How To Housebreak Your Dog

1. Your Dog Is Not Yet House Broken
   1. Your dog will not tell you when he needs to go out and toilet.
   2. You must teach your dog not to toilet in the house. You must teach your dog to toilet outside.
2. Rules For Housebreaking Your Dog
   1. Feed your dog at the same time every day:
      1. If a dog eats at the same time every day, then he will need to toilet at around the same time every day. You will learn when your dog needs to go outside to toilet.
   2. Where should your dog toilet?
      1. You can choose the area where you want your dog to toilet, or you can let your dog choose the area that he prefers.
         
      2. Every time you go outside with your dog to toilet, take him to that same special toilet area.
   3. Take your dog outside regularly:
      1. The first week is important. You should take your new dog outside to toilet EVERY HOUR.
      2. When you take your dog outside, let him move around and sniff.
         
      3. When your dog has a bowel movement, leave some of that b.m. on the ground so next time he goes outside to toilet, he can smell it and know that it is his toilet area.
         
      4. Allow your dog time to toilet. Do not allow him back in the house until he toilets outside.
      5. When your dog toilets outside, watch how he behaves before he toilets. (If you see your dog doing the same behavior in the house, you must quickly take him outside to toilet).
   4. Every time your dog toilets outside, you should PRAISE him.
      1. Use your voice; tell him "Good dog!" and pet him.
   5. Special times your dog will probably need to toilet; times that you must let your dog outside to toilet:
      1. When your dog wakes up (in the morning or after a nap).
         
      2. After your dog eats a meal or drinks water.
         
      3. After your dog plays or exercises.
         
      4. After your dog has been riding in the car for a long time.
         
      5. Before your dog goes to sleep at night.
         
      6. Before you take your dog into a public area (on the bus, into the animal hospital, to a friend's house...).
   6. When you and your dog are inside the house, watch him closely at all times:
      1. Any time a dog behaves like he needs to toilet - some dogs walk to the door, sniff the floor, act nervous, walk in circles around the room - if you see any of this kind of behavior, you must take your dog outside to toilet.
      2. You have seen your dog toilet outside. You know how he behaves before he toilets. If you see your dog behave that same way in the house, you must QUICKLY take him outside to toilet.
   7. Supposed you need to leave the house or are too busy to watch your dog closely. What should you do? Dogs are clean animals. They don't like to toilet if they are in small places. You should put your dog in a small place:
      1. Put your dog in a crate. Make sure there is a blanket or rug in the crate and a toy for him.
      2. OR, put the leash on your dog, then put alcohol on the leash, then tie the leash to something (Alcohol tastes bad, most dogs don't want to chew the leash). Your dog is "tied-up" so he can't move far. (when you tie your dog, make sure he cannot become tangled and choke.)
      3. OR, put the dog in a small room (maybe the kitchen or bathroom) and close the door. Leave your dog a bed to lie on and a toy to play with. Put away anything in that room the dog might destroy.
   8. When you and your dog go out in public, ALWAYS have plastic bags and paper towels with you:
      1. Carry clean-up supplies when you and your dog are in a car, on a bus, at a friend's house, in the park...Be ready for toileting mistakes.
3. At Night, What Should You Do With Your Dog To Prevent Toileting Mistakes?
   1. Do not let your dog drink any water for 2 or 3 hours before bedtime.
      
   2. Before you and your dog go to bed, take him outside to toilet. Allow plenty of time for your dog to toilet.
      
   3. Confine your dog so he can't move far during the night. Dogs do not like to toilet in the same area they sleep in.
      1. Put your dog in a crate, near your bed. Put a blanket or rug in the crate for your dog to lie on and put a toy inside for him to chew on.
         
      2. OR, put the leash on your dog, put alcohol on the leash and tie your dog (take away anything lying near the dog that he might destroy during the night). Make sure your dog can't become tangled and choke.
   4. First thing in the morning take your dog outside to toilet.
      
   5. In the future, at night, what will you do with your dog?
      1. For one week, at night, put your dog in the crate or tie him so he can't move far.
         
      2. The second week, let your dog out of the crate or untie him. Close your bedroom door and make your dog stay in the bedroom with you at night.
      1. If your dog toilets during the night in your bedroom, put him back in the crate or tie him again for one more week.
      2. If your dog does not toilet in your bedroom, allow him to stay loose in your bedroom for one week.
   6. The third week, open your bedroom door. Hopefully, your dog will stay and sleep in your bedroom during the night.
      1. If your dog toilets somewhere in the house during the night, close your bedroom door during the night (make your dog stay in your bedroom) for another week.
         
      2. If your dog does not toilet anywhere during the night, he's beginning to understand that he must wait until morning to toilet outside.
4. How To Teach Your Dog To Tell You That He Needs To Toilet
   1. Every time you take your dog outside to toilet you should:
      1. Go outside through the same door.
         
      2. Say the same word or use the same sigh as you go outside. You might use "toilet?" or "outside?" or "potty?"...
   2. Watch your dog closely:
      1. Soon your dog may start to walk towards the door when he needs to toilet.
         1. a. You should praise your dog, repeat the word or sign that you use when your dog toilets, quickly take him outside, and praise him when he toilets.
      2. Watch your dog's body language. Dogs often develop their own special way to tell you they need to toilet.
5. V. If Your Dog Toilets In The House, What Should You Do?
   1. You can scold your dog ONLY if you see him toileting in the house:
      1. You cannot scold him if you find a mess in the house that the dog made earlier. Your dog will not understand why you are mad.
   2. If you see your dog toileting in the house, you should:
      1. Make a loud noise - yell, or shake a shaker-can, or stomp your feet...You want to make a loud noise to scare him so he stops toileting.
         
      2. Quickly take your dog outside to his toilet area.
         1. Praise the dog if he toilets out there.
      3. Clean up the "spot" immediately. Later, if your dog smells urine on that same spot, he may toilet there again.
         1. If your dog urinated, put several paper towels on the spot and stand on the towels to soak up all the urine.
            
         2. Next, wash the spot with rug or carpet cleaner. Read all the directions on the can.
            OR, wash the spot with soap and water
            OR, wash the spot with vinegar and water (1 part vinegar to 3 parts hot water)
            
         3. It is a good idea to prevent your dog from going back to that same area for a while. Close the door to that room, or put furniture over the spot...