Puppy

One of the main reasons why puppies are brought back to shelters is that their owner is not able to teach them to pee in the proper spot. They might find it annoying and frustrating to keep cleaning up after the puppy who is happily peeing all over the house. The good news is that most puppies can easily be housebroken with a bit of effort and patience from the owner.

Here are some helpful tips to break your puppy’s bad habit of peeing in areas it shouldn’t:

•Housebreaking begins as soon as you step into your home with your new puppy.

•Patience and commitment are the key ingredients in teaching your puppy the correct habits of where to pee.

•Determine an area where you want your puppy to pee all the time. If it is indoors, you can place old newspapers in a location in the house, somewhere preferably not carpeted. If you want it to pee outside, you must be ready all the time to take it out when it wants to pee.

•Since the pup won’t have much control yet over its small bladder, you will have to keep an eye on it as it might want to pee often.

•Puppies will usually want to pee after drinking water, after a nap, and when they start to sniff the floor as if hunting for a good spot to pee.

•If you want your puppy to pee on the newspaper, do not completely clean the newspaper. Initially leave traces of pee so that the pup will smell it and associate peeing with the paper on the floor.

•If you do not have time to constantly watch over your pup, you can use a playpen to confine it for a time. Cover half or a third of the area with newspapers designated for peeing and the other half should be kept clean for the puppy to rest in. Provide bedding in that area.

•As your puppy gets older and is getting the knack of peeing in the right spot, you can begin to minimize the space where the puppy should pee.

•It is important that your puppy has access to the peeing area.

•Whenever your puppy pees in the right area, lavish it with praises.

•Stick to a set schedule. Dogs are routine creatures and can learn to pee at certain times, such as after they eat.

•Never punish your puppy if in case it accidentally pees in an area it shouldn’t. This will only teach it to be scared and will not understand what you want from it. Do not place your pup’s nose near the pee and then scold them.

•Do not allow your puppy to roam freely in your home until it is completely housebroken.

•Do not be discouraged if your puppy doesn’t learn as quickly as you expect. It may take time but as long as you are consistent and follow through until your dog picks up on the routine, you will not have a problem with this anymore.

Photo: http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/ad207/souzie23/krispykrumb.jpg

To view this article in spanish, click here: http://www.petsintouch.com/pnnespanol/12586/rompe-los-habitos-de-orinar-de-tu-cachorro