How To House Train a Dog

Housebreaking a dog is one of the most essential things you must do when first training a dog. You don't want to be walking around your house picking up poop all day long, so acquiring a few tips will help eliminate the stress associated with learning how to house train a dog.

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It's important that you start house training your pet as soon as possible. The recommended age to start is between 8 – 12 weeks old, but there is no exact age in which you can begin. Keep in mind that the older they get, and the more they get use to do behaving this way, the longer it will take to break the bad habit.

One of the time tested techniques recommended by trainers, is to use a crate, when learning how to house train a dog.
It's advocated to limit the dogs time inside the crate to no more that 2 hours at a time. As he gets older and learns how to hold it for greater periods of time, you can slowly increase the amount of time spent in the crate.

The whole reasoning behind using a crate when learning how to crate train a dog is that most canines will not contaminate the area where they sleep with there feces. This does not mean he won't do this especially if left in the crate for more than the recommended time. In general, puppies 90 days old or younger usually need to go the bathroom every 3 hours or so, keep this in mind the next time you crate train a pup.

Another important tip you can use when learning how to house train a dog, is to get in the habit of routines. Your dog will be more apt to follow your every move if you establish routines early on. An example would be, bringing your pet outside to do his business each day at the same time. You could also, make sure you take him outside the same way, so he can learn more quickly. This would certainly aid in forming good habits, and would influence your pup to learn how to hold it for longer periods of time, until you are ready to take him outside.

Watching for clues that your dog is about to go inside will help you in his housebroken training. Look for signs such as constant sniffing, pacing around in a circle, digging on the rug, or looking outside whining. These are tell tale signs he is ready to go. If you see that your pet is in the process of relieving himself, make sure you stop the behavior immediately. Grab his collar and say no with a strong angry voice so he understands that this is inappropriate behavior. Then instantly take him outside to do his thing. Once your canine has finished relieving himself, give him some praise by saying something like "that's a good boy", so he can associate this with positive dog behavior. You could also offer him a doggy treat, if available, as an incentive for good behavior when he does his business in the appropriate location.

You know what they say patience is a virtue. Being patient and using a little common sense will go a long way when learning how to house train a dog. If your pet has a habit of peeing at night, make sure not to give him water just before bedtime, otherwise he will most likely soil in the house. You will soon learn his habits and timetable and be able to adjust when ever necessary.

Learning how to house train a dog takes some time and a bit of patience. If you stick to the tips we provide you, you will be well on your way to having a housebroken dog and happy home in no time flat.

DIY Advice on How to House Train A Dog