PUPPY HOUSE TRAINING

Many new puppy owners make the mistake of assuming that once “Toilet training” is complete they are finished with the much larger task of “House training.” Put quite simply, house training is teaching your puppy how to behave in the house. In addition to toilet training, it includes such things as teaching him the house rules, boundaries and expectations. If you don’t want him eating the furniture, being a nuisance at the front door, stealing from the table or counters, you will have to teach him all these things as part of his house training program. It is also very likely that you will have to remind him of the house rules from time to time.

A basic rule to follow is to never give the puppy too much freedom. Begin by restricting him, when he is unsupervised by a responsible adult, to areas where he cannot get into trouble or learn any “bad habits.” When you are able to watch him, take him with you into these restricted areas, watch him closely and teach him how you want him to behave. You need to be in the position where you can immediately put a stop to any undesirable behaviour. To make this process easier, you can leash him up before taking him into areas he is normally restricted from and as he demonstrates calm and controlled behaviour, you can begin taking the leash off for short periods of time.