Dr. Larry's Animal House

K-9 Cranks - Dog Behavior

Brief Tip: Treating the Housesoiling Dog

Always rule out any medical causes with your veterinarian if your dog is having housebreaking issues.

It is a myth that a puppy can be housebroken in a few days. Even the standard dog trainer's claim that it can be accomplished in a week or so needs some qualification. Most people obtain their puppies when they're around eight to ten weeks old. Not until they are twelve to fifteen weeks old are puppies physiologically capable of being thoroughly housebroken. Yes, in a few days or a week, a puppy can be taught to not soil its immediate den -- the place it sleeps. But to have a puppy roam free around the home and be completely accident free takes more time. House-soiling problems usually arise because of a lack of supervision. The pup or house-soiling dog is allowed free range to do its urinating and defecating. Each time the dog does so and is not corrected, it's like someone going to Las Vegas to gamble and winning: random rewards maintain the behavior.

Times to Take The Puppy Out: (for 20 minutes, with owner, and rewarding good behavior):

1. Upon waking up
2. After eating
3. After playing
4. After car rides and roughousing with the kids
5. Before bed