Dog Training: Learn The Procedures Of Paper Training Your Dog
For A Healthier And Cleaner Environmen
House training is one of the most important elements of creating
a well trained dog and trusted family member. Problems with
house training and similar issues are the number one reason that
dogs are surrendered to shelters, so properly house training
your dog can literally save his or her life.
House training a puppy does not need to be difficult, but it is
important to take the process seriously, plan ahead and take
things slowly. Some dogs will be easier to house break than
others, so it important to work with your dog. Rushing the
process can be counterproductive and cause you to have to start
all over again.
When it comes to house training a new puppy, it is important to
know what to expect. Unless the owner is able to supervise the
puppy round the clock, it is difficult to complete the house
training process until the dog is at least six months old. It is
important to know this ahead of time so you can be prepared.
Young puppies have bodies that are constantly changing and
growing, and puppies younger than six months often have not
developed the bowel and bladder control they will need to be
properly house trained.
When the owner is not at home, the puppy should be confined to a
small room and the entire floor should be covered with paper. Of
course it is important to puppy-proof the room, that is removing
any items on which the puppy could be injured. In the beginning,
the puppy will most likely eliminate anywhere within the room.
In addition, the puppy will probably play with the papers, chew
them, etc.
This is perfectly normal and should not be grounds for
punishment or distress. Cleaning up each day should simply be
part of the routine of living with a new puppy. Simply clean up
the soiled papers and put down new ones each day.
Time for paper training
During the time that the puppy is confined in its little den, it
will begin to develop the habit of eliminating on paper. After a
little time has passed, the puppy will begin to exhibit a
preferred place to eliminate. After this preferred spot has been
established, the area that is papered should be slowly
diminished.
The first papers to be removed should be those that are
furthest away from the "toilet". Eventually, the owner will have
to lay down only a few papers. If the puppy ever misses those
papers, it means that the papered area has been reduced too much
and too soon.
After the puppy is reliability doing its business only on the
papers that have been left, the papers can be slowly and
gradually moved to a location of your choice. The papers should
be moved only gradually, as little as an inch a day. If the
puppy misses the papers, again it means that they have been
moved too soon and too far. In this case it will be necessary to
go back a few steps and start over.
It is important not to become discouraged. The puppy will
eventually understand the concept, and you will be able to
choose your puppies toilet area and move on to the next step.
House training when the owner is home
Obviously the more time you can spend with your puppy the faster
the house training will go. The objective should be to take the
puppy to the toilet area every time he needs to do his business.
In most cases this will be either every 45 minutes, right after
each play session, after he first wakes up or right after he
eats or drinks. It is important to provide effusive praise for
the puppy when he eliminates in the established toilet area.
As the puppy becomes more used to using his toilet area, and as
he develops improved bladder and bowel control, he will be able
to begin spending more and more time outside his den with his
owner in the rest of the home. It is important to begin this
process by allowing the puppy access to one room at a time.
It is also important to allow the puppy in the extra room only
when he can be supervised. When you must leave the room, be sure
to put the puppy back in his den.