 |
GROTON CITY ANIMAL HOSPITAL
"Caring For Pets And Their People"
Providing Care For Horses, Alpacas, Llamas, Goats, Sheep, Dogs, Cats & Pocket
Pets
|
|
|
Housetraining/Crate Training
Housetraining a
puppy should begin as soon as he comes home. Select an out of the way part of
your yard for a bathroom area. He should not be excited or distracted when going
out to the bathroom, as he will think he is going out to play and forget his
task at hand. If he has not eliminated after 5-10 minutes, bring him back inside
for 15 minutes. Take the puppy back out to the bathroom area and repeat the
process as often as necessary until your puppy goes. A puppy should be taken out
as soon as possible in the morning, before bed, before and after meals, once
awake from a nap, and every two hours during the day. As the puppy becomes more
trustworthy, lengthen the intervals between visits to the bathroom area.
Remember to always use the same word/phase whenever you take you pup out to
relieve himself. This will teach him association and repetition. Gradually allow
free periods to be for longer periods of time. If you notice him sniffing and
circling during one of his free periods, CARRY HIM OUTSIDE IMMEDIATELY!!
One of the best
methods for housetraining, is crate training. Rather than being cruel, it takes
advantage of a dog's instinct to den and keep their area clean. The crate should
be just large enough for your dog to be able to stand, turn around, and lie down
in it. You can buy a full-sized crate for a young puppy, but make sure to
partition it so that he just fits it, and move the partition back as he grows.
Place the crate where your dog will see and be a part of your family's
activities. At first, leave
the crate door open and put a bed or blanket, food and water dishes, and toys in
it so the puppy can explore the crate and learn that it is a safe home.
Introduce your puppy to his crate gradually, for short periods several times a
day. If your puppy howls and barks when he is introduced to his crate, DO NOT
remove him until he is quiet for a short period. Then remove and PRAISE. All
meals and snacks should be served to your puppy only while he is in his crate.
Gradually lengthen the time he remains in his crate. Soon he will quietly sleep
there every night and while you are away from home. Be sure to take him outside to his bathroom area before
crating and as soon as you let him out of the crate.
Paper training
should be considered a necessary evil. By putting paper down you are telling
your puppy that it is OK to use the house as a bathroom. Paper should only be
used when you are away from home for long periods such as work or errands if you
are not using the crate.
|