| By :
Brent McCoy
House training your new puppy is one of the most crucial things to do upon bringing them home - indeed, it's an issue that can cause a lot of stress for people and it's one of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to dogs. The process can take varying lengths of time as different breeds of dogs often learn at different rates. It also depends on what method you use to house train your dog, and three of the most common are described below. 1. Without Training Aids House training your dog by simply taking them outside at regular intervals and showing them where to go is definitely possible. It takes advantage of the fact that young puppies will always follow you everywhere and many dogs can easily become house trained like this. It can often lead to more accidents, however, and requires you to keep a closer watch on your puppy. You may decide to keep them confined to a certain area of the home so that you can monitor them and if they do make a mess it can be easily cleaned up. Somewhere like the laundry or bathroom is a suitable choice for this, particularly when you need to leave them alone overnight. 2. Using Puppy Training Pads You might also choose to get specialized puppy training pads (or just some sheets of newspaper) and place them in an area where you would most like them to go to the toilet. Generally you will need to start by having them in a quiet area of the home before gradually moving them outside. This method takes advantage of the fact dogs will always go to the toilet where they can smell their scent and allows them to learn control over where they go. Young puppies can take a while to learn this type of control, however, and this method of house training can lead to occasional confusion where your puppy mistakes something such as a rug or sheet of paper lying on the ground for a doggy toilet. 3. Using Dog Crates Using dog crates to house train your puppy is by far the most popular and effective method. Many people are opposed to it, but those who have tried it usually wouldn't use any other method to house train a puppy. It takes advantage of the fact dogs won't make a mess of their primary living or sleeping area, though if young puppies are left in a crate for too long then they will reach a point where they simply can't hold it in. For this reason house training a young puppy with a crate should combine being confined with regular breaks outside. This method will usually have your puppy house trained very quickly and if they do make a mess inside the crate it is fairly simple to clean. All of these methods require a level of patience and consistency, along with a way to reward your puppy when they go to the toilet outside so they know they're doing the right thing. Usually giving them praise, some play time or a food treat works quite well. Just remember that a puppy is a baby animal, and like human babies they can make occasional mistakes - if they do, don't be tempted to use any negative techniques such as hitting them or spraying them as that will only delay their learning and lead to more behavior issues later on. Particularly when using a dog crate, make sure they don't see you placing them inside as a form of punishment. If you stay upbeat and positive, following any of these described methods will have your puppy house trained sooner than you think.
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