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Housebreaking
Housebreaking of petshop puppies can be more difficult
than most people expect. Most petshop puppies are born
and weaned in cages that serve as bed, feeding area, and
restroom. It is not natural for a dog to eliminate in the
same area in which he eats and sleeps. However, because
these puppies began doing this at the moment of birth,
they find that it is normal to eliminate wherever they may
be. Many petshop puppy owners report that their puppy
often uses the floor vents to eliminate. This may remind
them of the cage in which they were born, and subsequently
where they learned to eliminate.
Because housebreaking is very important, the level
of stress when a dog continually has accidents may
escalate throughout the home. The puppy may sense this
tension to the point that he will avoid eliminating even
outside in your presence. Many people report that they
stand outside for hours with their puppy, only to come
back in and have him go as soon as they turn their backs.
One of the most important things to remember is that
urinating and defecating is normal and you should never
scold or punish the puppy for it. You simply need to
teach them where it is acceptable to do it.
Crate training is a popular means of training for
dogs. In a nutshell, a dog is trained to spend time in
his crate while at home alone or during the night. The
dog learns to avoid eliminating in his crate, as it is a
natural instinct to keep the sleeping area clean. This
may not be the best option for your petshop puppy but I
would suggest trying it first. If your puppy continues to
soil his crate there are a few other options left.
Remember that a puppy is much like a
child learning to be potty trained. Imagine how hard it
would be to potty train a child if they were screamed at,
ran towards, grabbed up, and ran to the toilet the minute
you saw them soiling their pants. The child would be
terrified to be anywhere near you when they soiled their
pants. They don't understand that it is bad to go in
their pants (they've been doing that for two years now in
most cases). They just understand that suddenly you don't
like them going in their pants.
The key is to praise your puppy when
you catch him in the act. Don't act too startled, just
simply saw "good boy, let's go OUTSIDE". Stress the word
outside because that is the word you will later use to ask
your puppy/dog if they need to go potty. Once outside,
try playing with and distracting your pup. In this
unstressed and unfearful environment the puppy should take
a break from playing long enough to potty without fear of
punishment. Again, praise them and take them back inside
as you like.
Some of you may be reading this after
the damage is done -- after the pup is terrified of going
in front of you. In this case you need to completely get
your pup's mind off of pottying...and you. One of the
best ways to do this is to distract your pup when you are
outside by something that will take his mind off you. Dog
treats are the best way to do this. Don't overdo it, but
before taking your pup out for a routine break, break up a
few dog treats or biscuit and place them on the lawn.
Place the pup near one of the treats and then just stand
away. Allow him to sniff around, uninterrupted to find
the treats. Generally this will take his mind off of you
and pottying and he will just simply squat while sniffing
around. Ignore him the first few times but as he becomes
more comfortable with it, you can start praising.
The most important thing is never to
scold a puppy for doing what is natural. Think of the pup
like a child and be patient. Some pups just take longer
than others, just like some children just take longer than
others. If problems persist past 2 months, consult a
trainer for help. |
