A guide to housebreaking your dog in less than seven days

So, you have just bought a puppy from a breeder or a rescue shelter. 

Congratulations, you are in for years and years of fun and unconditional love. 

That little furball is going to change your life and change it for the better. 

However, you do have a responsibility to train the dog to live a safe and secure life. Like you would have the responsibility to educate a child in how to behave. 

One of the essential aspects of housebreaking or housetraining is to stop toilet accidents in the house and train them to know they are meant to go to the toilet outside in the garden or yard or out on walks.

Consistency and patience

As with all training, you should have a plan that you need to stick to, and every member of the family needs to adhere to. Dogs need to learn from the patterns set by humans. There is no point in one person sticking to the rules if another doesn’t, as the dog will get confused about what is expected of it. 

Toilet training is probably the first time your pooch will be expected to learn and realize there are behaviors expected of them. So be patient. The more a dog is subjected to training, the quicker they will learn. 

If the problem persists and you cannot prevent the accidents, it might be a good idea to get the dog checked out by a Vet to make sure no medical problems are causing the accidents. 

How to housetrain your new puppy in 7 days

Create a safe space

It might seem harsh, but a puppy should spend most of its time confined to a crate or one room. This is for their safety and helps them adapt to leaving their previous home and slowly lets them get used to the new environments. This will decrease the chances of them being stressed and anxious, which could lead to toilet issues. 

Regular feeding pattern

Feed your puppy at the same times of the day. As I have mentioned, puppies have small digestive systems. So, within a specific time of being fed or after they have drunk, they will need the toilet. You can use this to your advantage, as you should be able to predict when the doggo may start needing the toilet. 

Take them outside regularly. 

You need to distinguish between the inside of the house and the outside where you want them to go to the toilet. Usually, the garden for puppies might not be allowed to go on walks yet or cannot walk far. The more regularly you take them outside, the less likely they will wee or poop inside. And like I have mentioned, you can factor in the feeding and drinking schedule to estimate when they will need to go to the toilet. 

Create a command

Think of a word to use. It could be “wee wee,” “potty,” or even “Bruce Willis.” It doesn’t matter. It should be short and comfortable for the dog to recognize. Remember, dogs will not understand what the word “means”; they learn to recognize a sound and repeat an action. 

Every time they do a wee or a poop outside, then repeat the command. They will then link the order to go to the toilet out once this link is established when you let the dog outside in the future. You can repeat the command, and the dog will know they have been let out to go to the toilet, and it is not playtime or anything like that. 

Positive reinforcement

When repeating the command for them to follow, say it calmly with some authority. When they have done the deed, then say it more upbeat and like you are proud of them. Make a fuss of them, cuddle them, or use a clicker to reinforce their good behavior. And what is the best reinforcer of good behavior?... treats, of course!

Simplicity

These are all simple steps for you and the dog to follow. If you follow them from the very beginning, and you follow the steps diligently. Then the puppy will respond to them, and you will be able to housetrain them effectively.