The Canine Connection Dog Training, LLC - Tips for Housebreaking a Puppy and Adult Dogs

Housebreaking

The process of housebreaking is the same for puppies and adults -the only variable will be the schedule. A housebroken dog does not have "accidents" , except in cases of illness or neglect of the schedule by the owner . Some things to keep in mind : a dog is physically incapable of being able to "hold it" for more than a couple of hours until it is between 5-6 months old. Dogs do not instinctively "know" to go outside. All they know is to go away from where they eat and sleep. This is why it is critical to closely confine your dog with a crate, tie down or very small gated area when you cannot watch it . This is also why, until your dog is housebroken, it is important to accompany them outside to praise/reward when they eliminate in the appropriate place .

The Schedule

PUPPY - 8-24 WEEKS
Puppies will have to eliminate within 5-20 minutes after waking, eating, chewing or playing. This generally works out to about every 45 minutes to 2 hours of waking time. As they get older, you will see that they will suddenly be able to hold it for longer periods of time before you see "warning signs". Warning signs are sudden cessation of previous activity (i.e., playing furiously and suddenly stops), circling, sniffing, restlessness, pacing, and whining . If you see any of these signs, PICK UP THE PUPPY ask "do you need to go out ?" and/or ring a bell in your dog's reach near the door and take it outside to its elimination area (on lead) and put it down. If it begins to squat quietly say " Potty , goooood potty" (or whatever you want your command to be, provided it isn't a phrase likely to come up in daily conversation). Repeat the praise as pup is finishing and reward the puppy with a treat, some playtime or a walk If the puppy doesn't eliminate immediately , give it 5-10 minutes to "produce" . Don't let it entice you to play or go for a walk(remember you're plunking the pup down into a very stimulating environment, it may temporarily "forget" it's reason for being out there). If it doesn't go within 10 minutes, take the pup back inside and place it in the crate or watch it very closely. This means a short tie-down (with you in watching distance )or, better yet, "umbilical cording" the pup to you (a houseline or leash attached to a person) . Take the pup back out every 20 minutes for 5 minutes until it eliminates (and you praise/reward). At this age, your puppy should never be out of its crate unsupervised, so if it does start to go, you will be there to correct ("NYAHHH!!!", shaker can or bean-bag -anything to stop the process) and immediately pick up the pup and take it to the appropriate area and use your elimination command(and of course, you get to praise/reward when the pup goes in the right place). Do you see the pattern? Setting the pup up to succeed - we get to be the good guys instead of punishing the pup .If you are really diligent , your puppy will have very little opportunity to make a mistake.

Remember: anytime the puppy stops what it is doing (sleeping, eating, playing, chewing), it will need to eliminate within a few minutes .

ADOLESCENTS - 6 months to 1 year
With an older pup or adult dog the process is exactly the same except that they will be able to hold it for longer periods of time - up to 4 hours for a pup, up to about 6 mos, 6 hours at 8 months and up to 8 hours at 1 year. If the pup has gotten too big to pick up, take it to the door on a leash!

ADULT DOGS - over 1 year
If you have an adult dog that is in the habit of eliminating in the house, you must be extremely diligent in denying your dog the opportunity to be unsupervised-if they are, they will go when and where its convenient for them. Think about your dog's reinforcement history - how many times it has "gotten away with it". You have to teach them to hold it and very gradually increase their boundaries. From a crate, tie-down or umbilical cord, to a longer tie down, to a room, to an unsupervised room....If your dog can go 6 weeks with NO "accidents" in an unsupervised room, then and only then, should it be allowed any further unsupervised access to territory.

Remember not to take the dog for a walk until it has eliminated. Some dogs will learn to hold it for as long as possible, so they can go for longer walks (owners get in the habit of taking the dog back in as soon as it has eliminated , so eliminating gets to be an unrewarding experience for the dog). This is why dogs can be out for 1/2 hour or more and then go as soon as they get back in the house. Make the walk the reward for eliminating and establish an elimination command (remember it will take 75-150 repetitions for the dog to know the meaning of the command).

