House training is one of the vital things that all new dogs must learn if they are to integrate easily into your family. Learning how to successfully potty train your puppy isn't hard, but it does require some essential knowledge, and a fair amount of time.
Firstly, don't ever get mad at your puppy for piddling somewhere he shouldn't. He doesn't know any better, and it's up to you to teach him. Puppies need to go to the bathroom after they awaken, after they eat, and after a long play session, so he should be transported to the bathroom area any time any of these things occur. Praise him for going in the right place.
Like small children, puppies have incomplete control over their bladders, and small bladders as well. These factors combined mean that puppies can rarely hold it for very long. The puppy's age in months, plus a bit more, gives you a good idea of how many hours he can hold it. Two or three-month-old's, which is about the age most pups are when they come home, can only hold it three or four hours, maximum.
Crate training can be very helpful, provided a few vital rules are followed. The reason that crate-training is effective is that instinctively, puppies don't want to soil their den. If the space is large enough to have a sleeping area and a bathroom area, the puppy will create them. So make sure that the crate is only big enough for him to stand up, turn around, and lie down in.
Large breed dogs used to need a succession of crates in increasing sizes in order to fulfill this requirement. Luckily, manufacturers caught on to this, and started producing crates with removable panels that allow you to decrease the size of the crate for a smaller puppy, and increase it as he grows. For proper crate-training, don't leave your puppy in the crate for too long. Going once in the crate increases the chance that he will go again.
Having a regular schedule is good for puppies, and helps their house-training immensely. People who stay home all the time can be a bit more relaxed, provided that they learn to understand when their pup is telling them he needs to go out, but should still observe the 'after every meal, nap, and playtime' rule. If you have been consistent, most pups understand what you want after a few days, though they are not always capable of doing it. Sometimes, it takes longer than this for owners to understand the signs that their pup is giving them, though.
Schedules are very important if the pup is expected to hold it for periods of time, though. A regular feeding schedule combined with regular chances to relieve himself allow the puppy and his body to learn when is the right time to go. The best schedules include potty breaks fifteen minutes after every meal, and immediately after a nap or playtime.
Learning to successfully potty train your puppy isn't hard. The trouble comes with actually performing the task. Patience and a high level of consistency about every part of your puppy's day are important in getting a good result, fast. Within two weeks, accidents should be rare if you are doing things right. But remember that puppies are just like babies, and may continue to have the occasional lapse. Never scold them for these incidents.
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