HOUSEBREAKING YOUR PUPPY

KEY WORD: Consistency!

People have been known to say Bichons, Shih Tzu and other small dogs are impossible to housebreak. We disagree! We think if you can train an owner, you can train a puppy. The following are our suggestions to the best method for housebreaking a Fuzzypup:  Keep a journal the first couple of weeks, so you learn puppies schedule. 

Please put your puppy on a feeding schedule. Breakfast, lunch and dinner*  To 1/4 - 1/3 dry “Super Premium” puppy food mix 1 tsp to 1 TBS wet additive.  IE: canned pumpkin, puppy food, yogurt*, cottage cheese, hamburger/chicken and rice.  NOTE* quality dog food is essential in housebreaking. Poor quality dog food can cause digestive problems and make housebreaking a nightmare! We have found Nutri Source (www.NutriSourceDogFood.com) to be our favorite dry dog food, however any “Super Premium” puppy food will work.  By adding the wet to the dry, you will help puppy process his meal faster, and thus he will void regular. A puppy that is a "nibbler" from free-feeding is much harder to housebreak.

 (NOTE* DIET YOGURT CAN BE POISON! AVOID ARTIFICIAL SUGARS IN ANY PRODUCTS) 

For the first 30 minutes after puppy eats, kennel him.  After 30 minutes take him out (or to litter box) for him to void out his meal. Use a command each time you take him out so he knows the purpose of his visit to the outdoors (litter box). If he does not void right away, get him moving around by playing with him as this will help to get those bowels moving. If he does not void at within 10 minutes, take him inside and kennel him for 10 minutes, then take him back outside and repeat command to potty.  Continue the 10 minutes in kennel/10 minutes outside to potty until puppy has gone poop.   Then give him praise and a treat, and allow another 5 minutes or so to make sure this is the whole of his void.   You should know in about a week of regular trips outside how long it takes for him to void out his meal which now gives you a housebreaking schedule for his meals/poop.

Take puppy out every 2 hours regularly to go pee. Use same encouragement, and command as above.   Also, when puppy first wakes up from a nap, or first thing in the morning, he will have to go. Quickly take him out to do so.

When you take puppy out to void, go with him. He wants to be with you, and if you just put him out and leave him, he will likely stand at the door waiting for you, then void the minute you let him in. You need to go with him, encourage him to void, and praise him when he does so.

Each time puppy voids where he should, give lots of excited praise, and a treat.  Never, ever yell, beat, rub nose, etc. a puppy who has an accident inside. He will just think he is not suppose to void, and have more accidents while trying not to do what it is normal for him to do. Puppies, like children, learn from positive reinforcement from praise when they do what is right. 

Keep a diary the first couple weeks, and note when puppy is going void, that will help you know his schedule He will be very consistent and that will help with the training!

If puppy is doing the turn around in a circle thing, he either has to go potty, or is going to go to sleep. Give him the benefit of the doubt and take him out to go potty.

Take food and water up after dinner time.  This way puppy will go to bed with a mostly empty bladder and bowel. Remember, puppy will not have full control of his bladder or bowel until he is 16 weeks of age, so expect to get up sometime during the night. If you allow him to eat and drink into the evening, you will be up more, which is not good for him, or you. Keep your kennel close so you can hear him whine or make fuss when he has to go potty. He will not want to void where he is sleeping, so it is up to you to notice when he is telling you he has to go out. Beside the bed is a natural place for puppy to sleep, while you are training him. *note* if puppy is getting up multiple times in the evening and voiding, something is not right, call us! 

            *NOTE*  A puppy who wakes up with a too empty tummy will throw up yellow bile.   If this happens, give your puppy a Tablespoon or 2 of yogurt, cottage cheese, canned puppy food or even vanilla ice cream before he goes to bed. 

Use your crate wisely! It is the best training tool you will own. If you are going to be gone for an hour or two, make sure puppy has gone poo and pee and then put puppy in kennel, .and always use it for bedtime. Make sure you did not just feed him or you are asking for an accident! If you are going to be gone for over 2 hours with a young puppy, do not use your kennel. It is physically impossible for him to hold it, and to ask him to do so could cause future health issues for him. In the case you are gone extended periods of time, and for those who work during the day, gate off a laundry or kitchen area where he can have his kennel or a soft bed to sleep in, and a place to void.   The puppy pee pad system is perfect for these occasions. 

Do not leave an un-housebroke puppy with the run of the house. It is not fair to him or yourself as he will have accidents. It is up to you to encourage him with positive praise for what he does correctly and keep a consistent schedule until he is housebroke. If you are not consistent, your puppy will not know what to do, and you will find training difficult or impossible. Use a timer if needed as a reminder to you that it is potty time. If you have children, make sure everyone follows the same training schedule. DO NOT use multiple ways to train puppy. ie: litter box and outside. You will only confuse him. Puppies are very smart, and will learn quickly and easily if you use praise, treats and a structured schedule.

Remember, the hardest part of training a puppy, is training the owner. We are here if things are not falling into place. Sherry's number is: 308-247-2378.  Lean on her for advise when needed.

Lastly, and most important, keep in mind that even the best trained puppy will have a relapse from time to time. Don't expect perfection too soon, or you will stress yourself and your puppy.