: This article courtesy of http://www.train-your-pup.com
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