Puppy Training 101: Housebreaking

Housebreaking is an important part of puppy training.

One of the most common questions I hear from new puppy owners in my veterinary practice is “How can I housebreak or housetrain my puppy?”

Housebreaking is An Essential Part of Puppy Training

Housebreaking is probably one of the most important types of training any puppy will undergo. Nothing will discourage a dog owner more than coming home to discover that their dog or puppy has urinated or defecated all over the house. However, by following some simple procedures and being consistent with your training, housebreaking can be accomplished relatively easily for most puppies.

Be Consistent with Your Puppy Housetraining Methods

Housebreaking methods must be practiced consistently and by all members of the household. It is important that your puppy is treated the same way each time he does or does not do what you expect of him. Always use positive training with ample rewards to teach your puppy what you want him to do. Never use punishment when your puppy does not please you. Do not spank, hit, yell at or otherwise punish your puppy if he slips and has an accident in the house.

Train Your Puppy with Positive Rewards

Take your puppy outside frequently to relieve himself. Try to keep your puppy’s schedule consistent, taking him outside at the same times each day. Ideally, when your puppy is not resting or sleeping, he should be taken outside every 2-3 hours. Your puppy will need to go outdoors when he awakens in the morning and also before he goes to bed at night. Take him outside shortly after he eats as well.

When you take your puppy outside to urinate and defecate, take him to the same spot each time and use a trigger word or phrase (such as “go ahead” or “do your duty”). This will train your puppy that when you walk him to this specific spot and tell him to relieve himself, he is expected to do so. Each time your puppy urinates and/or defecates in the designated spot, give him a treat as a reward and praise him generously. This type of training will teach your puppy what behaviors you consider appropriate.

Do Not Punish Your Puppy for Accidents During the Training or Housebreaking Process

If your puppy has an accident and urinates or defecates in the house, do not punish him. Simply place him in a different room or in his crate in a calm and quiet manner. Clean the mess when your puppy is outside of the room.

Crate Training as a Housetraining Tool for Your Puppy

It is not mandatory to use a crate while housebreaking a puppy, but crate training can be a valuable tool in the housetraining process. The crate used should be large enough for your puppy to comfortably stand and turn around. It should be equipped with a bed, blanket, towel or other bedding. The crate will become not only a place to confine your puppy when necessary but also a safe haven for your puppy, providing a place for your puppy to retreat if he becomes frightened or needs some private time away from children or other household excitement.

When training your puppy, the best thing you can do is manage your puppy’s activities so that he does not have the opportunity to have accidents in the house. This will mean supervising your puppy whenever he is not in his crate. In other words, your puppy should be crated when you are away from home. However, the puppy will also need to be crated when you are busy in the household. Your puppy should only be free when you are able to watch and supervise him. If he does have an accident in the house, recognize that the accident means that the puppy was not being supervised properly. (In other words, the accident is your fault, not your puppy’s fault.)

Feeding Practices Affect Puppy Training and Housebreaking

Feeding your puppy a high-quality, balanced puppy food, keeping the diet consistent and offering food and water at the same time each day will help keep your puppy’s schedule consistent and can help make the housetraining process much easier for your puppy.

Be Patient and Persistent When Housebreaking Your Puppy

Puppies, like young children, learn at different rates. Some puppies can be housetrained in a matter of a few weeks while other may require months. Continue to be patient and persistent with your puppy. Almost all puppies can be housebroken with time and consistency.

Remember that when puppies sleep, their metabolism slows and they may be able to sleep through the night without urinating or defecating but will likely not be able to hold their urine for the same length of time during the day. As the puppy ages, the urinary tract also matures and a mature dog should be able to hold his urine for several hours during the day. However, a young puppy will not be able to control his bladder for long periods of time and puppy owners may need to make arrangements for their puppy to be taken outside during the course of the day if they are at work or school for the entire day.