Housebreaking your Puppy

Many people bring a new puppy into their homes and expect the puppy to be housebroken immediately. Most puppies must reach the age of about 3 months before they can understand when and where the proper place is to relieve themselves. Most puppies go to the bathroom about 6 times a day, usually right after a meal. It is important that once your puppy finishes a meal, it should be placed in an area with hard floors or outside for a walk where it won’t cause any mess.

Once a dog is about 3 months old, you are able to housebreak the dog effectively. It is important to understand a little dog psychology. Most dogs want to make their owner happy. If a dog goes to the bathroom in the house and more than a few minutes have passed, the dog won’t be able to understand that the act of going to the bathroom in the house is wrong. They only understand that the mess is wrong. It is important to catch your dog in the act and use a strong tone of voice to show your disapproval. After a few times you dog will understand that the act of going to the bathroom in the house is wrong.

Please note that it is not necessary to hit your dog or get overly excited, all that is necessary is a strong firm tone. If your dog consistently is having problems relieving itself, it may be due to a medical condition. You should consult your veterinarian.