House Training and Other Great Dog Training Tips

How to House Train Your Dog

House Training Basics

Dogs, puppies especially have to go to the bathroom when they wake up, after they eat and when excited like in the middle of play).

Crates can be especially helpful. You usually put them in the crate for 15 to 30 minuets; after they have eaten; if you have an unsuccessful trip outside; and after drinking water. Have you ever taken your dog outside and they did their business but then came back inside and did it again? This is normal. To teach your dog to relieve themselves all at once after you take them outside then bring them back in and put them back in the crate for 15 to 30 minuets and then back outside again.

Supervise your dog during free time. Signs that she may need to go out are usually sniffing the ground, acting anxious, whining and hopefully going to the door. If you catch your pet in the act make a loud sound like an EEEH. You know that Mama sound that stops you in your tracks. Take them outside immediately to their spot. It helps greatly to keep your dog confined to one area or room of your house and slowly as house training progresses expand their living area. This is especially helpful when training a puppy to use a pad. If you start off with your puppy having the run of the entire house the odds are it will not learn as quickly to use the puppy pad consistently.

Each time you take your dog outside at first they should be on a leash. Take them to the same spot in the yard, giving the same command ex. Go potty, do your business, etc. You should wait a reasonable amount of time for them to go to the bathroom say five minuets, if they don’t go take them back to the crate for 15 to 30 minuets and try again. Taking them to the same spot each time teaches your dog faster they connect the dots understanding what it is they are supposed to be doing out there, not walking; not playing plus the scent of the previous business attracts them to go potty again.

Big bonus for you taking them to the same spot each time they need to go out when house training is complete your dog will still go to the same area of your yard to use the bathroom! You won’t have to pick up your whole yard just the potty area. Give your dog a treat and praise AFTER they are done with their business. Give them the treat outside not after they have gotten back in the house. If you take your dog or puppy for a walk take them to their area before you leave your house and again BEORE going back in the house.

Don’t let your dog out of the crate unless they are calm. Don’t force your dog into the crate. Have the door open tell the dog a command, I tell mine “go in” give them no other option but to willingly walk in. I put a leash on the dog or put my hand and arm out to block a retreat. I don’t push them in or pull on the leash I stay steady and calm until they walk on in. If the dog is scared of the crate don’t put it in and walk off. Gradually work up to that. Get the dog to walk into the crate, shut the door and stay there beside it when the dog is calm open the door and let it out repeat but for slightly longer times. You can drop treats into the crate when the dog is calm also. Let them stay there longer depending upon your dogs tolerance of it. Importantly stay calm when you let your dog out. Getting excited when they come out makes that a big deal and your dog may get separation anxiety.

A dog with separation anxiety is not supposed to be put into a crate. They are prone to hurting themselves in there. Separation anxiety can be prevented and cured with this piece of information. Think about this your dog is home alone all day then you come home and it’s the highlight of their day!! It’s the highlight of most of our days too! You know how daycares and your kids teachers say don’t make a big deal when you leave them and they adjust faster. The cure for separation anxiety is similar, don’t make a big deal about leaving and when you get home ignore your dogs until they are calm. That is a hard one. It’s a hard thing to do and it’s a hard thing to suggest you do this but this is what it takes. If your dog is destroying your house while you’re gone more than likely they are stressed out. You coming home is the highlight of their day and that’s what they think about all day. If you act like it’s no big deal your dog will too. Not that they won’t miss you it just won’t be as bad when your gone.

To teach your dog to go to the door as a signal to go out, have your dog sit at the door each time before you open it for them. After a couple of days stop asking your dog to sit, wait at the door and see if they start picking it up or sit without being told. Any time during this process that your dog wanders over to the door unprovoked have them sit briefly and take them outside immediately. It can be hard to train a dog to use a back door when you don’t know they are at the door or can’t see them sitting there. In that case you can do the same thing only for example each time your dog to sit at your feet or in a doorway to signal you to take them outside.

Another useful signal to teach your dog is to ring a bell. If you have a large house and your bell is hung on the door you may not be able to hear it! Hang a bell anywhere in your house where you will notice it ringing. Christmas bells any old bell hung from a string at your dogs’ level, they should be able to paw it. Each time before you take your dog outside you ring the bell. Do NOT make your dog do it. Your dog will not catch on quickly if you make it ring the bell. I will teach you the touch command and you can use that to help teach your dog to ring the bell to go outside or you can usually just hold it out and they will touch their nose to it automatically out of curiosity. If they do say good or lots of praise! And take them outside immediately.

If your dog barks in the house and you need to control this you can make that your dogs signal to go outJ (I wouldn’t try this with a dog that barks incessantly). Each time your dog barks take them outside if they don’t go put them in the crate. Same thing can be done for whining.

If you teach your dog to speak or bark on command have them do that each time before you take them outside. Use caution teaching your dog to speak! I have met people whose dogs follow them around the house barking at them. If you have a problem with your dog barking for attention give them the opposite of what they want and they will stop. For example your dog is barking don’t look at them, talk to them or touch them. As soon as they stop you look if they bark pretend they disappeared, when they quit look back…. It works.

The reason that crate training works is that dogs normally won’t use the bathroom where they eat and sleep.

It stands to reason and I have had success with this, if your dog is using the bathroom in the same areas of your house start with one of the spots and leave food for your dog in that area. Your dog will associate that area as a place for eating and will stop using that area as a restroom. Continue with the other areas. You can also place their bed in those places and achieve the same result.

When your dog has an accident in the house clean it up with an enzymatic cleaner! Never use anything with ammonia to clean up after your dog. Ammonia attracts them to go to the bathroom.

If you don't have a crate keeping your dog confined to a small room during the times he would be in the crate can work just as well. I used my small bathroom as a holding place. However some dogs have been known to dig at the floor and chew on the door frames so just like with the crate don't leave your dog in the bathroom or elsewhere if they are scarred.

Keep an eye on your dog when housetraining. It’s easy to miss signals. When you see them leave the room often it’s to…. If you’re busy try tethering your dog to you with a long leash this really helps when you’re focused on something like the TV, Computer, dishes etc.

After house training some crafty dogs will start giving you the signal to go out when they want to go play. To stop this start taking them out on a leash again, a few days of that should discourage them from taking advantage of the signal.

I really hope this helped you out if you need further assistance with these issues don’t hesitate to contact me lrmatkin@gmail.com or laura@dogslikeus.com.

Happy Training from Dogs Like Us!