Housebreaking My Dog Tips and Suggestions

Do you have some questions concerning housebreaking your dog? You are not alone if you’ve ever asked “How do I go about house breaking my dog?” What should be a simple task is sometimes a very trying one for many dog owners. The first step is to understand that this is a very common problem and you are not alone.

There have been many dog and puppy owners in the same situation but there is help available and that’s the good news. Next, you need to determine why your dog is having a problem and going in the house. Is he a puppy who has never been house trained before?

Is he an older dog that’s having problems with incontinence but he was trained at one time? Do you have a dog that wets himself because he gets excited or one that goes on the furniture to mark his territory? You need to rule out any medical or physical problems that could exist and determine why your dog needs to be house broken to help you determine the best methods to try.

One way to house break your dog is with training mats. These come in several different sizes and can be used for older dogs that need to be house broken even though they were designed for puppies. These training mats are kind of like a litter box for your dog and will give him somewhere suitable to go.

This is something that you can consider if your dog is often left home for long periods of time by himself. Take your time and introduce the mat to your dog slowly and make sure you always praise and encourage him so he’ll keep on going.

During the stages of house breaking your dog, you may need to use gates or crates to be sure you dog stays in one particular area of the home instead of doing his business all over the place. Many dog owners find that they can cut back or completely eliminate the use of these devices once their dog is fully trained.

Always be sure to give your dog plenty of time outside to go and praise him when he does go outside like you want. You can’t expect your dog to come to you each time he needs to go out. Until your dog has established a routine and learned the ability to ask to be let out, you’ll need to stay on a regular schedule and take him out often throughout the day.

While this can be a frustrating and trying time, you need to always show patience when house breaking a dog. Your dog will sense it when you become stressed or angry. Like a child, this can affect their ability to go and their emotional well being. If you want your dog to learn anything, you will need to be as calm as possible when giving your directions and always remember to offer a great deal of praise and encouragement.