House Breaking a Puppy

When I get a new puppy, I always forget all the time and work involved in training a new pup. I always forget that it's a lot like having a little 2 or 3 years old human child around the house that can't talk. I really don't like doing it to them, but the most effective way I've found to house break a new puppy is crate training them. It seems kind of cruel but it works and it doesn't take long. Normally it ends up being between 1 and 3 weeks.

I put them in a crate most of the day and night. If a puppy is in a crate, not much bigger than they are, they usually won't pee or poop in it. If you are lazy about letting them out and they have no choice, yes, they will make a mess inside and then you end up working twice as hard to train them and it just makes it a more frustrating and longer process. You are going to need time, a lot of time to spend with your new puppy while trying to train him. Every two or three hours, you want to let him out. The first thing to do when you let him out is to take him outside and to walk him. Pups and dogs will both walk in circles until they do their business. When it's time to go back in, you can give them food and water. After giving them food and water, put them back in the crate until they whine to go back out again. Positive reinforcements, petting and talking to them works well. After they go out and do their business a second time, let them back in to play and learn with you anywhere from 15 minutes to half an hour and then put them back in the crate for another two hours. Leaving food and water with a puppy is a bad idea, they tend to over eat and have to randomly pee and poop, not giving you or the puppy a fair chance at being trained. It might sound mean, putting them in a crate for two or three weeks, but the training is well worth it!