House Training a Dog

Some people view house training as one of the most difficult parts of proper dog training. However, this may be because a lot of dog owners don’t fully understand the concept of proper house training. House training a dog is not difficult, as long as you understand the proper training procedures. Most dogs are intelligent enough to house train with little effort, especially if you are patient with their learning process. Here are some tips that will help you to understand the proper methods to use when house training.

USE YOUR DOG’S INSTINCTS

A large part of understanding how to train a dog is acknowledging some of their natural instincts. In the wild, dogs are fairly clean animals, and tend not to go to the bathroom in the same area in which they sleep. This is one of the most useful dog instincts that you may use when house training your dog. House training is most effectively used when your dog is a puppy, since they are open to learning new concepts and commands. To teach your dog most efficiently, try to organize a sleeping area for your dog that is comfortable, and in an area where your dog can be semi-confined during house training.

USING A CRATE

Teaching your dog to become house trained is much easier when you use it in combination with a crate. Purchase a crate that is just large enough for your dog to sleep in, as a larger crate may not be as effective for house training. The crate should be comfortable, with some blankets or bedding material so that your dog can lie down comfortably. Make sure that the crate isn’t used as a form of punishment, since this may make your training routine not as effective. Allow your dog to stay in their crate for a period of time each day, letting them out every few hours to go outside to relieve themselves.

ESTABLISH A ROUTINE

Most dogs can be effectively house trained when given a routine. For example, you may want to take your dog outside for a bathroom break about 1/2 hour after meals each day. If this is repeated on a regular basis, your dog will begin to understand that they should be relieving themselves outside on a set schedule each day. In addition to being good for house training, establishing a routine can help your dog’s digestive system to function normally.