	The Canine Connection Dog Training, LLC 194 Bridgeport Ave., Milford, CT 06460 (203) 876-2441 [email protected]
	Housebreaking The process of housebreaking is the same for puppies and adults -the only variable will be the schedule. A housebroken dog does not have "accidents" , except in cases of illness or neglect of the schedule by the owner . Some things to keep in mind : a dog is physically incapable of being able to "hold it" for more than a couple of hours until it is between 5-6 months old. Dogs do not instinctively "know" to go outside. All they know is to go away from where they eat and sleep. This is why it is critical to closely confine your dog with a crate, tie down or very small gated area when you cannot watch it . This is also why, until your dog is housebroken, it is important to accompany them outside to praise/reward when they eliminate in the appropriate place . The Schedule PUPPY - 8-24 WEEKS Puppies will have to eliminate within 5-20 minutes after waking, eating, chewing or playing. This generally works out to about every 45 minutes to 2 hours of waking time. As they get older, you will see that they will suddenly be able to hold it for longer periods of time before you see "warning signs". Warning signs are sudden cessation of previous activity (i.e., playing furiously and suddenly stops), circling, sniffing, restlessness, pacing, and whining . If you see any of these signs, PICK UP THE PUPPY ask "do you need to go out ?" and/or ring a bell in your dog's reach near the door and take it outside to its elimination area (on lead) and put it down. If it begins to squat quietly say " Potty , goooood potty" (or whatever you want your command to be, provided it isn't a phrase likely to come up in daily conversation). Repeat the praise as pup is finishing and reward the puppy with a treat, some playtime or a walk If the puppy doesn't eliminate immediately , give it 5-10 minutes to "produce" . Don't let it entice you to play or go for a walk(remember you're plunking the pup down into a very stimulating environment, it may temporarily "forget" it's reason for being out there). If it doesn't go within 10 minutes, take the pup back inside and place it in the crate or watch it very closely. This means a short tie-down (with you in watching distance )or, better yet, "umbilical cording" the pup to you (a houseline or leash attached to a person) . Take the pup back out every 20 minutes for 5 minutes until it eliminates (and you praise/reward). At this age, your puppy should never be out of its crate unsupervised, so if it does start to go, you will be there to correct ("NYAHHH!!!", shaker can or bean-bag -anything to stop the process) and immediately pick up the pup and take it to the appropriate area and use your elimination command(and of course, you get to praise/reward when the pup goes in the right place). Do you see the pattern? Setting the pup up to succeed - we get to be the good guys instead of punishing the pup .If you are really diligent , your puppy will have very little opportunity to make a mistake. Remember: anytime the puppy stops what it is doing (sleeping, eating, playing, chewing), it will need to eliminate within a few minutes . ADOLESCENTS - 6 months to 1 year With an older pup or adult dog the process is exactly the same except that they will be able to hold it for longer periods of time - up to 4 hours for a pup, up to about 6 mos, 6 hours at 8 months and up to 8 hours at 1 year. If the pup has gotten too big to pick up, take it to the door on a leash! ADULT DOGS - over 1 year If you have an adult dog that is in the habit of eliminating in the house, you must be extremely diligent in denying your dog the opportunity to be unsupervised-if they are, they will go when and where its convenient for them. Think about your dog's reinforcement history - how many times it has "gotten away with it". You have to teach them to hold it and very gradually increase their boundaries. From a crate, tie-down or umbilical cord, to a longer tie down, to a room, to an unsupervised room....If your dog can go 6 weeks with NO "accidents" in an unsupervised room, then and only then, should it be allowed any further unsupervised access to territory. Remember not to take the dog for a walk until it has eliminated. Some dogs will learn to hold it for as long as possible, so they can go for longer walks (owners get in the habit of taking the dog back in as soon as it has eliminated , so eliminating gets to be an unrewarding experience for the dog). This is why dogs can be out for 1/2 hour or more and then go as soon as they get back in the house. Make the walk the reward for eliminating and establish an elimination command (remember it will take 75-150 repetitions for the dog to know the meaning of the command). ©2003 Jennifer M. Bridwell, CnTPM	Training Tip Archive Housebreaking Chewing Jumping Barking
	Home \| Classes \| Schedule \| Instructors \| Special Services Training Tips \| Testimonials \| Contact \| Links \| Directions Site designed and developed by Mandalin Design

Housebreaking

The Schedule

Training Tip Archive