Three Simple Rules for Bringing Home a New Puppy
As any dog owner will tell you, house training your puppy will be an incredibly time-consuming and tiring activity, but it will also be a rewarding first start to a new relationship with your furry pal. Dogs are anxious to learn and eager to please and if you can dedicate your time to a proper training and housebreaking regimen, your puppy will appreciate and love you even more.
Even though there’s a lot of work — so much that you may be wondering why you even got a puppy in the first place — the intensity begins to ease up after a week or two and you’ll soon begin to see how well your consistent effort pays off, especially if you follow our list of how to properly house train your new dog.
Rule #1 – Keep their Space Clean
Puppies naturally want to enjoy a clean space, and so if you’re crate training your four-legged friend, be sure to keep the space clean and free of mess. Dogs naturally and instinctively crave a clean living space, as mothers in the wild diligently make sure to keep the den space tidy, and you will need to do the same you want to be a proper dog owner.
If you let them go in their crate, and they begin to associate that area with the smell of pee, it will become a habit very difficult to break.
This is why it’s important to clean up after your puppy should the occasional accident occur, with soapy water and a deodorizing cleaner.
Rule #2 – Develop a Schedule
Young puppies can typically hold their bladders for one hour per month of their age — so even your three-month old puppy will need to go frequently during the night. At night, the frequency might require you to set an alarm and let your puppy out a few times.
During the day, you may need to rely on a neighbour or friend to come by and let your pup out a few times. By setting a schedule, you instill a sense of routine that your puppy’s body will acclimate to. If you are traveling with your dog, you must understand how long can a dog hold their pee, as it will help you plan your trip properly.
Rule #3 – Use Pee Pads
Many new puppy owners also rely on all-natural compostable puppy training pads. As your puppy learns that outdoor grassy space is the right place to do their business, you can provide an indoor grassy pee pad which will give them a place to go instead of the crate or your furniture.
Puppy pads are only a temporary solution until your dog learns to go outside exclusively, but they can be a big help. While you’re using pads for training, you should gradually move the pad closer and closer to the door, which will build an association in the dog’s mind between the door and doing his business.
Bringing a new puppy into your family can be a rewarding experience, and if you dedicate yourself to a strict training and housebreaking regimen, you can also limit the amount of stress involved.
