Housebreaking tips

There are 4 steps to housebreaking your puppy.

• Consistency: You need to be consistent in the times you feed your puppy. And you should also not make any changes in it's diet. When you feed your puppy at the same times each day, you train it's digestive system. After his meal, take him to the area outside that you want him to use. Stay with him and encourage him to go...use a happy voice and tell him "potty" or "outside" or another simple word you wish to use. Your puppy will then begin to associate these words with the act. When he is finished, reward him with praise. Take him inside immediately. If you include 'playtime' in this, it will only confuse your puppy.

• Confinement: This is one of the first lessons. Teach your puppy about it's crate or bed. Do not place food or water here. Puppies respect their sleeping area and will not soil it. Do not confine your puppy long. Puppies have no bladder control.

• Correction: You should not punish your puppy for having an accident in the home. Until your puppy begins to understand 'outside' and gets better bladder control, accidents are going to happen. Do not rub it's nose in it...that won't work. It will only confuse your puppy. And never strike or hit your puppy....he can't help this. If your puppy has left a mess on the floor...take your puppy to it and in a low voice say 'no' . Clean it up with a paper towel. Take the puppy and the soiled paper towel outside to his spot and lay the towel on the ground. Let the puppy sniff it. The scent of it will encourage your puppy to go there in the future.

• Odor neutralizer: Puppies can smell things that humans can't. If he messes in the house, he will return to that spot the next time. Cleaning products will get rid of the odor to your nose...but the puppy can still smell it. Check at your local pet store for odor neutralizers that will remove the odor to the puppy also.

Remember, each puppy is an individual. Some may be housebroken within 4-6 weeks. While others may take as long as 6 months.