Housebreaking!!!
There are two basic housebreaking situations: one in which housebreaking can be accomplished directly and another in which pap breaking is an intermediate stage.
Direct housebreaking is by far the more preferable method, but your ability to do this will be dictated by your living accommodations. If you have a yard of any sort located directly outside your door, it is not only possible but also best to housebreak directly. If you live in a city apartment, as many dog owners do, the intermediate paper breaking may be called for.
Direct housebreaking is simple. Basically, it means taking the puppy outside frequently, allowing him to relieve himself, and then returning him to the house. When he is in the house, confine him to a large sleeping/living box or crate. This will keep the puppy restricted to a small area in which he must play and sleep. A puppy will naturally be very reluctant to soil the area that it must play and sleep in. If he does accidentally soil it, and this will happen, chastise him mildly and take him outside immediately to the area he has used before to remind him that this is the only permissible area. Just remember to be fair with him. A young puppy has to eliminate quite often. It will take some time for him/her to build up enough control to hold it for more than an hour or two at a time. Definitely take the puppy out within 30 minutes to an hour after eating, sleeping, or playing for a long period of time. As the puppy grows older, he will be able to contain himself for longer periods of time and will even be able to hold his bowels and bladder for most of the day.
Do not worry about close confinement inside the crate. While it may seem cruel to confine the puppy to such a small area, it is actually a kind service to the dog. The puppy will consider a small area to be more of a secure and safe place much like we humans feel about our own private rooms. Most of the housebreaking trouble you may have heard of results from “kind” owners who let an un-housebroken pup have the run of the house. The puppy may get into the habit of soiling the floor/carpeting which may lead to confusing training signals prolonging the process and making housebreaking a more difficult task for all involved. If you use the crate/kennel for positive reinforcement only, the puppy will look favorably upon his time in the kennel.
When you first take the puppy outside, be sure to let him relieve himself before you engage in playtime. This will also help the puppy realize that going outside should FIRST be associated with going to the potty. Playtime will become the reward for a job well done.
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